The Good Shepherd

A flock of sheep is bound to have a few who are independent, boisterous, and covetous. You cannot blame them, for unlike humans, they are guided by instinct and not by logical thought. The diligent shepherd leads them through the safest paths- the roads with the least potholes, traffic, or snares. His aim is to lead them to the greenest pastures, devoid of potential harms such as snakes, snares, or predators. Armed with only a wooden staff, the shepherd remains alert, guarding the flock attentively. Upon reaching the finest pasture, he permits them to ramble about, and graze at their leisure. That’s when certain sheep spot greener pastures beyond, and sneaks away in search of this. Not that they sneak away deliberately, but it is their instinct. They seldom consider why that pasture is uninhabited and why it is so wild, with tall sheaves waving in the breeze. They amble along, being guided blindly by those miragic visions.

It is likely that they might plummet into camouflaged pits, or wander away in search of the green pasture, only to get separated from the flock and the shepherd. They might be stalked by ravenous predators, waiting hidden for the right moment to pounce upon the unsuspecting prey. Finding themselves in that strange place, surrounded by ferocious predators, their limbs broken, they might bleat- but would the sheep flock hear their cries? Would their blood relatives or acquaintances hear, or if they do, how can they respond? The only hope is when the shepherd finds that the mischievous lamb is missing, and goes in search of it, leaving the rest behind, trusting that the enemy will not attack the remaining 99 sheep. He will find the lost lamb, and after warding away the callous predators, he will jump into the deep pit to redeem the lamb from the snare. At the nearby brook, he would bathe and dress the wounds, and will kiss it, holding it like a weak child. In time, perhaps the lamb will learn to walk close by his feet, knowing that he will be secure in his shepherd’s shadows.