Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Make a joyful noise unto the  Lord , all ye lands. Serve the  Lord  with gladness: come  before his presence with singing. Know ye that the  Lord  he is God: it is  he  that hath made us, and not we  ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the  Lord  is good; his mercy is  everlasting; and his truth endureth to  all generations. Psalm 100

It is an ancient profession, this job of being a shepherd. Someone has to tend the sheep. Someone has to keep the flock together; to chase away the predators. They have to keep the little lambs from wandering off and getting lost. They have to keep moving sheep to different pastures, searching for fresh grass. Fresco by Taddeo Gaddi, Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy, 1332-1338 In the days when believers read Isaiah and waited for the promise, there were many shepherds. The job sometimes fell to single men who had no family responsibilities, who could stay with the sheep day and night. They moved about with the sheep, living in tents or wagons. Being a shepherd was a mundane, lonely job with little to eat and none of the comforts of home. Throughout time, God has used shepherds for his purpose. Before he became the Father of Nations, Abraham tended sheep. Jacob and Isaac were shepherds. Moses spent his time in exile tending sheep. David, who had God's he...

They are as old as man. Sheep have been providing food and fleece since the creation. In some parts of the world even today, livelihoods depend solely on sheep. Sheep are not the most intelligent animals. If they wander off, they cannot find their way home. Their shepherd has to leave the rest of the flock, and go searching for the lost ones. Sheep do have their fine points.... They have a tendency to move out of the dark into light. When disturbed, they tend to run uphill instead of down. They know their shepherd's face and voice. They have a natural inclination to follow their shepherd to new pastures. All sheep have a tendency to stay close to other members of the flock. They are prone to become stressed when separated from other flock members. After a lost sheep has been found, the shepherd puts them in the middle of the flock, where they are safe. Safe in the group, led by a shepherd who loves and cares for them. My sheep listen to my voice; I know th...