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There once was a shepherd.  He was a caring young man, who loved his flock and enjoyed his time with them.  He’d spend hours, sitting and watching over them.  While he sat and watched, he enjoyed the fresh, clean air of a misty morning sunrise. colors from those rays would penetrate the darkness and announce a new day.  At night, after a long day off tending sheep, he would be treated to purples, reds and oranges creating new colors in the sky. This was the typical life of a shepherd.  He was responsible for the whole herd.  No time to wile away the hours. He was on duty 24/7.  There wasn’t time to take a bath either, so many of the town’s people avoided him when he made a trip to resupply. Shepherds were on the lowlife list, because they lived as vagabonds and gypsies.  This shepherd didn’t mind being rejected.  He had a whole flock that loved and depended on him.

One day a wolf sat in the darkness of the forest waiting.  He was hungry.  His mouth drooled as he watched the sheep play among the fields of grass.  He noticed one little lamb who stood all alone, rejected by the others.  He thought it strange that this young lamb was all alone, but it made his job a whole lot easier.  He lurked in the darkness for just the right moment and then he pounced.  At last, the long-awaited meal was in his reach. The lamb screeched as the wolf carried him off by the nape of the lamb’s neck.

The shepherd realized almost immediately that one of the sheep was missing. The sound of the injured lamb reached his ears and he knew immediately that one of his flock was in danger. Forget about getting any sleep that night.  The shepherd grabbed his slingshot and a few stones and set out for the forest, leaving the rest of the flock alone and vulnerable.  That one little lamb, who had been isolated from the flock because he didn’t fit in, was now being searched for by the only one who ever loved him.

The wolf heard the shepherd approach as soon as he opened his mouth wide to devour the little lamb.  The lamb was oblivious to the terror that awaited him but realized his situation when the throbbing pain in his leg reminded him.  The pain was great. The little lamb was broken and wounded, but his heart remained strong.

The shepherd found them and took up his staff to scare off the wolf.  He then loaded his slingshot and a rock sailed through the air and killed the villainous wolf.  The dedication of the shepherd for his sheep far overshadowed his skill.   The shepherd won the battle by wounding the wolf severely.

The little lamb scurried to his master.  His leg caused him great pain as he bleated all the way to his waiting arms.  The shepherd scooped him up and they returned to the rest of the flock.  He continued to hold the disabled lamb close to him until the leg healed.  From that day, the lamb remained close to his master.  They became as one, united by their love.

As our world is in this state of chaos and confusion, and fears begin to fester, our minds may turn in a different direction.  We wander from those who control our destiny. We think we can make it on our own, but we need help.  We need to look to the one who protects.

The Shepherd in the story is Jesus.  He’s our guide.  He watches over us in troubling times.  He will never leave us – even when we’re overcome with desperation – when we don’t know what will happen next – when all seems lost.  He’ll come to our rescue when we feel all alone, broken and sad.  He was willing to sacrifice his own life for the safety and benefit of his flock.

As you wonder how long we will be exposed to difficult situations, hatred, murder and evil, remember the One who loves you more than His own life.  We don’t know how long this will go on.  We can’t be sure of the future in a darkened, sin filled world.  Life will get back to normal when we place our trust in the Good Shepherd.  That is no fairy tale!