Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The Two Shepherds

Two shepherds were watching over a flock together. When they woke up one morning, one of the sheep was missing.

"We should go searching for it," the first shepherd said, but his friend said, "Who knows what happened? We can do nothing."

The next morning the two shepherds realized another sheep was missing.

"Two nights in a row! Now we have go look for the sheep," the first shepherd said, but his friend said, "Who knows what happened? We can do nothing."

When night came the first shepherd stayed awake to keep watch on the flock, while the second shepherd fell asleep. In the very early hours of the morning the shepherd caught a poor man sneaking in amongst the flock. Having captured the thief he yelled to the second shepherd, "Wake up! I told you we should have gone in search. Look! I have caught the thief!"

"Please," the poor man said, "I stole your two sheep, but I had to feed my family."

"Silence!" the second shepherd said, now fully awake. "You are a thief. You will be punished severely for this."

The first shepherd stepped forward and said to his friend, "What right do you have to judge this man? You chose to sleep while I kept watch. You have no authority over what becomes of him. You care so little for this flock, you no longer have a place watching over these sheep."

Having dismissed the second shepherd, the first turned to the poor man and said, "If you are willing to take this man's role, not only will I forgive you, but you will also be able to feed your family."

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