The Good Shepherd

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. And a text that comes to mind is the parable of the Good Shepherd who left his 99 sheep in the wilderness ,to seek out that one lost sheep.
While on exercise on Sennelager one summer, a German shepherd mounted on a motor cycle approached our location, accompanied by his flock of around 200 sheep. We plied him with a few beers ,and soon he disappeared over the hill with his sheep. Quickly afterwards he was back,traversing our camp area, looking for one of his sheep that 'went astray". Eventually he found it ..............in a sand pit.
That put paid to our hopes of having some barbecue mutton

Not a religious sort, here, but this story reminded me of when my family and I were first in Germany (59-62) and we lived not far outside the town of Balve, out along the Hoennetal, in an area known as Helle-Balve. At that time it was essentially 4 blocks of flats and a couple of houses surrounded by farmers' fields. There was a small lamp factory just down the road (the blocks of flats were two blocks for factoryworkers and families and two for Canadian families).

One day a shepherd, dressed in traditional dark green wool cape, leggings, cap etc., was up on the hill behind the residences. A small group of us, moms included, went up to see. He was quite fine with the kids seeing the sheep and lambs.

Mom noticed he had a large canvas bag and it was moving!

"Was ist das?" she asked.

He smiled and opened the sack and inside was a newborn lamb with a black face and white body wool. Mom sat on the grass and held this little thing and its' mother came over to investigate.

It was one of mom's favourite stories.