Help For The Shepherd

Help For The Shepherd

By Paul McCann

Joe was not like most of the other young men in the town who had grown up there and established himself with a network of contacts . He had always written.

poetry and wanted to be a shepherd looking after sheep .

He liked sheep because they were gentle and never poised a threat and they also were very useful animals , they provided food , soap and wool  so he could see the value in tending time to work with them . 

After he was told a local farmer was  in need of some help with the shearing  and feeding  of his sheep so  he followed the information up and made  his way to the property to apply for the position .He arrived with dreams in his head and empty pockets and hoped to get that job but as he was travelling by foot on the road  he  was attacked and  robbed by a few thieves who left him for dead .

Joe managed to get to his feet and walk into the town . With no money now and no family or friends to help him he  made his way into a large public  garden and sat down under an olive tree to rest and think about what he was going to do .

The clouds parted and the full moon shone down with a luminous light . He tried to keep out of sight as a lady dressed in a white shroud passed by followed by large group of men who sat down on the ground nearby . Joe really wanted some time alone but now that there were some people there, he had nowhere else to go so he remained there and kept to himself . He observed a few drunken men walking through the garden who were staggering and slobbering . As they got closer, he recognised then as the thieves who had bashed and robbed him and immediately went to confront them . He was furious and began screaming and grabbed one of them around the throat and demanded his money back . The drunk was petrified and other two ran away in fear . One of the men from the large group came over and stood next to Joe and said  .

“Is everything ok “

Joe immediately responded .

“No everything’s not ok . This is one of the thieves who stole all my money and knocked me out on the road to town the other day” .

The man responded ,

“Looks like the money they stole from you  has already been spent . So, what good will it do trying to recover what’s been spent and seeking revenge will do you no favours . He could have you arrested as a result . Its his word against yours . Consider forgiveness my friend. Tell me what your name is “

Joe thought for moment and said ,.

“ I suppose you’re right and my name is Joe  “

At that moment he let the thief go .

The man smiled and looked at Joe and said.

,“How important it is to be merciful and even more important it is to forgive. “

“ Well , I suppose two wrongs don’t make a right .”

Joe said and smiled .

“Exactly now , go and become the shepherd you’ve always wanted to be and look the sheep . You are exactly where you should be at the right time . Do as I say now and never doubt what I have told you  “

Joe was stunned and replied ,

“How do you know this . I never told you anything about me . Are you the farmer that  I’ve been told about who need some help to feed and care for his sheep. ”

 The man smiled and waved goodbye and said ,
“I can be whoever you think I am . Remember me for I will always remember you .”

At that moment Joe felt really sleepy . He thought he would have a lie down for a little while on the grass . In a little while as he was drifting off to sleep, he saw some soldiers approaching the group of men by the olive tree and a scuffle began . Then he fell asleep , He awoke in the morning well rested and the garden . No one was around and it was quiet , beside him on the ground someone had left him some bread and something to drink . He was grateful for that as he had been walking on the road for a while and hadn’t yet eaten since being robbed .

Immediately after he had the bread and grape juice, he made his way to the farm  following the map he had been given . It took him an hour to get there and, on his arrival, he was greeted by the farmer .

“You must be Joe , the helper I was told about . Finally, you’ve arrived just in time “

Joe smiled ,

“Yes, that’s right . Sorry I’m late . I’ve been walking for days to get here and on the way, I was attacked and robbed .‘

The farmer replied

“Better late than never Joe , my name is Zac . Don’t worry , you’re here in one piece and that’s all that matters  . Listen now we’ve no time to waste . We need to gather in the sheep to be sheared , those will be the ones with a red mark on their backs .  Come with me and I’ll show you what needs to be done “

Joe was speechless and he followed the farmer to a large field where many sheep were standing eating the grass .

“Zac I must be honest with you. I’ve never done this before “

The farmer replied ,

“The fact is you have the wanting to do this kind of work and you’re here . So that’s all I need . Here uses my stick as you walk along with the sheep . They will follow you so lead them to my old shed  up there on the top of the hill and I will have the gate to the shearing pen open for your arrival ‘ It’s that simple and then once you’re there you can bring all the sheared sheep out into another field for then to graze .”

“Ok that’s sounds easy enough “

Joe replied .

“I’ll show you later where the hay and water is for the sheep . You’ll learn as you go and I’m glad of the help ‘ You’ll have food and somewhere to stay as well as a small wage “

Joe responded ,

“Thank you Zac . I ‘m very grateful , So I’m just wondering who it was that told you I was coming to see you about the job  “

Zac replied ,

He never said his name . All he said was my friend Joe will be coming to help look after the sheep and he also told me to tell you that that he would never forget you’.

The End .