My children were involved in 4H for several years. One of their projects was raising market lambs. We started with 4 lambs and in time had a total of 26 sheep (I thought it was rabbits that multiplied).
When the flock had grown to about 10 or 12, my dad (who raised sheep for the fun of it?) was low on pasture and asked if he could bring his 10-12 sheep to graze with ours. We had plenty of pasture. Arrangements were made and the sheep arrived.
It was interesting to watch their behavior. The two flocks did their initial sniffing of each other and then went to different parts of the barn. I thought it odd but assumed that in a few days they would all be together. I watched them for weeks. They slept in different parts of the barn; they went out to the pasture at different times; ate in different parts of the field and went for water at different times.
They remained two distinct flocks of sheep. Dad’s sheep remained with us into late fall and winter. The pasture faded and we began to feed hay and provide water in the barn so it wouldn’t freeze.
I began to notice something when I started to put hay in the rack. All the sheep came running into the barn together. Over the next few weeks two flocks became one as they became dependant on one source for food and water.
There is a point to this story. When the sheep – all the sheep became dependant on their shepherd, they became one flock.
I have seen people behave just like sheep. We greet one-another (the ritual sniffing) and then isolate ourselves into groups carrying out our mission and vision and rarely talking with other groups.
Jesus often referred to us as sheep (it wasn’t a compliment -just descriptive). Could it be that if his sheep really became dependant on Him as shepherd, we might truly become one and bring Him greater glory?
