The Boy Who Drew In The Mud and other parables

  Part Three

  There once was a shepherd in a small village where wolves in sheepskins and violent bears roamed freely. He was a faithful and meek man, but he was warmhearted and wise, and wanted nothing more then to keep his sheep safe from harm. He thought, “If I learn to know my sheep by sight and sound, and if I stay alert and have my sling always in my hand, than I will know when the wolves slink into my flock, and I will easily scare off the savage bears before they can cause harm!” So he tended his flock closely, and stayed on guard for danger, with sling and stone always in hand. When the wolves snuck in with their sheep skins, he knew, and chased them away; and when the bears charged in with their vicious claws, he saw them from afar, and quickly shot stones to keep them at bay – for he loved his sheep, and until his death he protected them from all danger.

  Lamentations

  Oh! fallen shepherds

  Who do you protect?

  To where do you lead?

  You, who are more like Wolves than Lions!

  You, who are more like Thieves than Princes!

  Why do you seek treasures soon to be rotten?

  Why do you seek love in mouths of such men?

  Gone are the Davids, with crook and sling.

  Lost are the Jacobs, their time is waning.

  Broken is Moses’ staff, tossed to the sea,

  The flock scattered and beat,

  Treated with ‘force and severity.’

  Oh! forgotten Ezekiel

  Your words echo alone!

  Your chariot not to be flown!

  Mend these broken pastures, raise your dead.

  Gather these lost sheep and feed them your bread.

  Bring us those days, the temple restored,

  When shepherds will guide, their sheep each adored!

  A Parable in Two Parts