Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18) (02/15/24)
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TITLE: Thief | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bridget Bewick
02/17/24 -
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I pass that sheepfold every day. The gate keeper’s some relation of my wife and we usually pass a greeting. Yesterday when I passed, he was dozing by the gate, the sheep all locked in for the night. The shepherd was somewhere about, having a wash probably, after a day of sheep wrangling. Smelly work. The lambs are getting fat now, he’ll soon be taking some for sacrifice. What a waste. So I thought I’d just help myself. I turned up the side of the fold where I couldn’t be seen and waited for darkness. It wasn’t long in coming. I climbed on top of the wall and waited. My heart was thumping, I can tell you, and I nearly lost my nerve. When I’d calmed down a bit I dropped down inside the pen. The sheep hardly noticed. They moved about a bit but didn’t make much noise. I couldn’t see very well but I managed to grab a nice plump he-lamb and toss it over the wall.
That was my mistake. I thought I could just call it, the way the shepherd did, and it would come back to me. But the lamb started crying and the mother started crying and the other sheep joined in. I heard the gate keeper opening the gate as I climbed back over the wall. I called the lamb as I’d heard the shepherd do every day. Every single day. I’m a pretty good mimic and made the same call, but that lamb just ran. I pulled out my knife and went after it, calling all the time, but it ran and ran. It wasn’t long before I could hear the shepherd behind me, so I gave up and slipped home.
I passed by this morning, at the time the sheep are taken out, just to see. The sheep were still in the fold, the shepherd and the gate keeper by the gate. The shepherd was holding a nice plump he-lamb, probably the same one. The one that should have been my supper. They were laughing as I approached so I asked them the joke.
“Some fool tried to steal this lamb last night,” the shepherd said. “Just tossed it over the wall and expected it to come when he called. As if it would follow anyone else!”
Then he turned round, opened the gate, called to the sheep and walked away. And those stupid animals just marched straight after him. Perhaps I should become a shepherd.
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