On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs

I read an interesting article yesterday called "On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs".  It was given to me by one of the policeman who is helping us to put together a security detail to provide protection for our congregation at all three (soon to be four) weekend services.  I thought he has some valid points, and I'll copy a few excerpts below:

(For the full article, click on this link: On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs )


"Most of the people in our society are sheep.  They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident... I mean nothing by calling them sheep.  To me it's like a pretty blue robin's egg.  Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful.  But the egg cannot survive without the its hard blue shell.  Police officers, soldiers and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.  For now, though, they need the warriors to protect them from predators.


Then there are the wolves... and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy... There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds.  The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep.


Then there are the sheepdogs... who live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.  If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy, productive citizen - a sheep.  If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined... a wolf.  But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens?  What do you have then?  A Sheepdog... someone who is walking the hero's path... The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog.  He looks a lot like the wolf.  He has fangs and the capacity for violence.  The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep.  The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray himself white, and go, "Baa".  


Until the wolf shows up.  Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one, lonely sheepdog.... Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be.  Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter; He is always sniffing around the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle.... Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently.  The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day."

As I read this article, I realized that I am a Sheepdog.  In some ways I feel like I was born this way, but there's also a big part of me that chooses the Sheepdog role.  Why?  I guess it's because I know there are wolves out there, and most people would rather go about their day pretending that the wolves will never come.  Me... I'm out sniffing around for the wolf scent.  As we're putting together our security team for church I find myself hoping that some crazy dude will actually show up some Sunday - just so we can see if our emergency response system really works.