Page 1 - Page 2

On Sunday December 9, 2007, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a group of church going sheep gathered for service at the New Life Church. They too were peace loving, and felt safety in numbers, especially since things such as “evil” guns were not permitted in a church. Then a wolf named Murray came hunting for prey! He had an assault rifle, lots of ammunition, and a desire to kill. Luckily, for the sheep, there was a sheepdog present. After an early morning shooting at a local missionary school, Jeanne Assam, a church member with a concealed weapon permit, had volunteered to carry her gun and be on the alert for trouble. Although, Murray did manage to kill two young girls coming out of the church before Assam arrived, once she arrived, she shot Murray several times, causing him to take the usual mass murderer way out and kill himself—except her actions caused Murray to take his life before he had originally want to, thus saving numerous lives. How did the sheep feel about the sheepdog protecting them? At first, all were thankful, but after the shock of the events wore off, some again began to express their disdain for the sheepdog, digging into her past to find she was an ex police officer who had been fired, and by saying she had only “wounded” the wolf and did not really kill him. Then they revived their call for a ban on guns.

When danger threatens, the sheepdog comes out of the shadows, protects the flock, and then fades into the shadows until needed again. The sheep gradually forget what happened, resume their disdain for the sheepdog, and live in ignorant bless again until the next wolf attacks.

To sheep, sheepdogs are strange creatures. Sheepdogs are always alert, sniffing the air for danger, and reacting to the slightest sounds. They are lovable animals, kind to the lambs and respectful of older sheep, and always obedient to their masters. Though not violence by nature, they love to fight to protect their sheep and will do so until the death of the wolves or themselves. While sheep pretend that wolves do not exist or that they are in another forest, the sheepdogs know that wolves exist and are always ready for them.

In the 1920’s, Shoeless Joe Jackson, a phenomenal baseball player for the Chicago White Sox and a hero to many young fans, was caught up in the Black Sox Scandal, where he and a few teammates conspired to throw the 1919 World Series. As Shoeless Joe emerged from the courthouse on day, a young fan called out the immortal line, "Say it ain't so, Joe!” The line is now quoted whenever people are in denial about the downfall of something which they once believed, such as headlines during the 2007 baseball steroid scandal. When faced with a potential a threat, many people deny the threat and cry out “Say it ain’t so! Then, if the attack occurs, their denial leaves them defenseless. Even if they survive the attack or the threaten attack never occurs, they psychologically shattered by the fear and feelings of helplessness they experienced when they had to face reality. Deniers think they are getting by, by saying it isn't so, but denial is a buy-now-pay-later scheme. You may feel content for the moment, but at some point, you will have to pay the price.

When there is news of some wolf attack where a sheep was killed, other sheep say, “I am glad I was not there.” However, the sheepdog says, “I am sad I was not there.” Sheepdogs protect, that is what they do. Just as the sheepdogs, warriors do not seek violence, but they are not afraid of it and they train to confront it whenever and wherever it occurs. When there is gunfire, just as Jeanne Assam on that cold December Sunday, warriors run toward it, not away from it. Warriors protect, that is what they do.

There is nothing wrong with being a sheep, and there is nothing wrong with being a sheepdog. Sheep tend to think they are morally superior to the sheepdogs, but the sheepdogs do not think they are morally superior to the sheep; they realize they have the ability to survive and thrive in situations that would kill most sheep and they just accept that it is their duty to protect sheep.

In nature, sheep behave as sheep, wolves behave as wolves, and sheepdogs behave as sheepdogs; they do not have a choice in what they are or how they behave. From birth, they instinctively behave as their species behaves. As humans, we have control over how we behave; we have a choice as to whether we will be sheep, wolves, or sheepdogs.

Page 1 - Page 2