The Parable of the Wayward Sheep by Davin Dahlgren, May 1996 A certain shepherd had a flock of sheep. The sheep knew his voice and followed him. The flock grew as many of the sheep begat other sheep and brought them up to follow the shepherd. Soon, there were many thousands of sheep and they began to reason together saying, "There are so many of us that we are too much for the shepherd to handle. Therefore let us appoint the older sheep among us to positions of authority, to guide us and teach us the way in which the shepherd will lead us." This they did, and many generations of sheep were brought up in this way. Sheep taught other sheep, who in turn taught more sheep. Even young lambs who had not yet experienced life began to teach the ways of the shepherd which they had learned from other sheep. Now there began to be divisions among the sheep, for when they compared what they had learned from other sheep they found inconsistencies and differences. These differences grew greater and greater as the sheep drew apart into smaller groups of likeminded sheep and taught their own beliefs amongst themselves. "But we are all of the same flock," they told one another, "For we are all sheep." Then certain sheep began to return to the shepherd and to listen to his voice, and they began to see just how far the other sheep had strayed from the paths which the shepherd had made for them. These sheep began to proclaim to the wayward sheep, "We have listened to the shepherd! He has shown us his way. Come, join us in returning to the shepherd where we will find rest in his pasture!" But the wayward sheep scoffed. "You do not know the shepherd! He has not spoken to you, for he does not speak! He has given his guidance to our predecessors and we have followed it ever since. If you proclaim his way to be different, then you are not of this flock. You are wicked wolves dressed as sheep trying to deceive us." Then the sheep who had listened to the shepherd's voice were grieved at the wayward sheep. "Woe to you, who have no discernment. For your hearts have been hardened. There are wolves among you dressed as sheep, but you do not recognize them. They have drawn you away from the flock to be devoured. Return with us. Repent of this evil and return to the voice of the shepherd who will guide us safely home." At this, the wayward sheep grew angry and beat them and cast them out of the group. Then the shepherd gently lifted these sheep and treated their wounds and carried them to safety. But the wayward sheep strayed even farther. Though the shepherd called to them many times, they would not heed his voice. [Return to Spiritual Studies]