Sheep Thrills
A shepherd leader
by Claire Law
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider how the role of shepherding has changed historically and to explore the metaphor of a leader acting like a shepherd.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides accompanying this assembly (Sheep Thrills) and the means to display them.
- You will need the clip ‘Ever wondered how a hill farmer rescues a sheep?’ and the means to display it. This can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1277624322332293
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Welcome the students to the assembly. - Ask the question: Have you ever seen a sheep climb a ladder?
Point out that you know that it sounds ridiculous, but you’d be forgiven for thinking sheep can climb ladders when you see this picture.
Show Slide 2. - This photograph was taken at a call out that Penrith Fire Fighters recently attended. They were summoned to try to rescue a sheep and three lambs from the roof of a house after they escaped from a nearby field. Penrith Fire Station manager Darren Wright said he and his crew were baffled when they arrived at the two-storey property and were greeted by the sight of the animals on the roof. We could even say these adventurous animals were on the lookout for sheep thrills!
- The good news is that with the assistance of a local farmer, the fire-fighters managed to bring the sheep down to safety and return them to the field. From the front the of house, it looks like the sheep would have needed to fly onto the roof or climb a ladder to get up there. But in reality, the roof to the rear of the property extended near the ground and the sheep had used this to climb up onto the roof. The fire fighters coaxed and persuaded the sheep to head back the way they had come.
- This is not the first time sheep have ended up getting stuck in strange places. In fact, it happens frequently enough that, in the Lake District, local farmers call on the services of David, a local sheep rescuer, when one of their flock goes astray. Let’s watch David in action in this short clip from the BBC TV Show: The Lake District: A Wild Year. Show clip ‘Ever wondered how a hill farmer rescues a sheep?’ This can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1277624322332293
- Show Slide 3.
The fire-fighters callout in Penrith was very unusual! It is unusual for sheep to get stuck in this way. Today the role of being a sheep farmer is very different to the role many years ago. In the past, shepherds were the people employed to look after the sheep. A shepherd’s job was to tend, herd, feed, and guard flocks of sheep. In the past there were less enclosures or fences to keep the sheep safe from predators. Dependant on which country the shepherds were located in, they might face wolves, lions and other predators. Their job was to keep the sheep safe. - Today, in many countries, there is less need for shepherds, or their role has changed. Fields often have enclosures, or fences, and there are less wild predators, such as wolves. Farmers can opt for hardier breeds of sheep who can manage to live on the hills with less input from the farmer.
- Despite there being less need for sheep rescuers or shepherds, the image of a shepherd tending their flock is a common metaphor for what it is to be a leader. A leader is someone who keeps an eye out for their team. They help show the way and the direction a team is taking. They encourage the team to keep going, feeding them with the resources needed for the tasks they are undertaking. They take action to support a team member who is struggling.
- Show Slide 4.
The concept of a leader being like a shepherd is one that Nelson Mandela understood. Nelson Mandela led the struggle against racial oppression in South Africa and was unfairly imprisoned for challenging racism. Eventually, he was released and became President of South Africa, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. In his book about his experience of leading the South African civil rights movement, Mandela wrote:
‘A leader… is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.’ (Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela). - The metaphor of a leader being like a shepherd is also very common in religious traditions.
- Show Slide 5.
In Islam, there is a hadith (a saying of the Prophet Muhammad) that ‘all of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock.’ This highlights the idea that leaders have a responsibility to guide and protect those under their care. - Show Slide 6.
Here we see an ancient Mosaic from Italy, dating from the 5th century A.D. It is called ‘The Good Shepherd’ and pictures Jesus as a ‘good shepherd’ – a phrase that is used in the Bible to describe how Jesus guides, leads and cares for us. - Show Slide 7.
Within the Hebrew Testament, or the Old Testament, we can read Psalm 23. This piece of Scripture, sacred to both Jews and Christians, uses the image of a shepherd to speak of God. in the Psalm we read phrases that include:
- He leads me beside quiet waters.
- He refreshes my soul.
- He guides me along the right paths
Time for reflection
We don’t need to live on a farm to be a shepherd. As we’ve seen, to be a leader or a role model can be a type of shepherding. Rather than literal sheep, being a leader is a way to care for, lead and guide others towards good things.
So, let us pause for a moment and consider the ways that we can care for, lead and guide others towards good things. Who are you a shepherd to in your life?
Pause to allow time for reflection.
Are there people in your life who act like ‘shepherds’ for you? We all need to people to help and support us and to guide us in the right direction when things are tough.
Let’s pause for a moment and call to mind a person or people who support and look out for us.
Pause to allow time for reflection.
In the Bible, we see that God is like a shepherd to us. We read that God leads us, refreshes us and guides us along the right paths
Let’s pause for a moment to consider how this feels for each of us.
Pause to allow time for reflection.
Prayer
Dear God,
We’ve seen that sheep have a habit of getting lost, or stuck and they need someone to help, and rescue them.
Thank you that you are described as the Good Shepherd.
Thank you that you love, protect and guide us.
Please help us to be shepherds to other people.
Please help us to be good listeners who support, care for and guide others.
Please help us to be good role models and to help others when they are going through tough times.
Thank you for the metaphor of shepherds in different writings.
May these words support us in our own faith journey.
Amen.
