“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” James 1:14 I am a shepherd, a blessing that God has given me that is beyond a simple explanation, because this job allows personal insight into my own humanity and sin. I guess you could say it is a way of learning by example. It may even be a little more foretelling because my flock is goats, not sheep, which means they often do not listen so very well.

Our goats have pasture area and a barn - everything a goat needs to live a happy life. They are cared for, fed and loved; now with a life like that, what more could they want or need, right? Evidently they don’t see it like that. We let them out into the pasture and went to town for short while, when we returned there were only four goats in the pen; the other fifteen were gone.

We searched high and low for them, we called, shook a bucket - everything that they normally come running for. We searched over 500 acres for two days, nothing. It was like they simply turned their back and walked away. It hurt; what could have happened and where did they go?

 I felt sorry - for myself, for the goats and for God’s children that turn their back on his love and salvation and simply walk away, unwilling to repent and ask for his forgiveness. “ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:31-33

Now during those two days it stormed heavily here, lightning, thunder and it poured rain. These goats hate to get wet. If it so much as sprinkles they run for the barn, screaming all the while. Now, they were lost and out alone in the storm with predators that like to eat them. “When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.” Proverbs 1:27

I did the only thing left that I could do I prayed. We worried that they could have been stolen, we just didn’t know. Then one morning while I was praying I get “they weren’t taken”. Okay God are you telling me they were not stolen, then where are they. Then in my head and out my mouth pops the old nursery rhyme “Little Bo Peep”. This proves God does have a sense of humor and that he is a very good shepherd. Two and half days after they had disappeared all fifteen goats came walking up the driveway, wagging their tails behind them.

I was so thankful to see them that I welcomed them with open arms, a strong resemblance to the prodigal son. I look back at the whole scene and I see myself lost in the storms - some that I helped to create and others that I found myself in that required I ride them out. But always, I know to lean on the arms of my shepherd, who never looses me, because he always knows exactly where I ran. I must remember not to stray and become lost, not to turn away from my shepherd, but fear him and seek his counsel in all things so that I do not become lost in the storm myself.