How many shepherds can lead a flock?

Pardon the allusion to Christianity, but I think the reference could be a valid one. All of us play different roles in our life – sometimes we are a leader, and sometimes we are a follower. Sometimes we are even both simultaneously. I, personally, am comfortable, generally-speaking, oscillating between being a shepherd and being a sheep, depending on the circumstance. Moreover, I’d like to think I understand the importance and value of taking on both roles, not just to me, but also to my larger community.

Where I struggle, however, is when more shepherds emerge than are needed and when they don’t talk with each other – or worse, they talk at each other. So, it goes like this: There are 200 sheep hanging out on a grassy knoll when someone notices a storm off to the west. He thinks the sheep better find shelter before the rain and lightning comes, but none of the sheep seem to have a clear idea of how to get home. So he stands up, grabs a shepherd’s hook and starts herding them northeast. Someone else sees Shepherd A leading the flock northeast but thinks that due north would be a more direct route. So she stands up, grabs a hook and starts herding. Then a Shepherd C, D, E, F and G stand up, each herding the flock in a different direction. Shepherd A looks back about a mile into the journey and sees the 200 sheep divvied up into groups all tackling the same problem in a different way and shouts to the other herders, “Hey, I’m going this way. It’s safer.” Shepherd B shouts back, “And I’m going this way. It’s faster.” Some shepherds don’t even respond. Hours later, some of the shepherds and their smaller flocks arrive back home together and discuss their journeys. Others were lost along the way, gave up or found new homes that didn’t require all of the walking. Still others broke up into even smaller flocks, content to stand shivering in the rain as long as they didn’t have to follow someone with a shepherd’s hook.

I find this scenario very sad for many reasons. First, I cherish the idea of a large community. I suppose it has to do with growing up in a big city with big families on both of my parents’ sides. Second, I believe much more can be accomplished with team work than with individual efforts. Third, if folks choose to be part of a flock, a certain level of trust, cooperation, appreciation and respect should be innate. Dividing into sub-flocks makes achieving these impossible.

I’d much rather be among a flock of birds. When birds fly south together for the winter, they do so in a “^” shape. One bird starts at the front, bearing the brunt of the wind while the other birds, flying in an aerodynamic position, can coast. After a period of navigating and leading, the front bird gets tired and falls to the rear. A different bird then emerges as leader and takes the position of front bird. This process continues until the flock reaches its destination. Some birds may not get the chance to lead, and some lead for shorter times, but through cooperation and support, the entire flock reaches the sunny beaches they were aiming for.

I am in a group right now that is dangerously close to being led astray by the sheer number of shepherds. Attempts to unite the sheep to more closely resemble the flock of birds
is being construed as a few shepherds trying to make themselves Supreme Shepherds Over All Things Sheepish. I fear that unless something is done quickly, our flock of sheep will be lost forever, and we will lose our community, our friends, and everything we’ve all worked so hard for. There will be nothing left to lead ... and no one to follow...

And now for a Deep Thought by Jack Handy:
"I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas."