The Shepherd’s wisdom

We have around 60 sheep on our sustainable farm. For these sheep we enjoy having shepherds and shepherd dogs who ensure that the sheep find the best grazing spots and are really happy all around. One of our shepherds is a man full of special wisdom. One day I asked him what he would like to pass on to me as a shepherd. He said: “The sheep are happy every morning when I come to lead them to pasture. They are then hungry and only think about their food and how to get full as quickly as possible. I, on the other hand, know what herbs and grasses they need, because I watched them the day before to see where they ate something. When we start our grazing day the sheep stop at the first grass and want to fill their stomachs. In the distance, however, I see the good meadow that could satisfy all of their needs - not just the quick hunger. I am much taller than the sheep, so I can see much further. So I try to urge the sheep to move on. With the help of the shepherd dogs and my guidance, I succeed - but the sheep are not happy that they are being led away from the first spot. Only when you arrive at the meadow that offers everything they really need, they forget the first fake spot.” God knows much better what we need than we can imagine.