So I have been thinking about my post from the other day. We usually hear that fable from the perspective of the other shepherds. But how about it from this angle:
Once there was a young boy who was watching his father's sheep. The long and lonely days became too much for the boy, and on one particularly-long Monday, he decided to have some fun. The boy began to shout, "Wolf, wolf, wolf!" The sheep heard the call and began to run, hide, and try to escape the impending doom. After all, their short legs could only run so fast.
Other shepherds came running to help chase the wolf, but found the shepherd laughing hysterically. The scattered sheep were gathered, and the other shepherds returned to their own flocks, muttering something under their breath.
On Tuesday, the sheep again heard their shepherd shouting, "Wolf, wolf, wolf!" And again, wanting to protect themselves, tried to gain a head-start and protect themselves. But alas, no wolf.
On Wednesday, they heard the call, turned, scanned the horizon, peered into the bushes watching for movement, saw nothing and returned to eating, appointing one of the flock to serve as watch-guard.
On Thursday, the "wolf" call came while the sheep were napping in the valley. They heard the call, looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and went back to sleep.
On Friday, somewhere the call was sounded, but no one remembers hearing it. And then it was too late. A hungry wolf devoured the flock.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:42-44)
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