Article April 13, 2009 Issue

THE SHEPHERD WITHIN

BY NATE TALBOT

As dawn began to break, I heard our collie, Laddie, whining softly at the front door. Probably elk doing some early morning foraging out on the front lawn, I thought. It wasn't unusual at our mountain home to see the occasional bear or mountain lion, coyote, or deer. But when I went to the door, I realized he was seeing through the glass a sight he'd never before encountered.

About a dozen sheep had wandered into our area and found their way onto our front lawn. I let Laddie out just to see what he would do. He knew how to respect wildlife. What would he think about this completely different animal? There was no hesitation. He began herding this little flock back out to the road. Then he returned for one lamb that had gotten stuck behind the fence, gently nudging it along until the sheep were all together and on their way again.

Some folks would call Laddie's actions natural instinct. In a way, that's true. But I believe there's something higher involved here. His tendency to shepherd those sheep was a symbol of a talent we all have. A hint of spiritual intuition. Maybe it could be described as an inner sense of leading, guiding, protecting, nurturing. It finds expression in many ways. Such qualities wouldn't be unusual for sheepherders as well as for the dogs they often use.