BY DON HUGHES

The Shepherd's Presence

Don & Helen Hughes Missionaries to England

In June of 1991, my wife, Helen, and I were looking for a place to celebrate our anniversary together. We drove up to the Lake District in the north of England, one of the most beautiful places in all of Great Britain.

The June days were long, so on our first night we were able to take a boat ride around the lake at nine in the evening while it was still daylight. The lakes are circled by several beautiful mountain ranges.

As we were walking down to the lake we noticed to our right a gate that allowed us to enter a series of sheep pastures across some beautiful rolling hills, a favorite walking place of many of the tourists.

As it drew near night we decided to take a walk through the pastures. Apparently, because of the presence of tourists in the pasture, the sheep never lie down. Helen had tried to pet one of the lambs but he ran away.

The sheep also seemed frightened by the constant lapping of the lake water. We noticed they would only drink from a small artesian spring coming from the ground.

Over the next few days we took several walks to the edge of the lake and we watched the sheep. We never saw them lie down; they seem to be always afraid. On the last day of our vacation, we wanted to take one more walk in the pasture before we had to leave. A man arrived in a jeep and stopped at the gate. He got out of the jeep and opened the back door to allow a beautiful black and white sheep dog to jump out. Then he reached into the back seat and pulled out a long staff. It seemed as he opened the gate and entered the pasture that some unseen director stood and raised his hands. Every sheep in that pasture suddenly turned toward the shepherd, moving in his direction. When they gathered around him, we saw them lie down for the first time. The shepherd then left them and walked over a hill and was gone for 15 or 20 minutes. I later asked him where he had gone.

He told me that he had to go to another pasture to see about another flock of sheep. The amazing thing was that while he was gone to the other pasture and even though tourists were still walking in the pasture, those sheep remained as if they were not afraid any longer. You see, the shepherd was in the pasture. They may not have been able to see him, but they knew he was coming back for them.

Sometimes we are unsettled and afraid here on the mission field, but we are reminded that the Shepherd is in the pasture, even when we cannot see Him. We know that He is coming back for us and that He has promised never to leave us.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.