Brexit and the Parable of the Good Shepherd

To the politicians, the House of Lords, the backers and bank-rollers of those in power - to all who have taken control over the destiny of Britain and the lives all the British people and people who have made their lives in Britain. I ask you all to ask yourselves, "Am I the Good Shepherd?"

You have been given the power to lead your flock and the duty to keep your flock safe. A Good Shepherd will ensure that the flock thrives in peaceful security. Are you a good shepherd?

Please take a little time to read this story and then reassure me that you are taking care of me, my family, the poor, the sick, the weak, the young, the old and the vulnerable.

For forty four years the shepherd had been taking the flock he inherited from his father up to the summer pastures. His flock had prospered and was now one hundred strong. Suddenly, before the trek to the mountain slopes, the flock began to complain. "We don't want to go to the summer pastures with the other flocks. We want to stay here on our plain," said the sheep. The shepherd was surprised and shocked. He carefully explained to the sheep that all the good, young grass and sweet water was on the cooler, higher ground and that if they stayed on the plains, they would die.

"But we die when we go with you to the mountains," cried the sheep. The old sheep can't keep up on the steep, mountain paths and get left behind, lambs are lost to the wolves and sheep fall down the ravines. We want our flock to stay on the plain where we'll be better off."

The shepherd was perplexed. Hadn't they heard a word he'd said? "What makes you think you'll be better off spending the summer here?" He asked.

"The fox told us we would," replied the sheep.

The shepherd couldn't believe his ears, but he was sick of the sheep bleating on and piqued that they were not listening to him so he decided to offer them a referendum. The old and tired sheep were happy now.

"Of course, said the shepherd, the sheep that have joined us from other flocks won't get a vote. Nor those sheep that have strayed away from our flock. The yearlings are too young to vote as well, OK?"

Everyone was in agreement and a referendum was held. Out of the hundred sheep, forty eight voted to go to the summer pastures but fifty two voted to stay put for the summer. "We won cried the old and tired sheep. "We've taken back control."

"So be it," said the shepherd crossly. "You will all stay. The sheep have spoken. It is the will of the flock, but as you no longer follow me, I shall no longer be your leader," and he turned on his heel and walked away.

At first all was well. The weather was fine and the sheep congratulated themselves on their good decision. "See, we are independent now. We got our flock back. We don't need shepherds," they chanted. Then Spring turned to Summer and the hot sun began to beat down on the plains from a relentlessly azure sky. The rivers ran dry and the grass turned brown. One by one the sheep began to die of thirst and hunger. The first to die were the old and sick, then the lambs. The weak were picked off by the foxes and wolves and even the strongest of the flock began to find it hard to survive. The sheep that voted to stay down on the plain began to regret their choice and those who had voted to stay with the other flocks and go to the summer pastures blamed those who had voted for death, resented them and punished them.

It was at this point that a good shepherd chanced by and saw the terrible plight the sheep were in. "Where is your shepherd?" he demanded and the sheep bleated out the whole story.

"But why did you believe the fox? Did you think he had your best interests at heart? You had food and water and your flock was thriving. Wasn't that enough?" the good shepherd asked.

The sheep looked sheepish. "But some of us are old and tired and couldn't keep up with the shepherd" said the sheep. "Some of us were left behind." They said "Baaa, baaa, baaaaa."

"That is because your shepherd was not a good shepherd. I am the Good Shepherd. Follow me." And he lifted the new born lamb on his shoulders, and the old and the sick he put in carts pulled by donkeys, and he guided them gently to the cool mountain slopes . He led them to green pastures and made them lie down by still waters and the flock joined the other groups of sheep peacefully grazing together on the grassy slopes.

The sheep were grateful to the Good Shepherd for protecting them from the wolves and the foxes and for proving them with rest and the shepherd was pleased.