Ovis Aries

by Thomas LeRoy
Those on the left-hand path must be a person of self-worth. Your identity, your worth, should be found in your achievements. You do no find your value in religious faith, or in the herd you move along with. But those without self-worth are more than ready to claim perfection for their nation, religion, race or holy cause. For this type, a cause, any cause, is what’s important. It is very difficult for the person with a sheep-like mentality to find a worth-while purpose in personal self-advancement. The prospect of striving for the good of the individual doesn’t push them to achieve, nor can it evoke in them purposeful dedication. They look on self-interest as something evil; something tainted. Anything undertaken under the auspices of the “self” seems to be without any real purpose. Nothing based in the self can be noble or right. They are rendered guilt-ridden. What they crave is a chance to acquire new elements of pride, confidence, hope, a sense of purpose and worth by an identification with a greater cause, be it religious or otherwise.
The Wanderer heard the sheep before he saw them as he went down the path at night. And It was around a bend in the road, within shards of silver moon-light, that Wanderer saw the Shepherd standing amongst his great flock.
“How much further is it to Hyperborea?” said the Wanderer to the man.
The Shepherd shrugged. “I’ll tell you if you answer a question.”
“I don’t have time for this,” said the Wanderer.
“It will only be one question.”
The Wanderer sighed. “Make it quick.”
The Shepherd smiled. “What do you believe?”
“What?” said the Wanderer.
“What do you believe?” repeated the Shepherd.
The Wanderer thought for a moment, then shook his head. “In truth, I believe in nothing. I either know things, or I don’t. Besides, belief takes up room. I would rather save it for the truth.”
The Shepherd clapped his hands. “Very good. ‘Nothing’ should be the only answer to that question.”
“So,” said the Wanderer, “are you going to answer mine?”
The Shepherd grinned as he stepped to the side, shooing his sheep away. “The answer to your question is this: You will reach Hyperborea when you are ready to reach Hyperborea. But beware, there are many more forks and detours on the path.”
“That’s it?”
The Shepherd shrugged.
“What would have happened if I had given you the wrong answer?”
The Shepherd stared at the Wanderer, then smiled and gestured toward the sheep.”The believers? Lost, they are, and damnation awaits them at the end of their path. The faithful are the worms of the earth. They are the weak of mind and spirit, ever crawling, battered by Life. They have been impaled by the Spear of Belief, bleeding out. Many are waiting to die to become fulfilled. Their souls are empty, their will is gone.”
The Wanderer’s brow grew heavy. “What are you saying?”
“The Shepherd shrugged. “They came to me, asking questions. They thought they were on the path, but they never were. Now, they are my flock, just waiting to be slaughtered; my frightened guests in the abattoir.”

Most people in the United States find solace and/or safety in either religion or in being governed. Those on the political far right, more often than not, find it in the Christian God. While those on the far left long to make government their god, striving for that great collectivist Utopian ideal. Both have dreams of a “glorious future to come” be it here on earth or the after-life. They shout out their bumper-sticker slogans about “freedom”, while both sides are terrified of real freedom. They are unlikely to be happy in a truly free society. True freedom aggravates the sheep. This is because freedom of choice places the blame of failure on the individual. True freedom is dangerous. It’s the ability to reach the highest highs, or plummet to the lowest lows without a safety net.

In truth, the sheep’s innermost desire is for an end to this “free for all.” They want to eliminate the ruthless testing to which they are continually subjected to in a free society.
They long for a shepherd.