One evening, the old shepherd insisted that he would accompany the surveyors the next day so they would not become lost. Feeling fairly sure of themselves after so long, they asked why he felt he needed to go along.
The shepherd quietly repeated, "I must go with you."
Still puzzled, the surveyors again described their many hikes through the mountains and their familiarity with the area after many days. Yet again, the shepherd insisted, "I know the mountains like the back of my hand."
The two "experts" went up the mountain early the next morning by themselves. Soon a thick fog encircled them and led them astray. They wandered literally over hill and dale growing increasingly exhausted. Suddenly out of the fog, the shepherd appeared beside them. "There is no fog on your map," he said, and led them home.
No matter how much we think we know, and how "together" we think we are, and how many books we've read about life, we need a guide. We may travel much of life without incident. But there comes a time when we need a guide to lead us out of the fog.
"The Lord is my Shepherd."
© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).