One of my favorite television series is Grimm.
I think I could watch it all day, over and over, and never get bored. Ha.
As part of each episode's opening, a quote from an ancient(?) text is shared.
Episode 5 in Season 2 is entitled The Good Shephard.
The Good Shephard opens with this quote from an Aesop fable:
"Dressed in the skin, the Wolf strolled into the pasture with the Sheep. Soon a little Lamb was following him about and was quickly led away to slaughter."
~The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Aesop
I read it and asked myself, "Would I rather be the wolf or the sheep?"
I'd rather be the sheep.
Hubby answered the same.
In American culture (and I guess in other cultures too), the label "sheep" is used as a derogatory term for people who are (by othering) deemed ignorant, stupid, willing to readily follow, brainwashed, unable to think for or defend themselves.
And part of those characteristics are true of sheep.
Sheep do follow the leader, even right off a cliff. (Son witnessed this while in Iceland.)
Sheep in a domestic herd are dependent upon their shepherd, not unlike most domesticated animals who are dependent upon their keepers.
What would happen to the sheep if a few escaped from the herd?
Would they be able to fend for themselves in the wild?
Thinking about sheep brings to mind a film I watched yesterday which was published on 12/25/24 (on YouTube for free): Things Hidden: The Life and Legacy of René Girard / Full Length Documentary
I was introduced to Girard's work around March of 2007 via a small online Christian Universalist forum.
Some of us on the forum participated in a book study about Girard's book, I See Satan Fall Like Lightning.
Though it is the only Girard book that I've read and studied, it had a profound impact on my life.
I could see the scapegoating mechanism and what Girard coined "mimetic desire" in culture, in history, and in my own personal life, especially what I was experiencing at that time.
I found/find Girard's work interesting and thought provoking and his insight into human behavior, rivalry, and imitation worth deep consideration.
I've been interested in human behavior since my teen years.
I've often said, "Humans behave the way we do for reasons, sometimes unknown even to ourselves."
In the film, Girard talks about one difference between humans and animals.
Animals (typically?) do not fight to the death with their opponent within their own species.
One animal always gives up before death, granting dominance to his competition.
Humans, on the other hand, will kill their own species to conquer a given territory or to win a desired outcome.
As Girard was sharing about this in the film, it brought to mind a recent essay by Wendell Berry.
Berry's essay caused me pause regarding my own belief that we humans are simply another animal, and that (from Berry's observation) humans (unlike animals) need laws to keep ourselves in harmony.
As I watched the film about Girard's life, the memories of my life at the time I was introduced to Girard arose from my Lake of Memories (as I call it).
And now as a navigator of the ongoing and increasing challenges of living with a rare disease in a fast-paced culture, I thought, "How does Girard's work impact me now? Is my desire for good health a mimetic desire?"
If so, is there a way that Girard's work can help me to (again) accept and adapt and find purpose beyond my plethora of limitations?
Girard found companionship in books; they were one his biggest teachers.
Books have also been my companion.
Wouldn't I like to get back to turning pages and reading more from books and less from essays online though a digital screen?
Yes, I think I would.
I enjoyed the recently released film and learning more about Girard's life.
Born on Christmas day in 1923, he lived almost 92 years, dying in November 2015.
Sheep...
Gentle creatures for the most part...
Loyal to the shepherd who lovingly cares for them...
Jesus called his followers sheep and himself the good shepherd...
Jesus was treated as a scapegoat, but the scriptures refer to him as the "lamb of God"...
~*~
~*~
Perusing for a music video...
I found a song which I'd not heard before...
It prompted a chuckle... :D
It prompted a chuckle... :D
Brian M. Howard's song, I Just Wanna Be a Sheep...
~*~
No comments:
Post a Comment