The master guards the sheepfold bin
And he wants to know, "Is my sheep brung in?"
And he's callin, callin,
Callin' softly---softly callin'
For them all to be gatherin' in.

To me, this isn't a religious song at all.
It IS simply just about inclusion. Like: "We're in the same boat, brother." The admirable philosophy of the shepherd is not to discriminate just because some might delete the black sheep from the group for whatever reason.

Believe me folks, this song illustrates aspects of my own life graphically. I have a very hard time with people who ostracize and exclude others when, with a little good will and effort, they might reap the good from knowing those they excommunicate so glibly.

That is a large reason I enjoy Mudcat. We are here in spite of our differences.

My big fault is that, when I feel hurt by a post, I shoot from the lip way too quickly. I'm with Frank. And I am sorry, Susan and others, if I have been unfeelingly judgmental here.

Art Thieme