In a village in a land far away, there lived a kind-hearted Shepherd. He was deeply loved by His sheep. Every day, before the sun rose, He led them to a pasture not far from the village, a distance of about two thousand steps. Before sunset, as the last glow of light appeared, He led them back home; not a single one was ever left behind.
The sheep followed Him and rejoiced in His presence. They enjoyed the vast meadows from morning until evening and felt safe with Him as they fell into deep sleep. No lack or danger ever befell them. Yet, among that flock, not all were sheep. Some were lions, wolves, and other predators. How could they possibly be together with the sheep? Did the Shepherd not worry? No, for He accepted them, and they accepted Him. All the meat-eaters who once preyed upon the sheep had their hunger satisfied by the Shepherd. Because of His compassion, the predators were able to eat alongside the flock.
One of those who was not a sheep was the Wolf. He was a true hunter; his tracks were invisible, and his prey would surely end up in his belly. The Wolf had been with this flock for one hundred and twenty-three seasons. For one hundred and twenty of those seasons, he had felt the desire to help the Shepherd guard the flock. Through the seasons spent guarding them, the Shepherd gave him a name: Custos (The Protector). To this day, he watches over the flock without rest, from one morning to the next. He is tireless, for he believes that his exhaustion and sleepiness will be restored to strength by the Shepherd.
They—the flock of sheep and the non-sheep alike—had lived in this pasture for as long as they could remember. In this place, all they knew was the small village where the Shepherd lived and the meadows where they satisfied their hunger. They knew nothing of what lay beyond the pasture or what happened within the village. This ignorance did not make them wish to leave. The sheep trusted the Shepherd and remembered what He said when He first brought home a predator from outside the meadow:
"Do not leave this garden—this pasture and the village at its heart—for this is My home, your home, and the home of the others. Remember that there is danger out there, and I protect you with all My might here. If anything enters from the outside, warn the Wolf. It is he whom I have brought to guard you, My children," the Shepherd had said.