Feeding the Sheep

Thinking about Geoffrey’s reflections on Jesus commands to Peter (Jn 15), I thought some more about sheep care and shepherding. Shepherds don’t normally feed the sheep and lambs; they provide nourishment for them to feed themselves in a safe environment.
I have read that Psalm 23 is the Berber shepherds song. In the morning they lead their flock up a steep path at the side of a ravine to the high pasture. At the top each sheep has to jump the narrow divide to get to the food, with the sheperd’s staff below it to encourage and the crook to catch it should it trip.
When they start feeding the shepherd moves ahead to pull up poisonous weeds (the enemies) and place them on a stone or rock where they shrivel up in the sun. He then rests somewhere in the shade and at some point each indivual sheep comes to nuzzle him and commune. Sheep can’t drink from running water so he makes a hollow and directs water from a stream into a pool of water for them.
In the evening they follow him back to the fold (one way traffic essential!) where he checks each one for wounds or pests using wine or oil for antiseptic and salve and fills a cup to overflowing so they can drink (they don’t lap water). When they’re all safely in he bars the gate and sleeps there- just inside probably.
Incidently we sometimes forget that most of the sheep are ewes; the males are likely to be castrated after birth to fatten up for food! (Or not if they are for the sacrifice)
I am glad that it is Jesus himself is our shepherd-he who knows us, rather than the local pastor who doesn’t. The pastor or minister is there to provide good nourishment for the flock and keep them safe and needs the constant communion -the infilling of the Spirit from the Good Shepherd herself!
What do you think?