“Muldoon: They show extreme intelligence, even problem-solving intelligence. Especially the big one. We bred eight originally, but when she came in, she took over the pride and killed all but two of the others. That one… when she looks at you, you can see she’s working things out. That’s why we have to feed them like this. She had them all attacking the fences when the feeders came.
Dr. Ellie Sattler: But the fences are electrified though, right?
Muldoon: That’s right, but they never attack the same place twice. They were testing the fences for weaknesses, systematically. They remember. “
Wait… aren’t we talking about Sheep, why do you have a quote from Jurassic Park in there? Okay, yes we are talking about sheep, or in this case just one, does that make it shep? Anyway, today we bring to you our beloved Eli:
The ram you see before you, much like the raptors likes to test the fences of the cages he is in, to the point that we have considered renaming him to Houdini. He has sneaked under a few different types of fences, and even in one case removed the gate to the cage holding him. It was always “fun” coming out and finding him out and about doing whatever he wanted to do in the chicken pen area. However, enough about his gumption let us get on to features that are more technical. Eli is a NABSAR Registered Black Southdown Baby Doll Ram. He gives a ridiculous amount of wool compared to the other sheep we have. He has his tail, and while I may get disagreement here, I personally like the tail on the sheep. As for our sheep he has sired six lambs, which we have two remaining, both rams.
Being that he is our first ram there was a lot to learn with him, and by the grace and merciful will of God, he is still with us. The reason I have waited so long to post this item is due to having struggled with a way to attempt to glorify God in this post. Eli, while being a great learning sheep for us, has also been a tremendous trial for us in many ways. The constant escapes, and worrying about how much he has consumed that he should not, the always having to watch my back when in his cage and use my most elite of ninja moves to evade him.
Many times, I have thought perhaps I should just stop; maybe this is not for me. I would question why this continues to happen to me. As if I am somehow beyond this minor inconvenience. It is in these moments that I am reminded how patient our creator is with us. How He has not killed me off (“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22), and while I do not know the secret will of the Lord, I was recently reminded by my pastor that we have much freedom in our plans, and God will direct our steps.