The Sheep-Pig - Dick King-Smith

You probably know this story by another name - Babe, the tale of a small piglet who is adopted by a sheep-dog and learns the family trade. It is both adorable and well written. Back when the film version of this story came out, it prompted people to go and buy their very own 'Babe', later regretting it when they realised just how large a Large White really is!

Babe is a piglet on a mission. He is won by the farmer at a fair and then promptly adopted by the farm's border collie and becomes, in the end, the greatest sheep-pig to have ever shepherded the hills. The sheep respect him, the framer dotes on him and his mother is proud of him. But in all this, the road, of course, is not smooth - what even is a sheep-pig anyway? And here we find our fundamental human truth - we will be judged by others.

When Babe sets about following in his mothers footsteps and herding sheep, he is absolutely ridiculed far and wide. Judgment on his career choice rains down from the ducks to the farmers wife. Ultimately they do have a point - pigs don't herd sheep. Dogs herd sheep. And it has been this way for good reasons. This has been found to be the most effective way of moving sheep from one place to another. Other animals probably have been tried in years gone by, but dogs (specific breeds of dog at that) have shown to be the animal for the job. Pigs on the other hand have found their calling in the form of bacon.

When Babe decides to give something new a go, he is met with criticism and mockery. He stands out from the rest of the animals - he stands out from the rest of the pigs and everyone hears about it. There is no end to the rumours and gossip about that pig who thinks he's a dog. And while Babe may only have the laughter of an old ewe ringing in his ears, we can relate. If we are believers particularly, we will stand out from the crowd. And others will notice and comment.

Judgment from others is not solely for the Christian. As human beings we love to measure ourselves against something - anything - to see where we're at. While we may not want to be top dog, we certainly don't want to be bottom of the class so we look at others, what they wear, how they raise their kids, what job they have, how 'together' they seem, and we weigh it up against where we are. Just look at advertising - the list of things I never knew I needed to improve my positioning is endless! And if I choose to forgo these then everyone will know about it!

As followers of Jesus we are all the more obvious in the world. Batman in a sea of princesses. If we are encouraging others - which includes our children that we love - to follow Jesus this is what we are calling them to be also. And others will not like it. So what do we do?

The Bible says many things about this, but here's just one -

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 10v22

And while this may not fill you with immediate confidence it is, in fact, reassuring. Our overwhelming feeling when we are judged by others is either to conform or kick back. But this verse tells us to simply keep going. The great thing about Babe is, he is fully aware he is not a dog. He is fully aware that others are talking about him, and he just carries on. Herding sheep and fighting off whatever threatens the flock. He isn't trying to be something he isn't, he is just being who he is called to be. He's bat-pig in a sea of princess-dogs.

The Bible doesn't shy away from the reality of how different following Jesus makes us. In fact it commands it of us quite often. And God also knows how hard that can be, how fraught with set backs and sacrifice, sometimes of the things and people most precious to us. And then ring these words of encouragement - keep doing it. You're not wrong. Stand firm. And we can do this because Jesus also, endured the same. People told Him He was wrong many many times - and He was the divine Son of God! His example of following God at all costs should spur us on to do the same, whatever the opposition.

God also gives us other 'weirdos' who are standing out from the crowd to encourage us to keep going. We call it the church! And it is fundamental to helping us when we just want to blend in. When living this Christian life is too hard and we think we've got it wrong, we need them, in all their garish glory, to remind us we haven't. That it is supposed to feel like this sometimes, because we're still this side of heaven.

God spends an inordinate amount of time telling the Israelites how to stand out from their counterparts in other nations. How they should be different because they are His. How this will show others Him and draw them to Him. It was there to remind them that they were chosen not because of anything other than God wanted them. That they had been plucked from death and given life.

They spend most of their time trying to blend in.

We are not so different from them. We need to remind one another what we are called to. Who we are following. That we are supposed to stand out. So don your cape, re-adjust your mask and keep being batman. And teach your little bat-people to do the same.