As a member of the Abu Jabal Bedouin tribe I come from a
heritage of shepherds. Generations of my
ancestors moved nomadically throughout the region herding their flocks of sheep
and goats, and significant amounts of Bedouin culture has been built on the
backs of these animals and their traditionally mobile living. It’s a narrative that has changed drastically
in the past century. Under the
restrictions of nation-state borders, urbanization and government policies,
nomadic peoples in the Middle East have widely adjusted to a life of
settlement. My Abu Jabal relatives now have permanent homes and modern jobs,
but the Bedouin identity remains. It’s
this identity that I have been taking time and effort to explore.
I am currently taking a masters course on Cultures of the
Middle East and North Africa and my term paper has required me to conduct a
cultural study on a particular ethnographic group. For many reasons it made a lot of sense to
examine the Abu Jabal tribe, and particularly the shepherds. While much has changed for the Abu Jabal
community, there remains a remnant of families continuing the traditional
occupation of shepherding. With notepad,
pen, and shepherding stick in hand I set out to capture the Shepherd in his own
words, actions and work environment.
Shepherding is a phenomenal practice; one of the oldest
occupations in history. In the Biblical narrative of Genesis we read that Adam
and Eve’s son Cain was a “tiller of the ground” and their other Abel “a keeper
of sheep.” While farming has been
transformed throughout human history with advancements of technology and
technique, shepherding has remarkably endured in a near-original form. Today in Lebanon we can find shepherds
leading their flocks throughout the lands just as shepherds have done for many
thousands of years. It’s a reminder that
in the midst of monumental change, some things look very similar today to the
way they did in ancient times. The goal of my project is to explore how
occupation shapes the identity of a certain group of shepherds in their particular
context.
In addition to interviews, a significant portion of my field
research has consisted of participation; for a very brief period I have
attempted to become a shepherd. Even
before this project I had a desire to shadow my relatives as they go out
shepherding. It’s part of my heritage
(my father was a shepherd) and throughout the scriptures we see spiritual
reference after reference to this specific occupation. With motivations both educational and
personal, I set out to walk in the shepherd’s shoes.
I won’t give you all my analysis of the experience (I’m
still working away at the paper) but shepherding is a wonderful and fascinating
activity. I joined a group of shepherds of
various ages/experiences and listened to them share about their motivations,
joys, challenges, and hopes of being a shepherd. I also heard a lot of yelps, whistles, clicks
and grunts, all of which make up a sophisticated language between the shepherd
and his animals. There are commands for
going, coming, waiting and even drinking.
The many hours a shepherd spends with his flock each day are full of
interaction as they jointly navigate the hazards of their environment in search
of pasture. The main dangers are not
products of nature, however, but products of urbanization. Rapid development, human encroachment,
highways zipping with speeding cars, and mounting pollution are some of the
many factors placing great pressure on the shepherds in Lebanon. They are enduring, but I wonder how many days
remain for this endangered workforce.
Like the Cowboys of the American West, I fear the shepherds of Lebanon
are on their way to a place of memory and lore.
Even so, this research was not a time to despair a cultural
death but to celebrate a heritage. It
was also a chance to enter into one of the most interactive Bible studies
experiences I could ever conceive. The
scriptures are full of lessons, stories, metaphors, and poetry rooted in
shepherding. Many faith heroes,
including Jacob, Moses, and David, forged much of their life experiences and character
while living as shepherds. From Psalms 23 to Luke 15 to John 10, we see God consistently
referencing the experience of the shepherd to communicate his heart for his
people. The days I spent researching an
ethnographical study were in fact opportunities of profound reflection and worship. I watched with great intrigue as the shepherds
care for their sheep with daily work and effort. How wonderful to know that I have a Shepherd
who cares so much that he would lay down his own life for mine. (John 10:11) I’m not sure what kind of academic results
this project will produce, but the personal impact has been very much
worthwhile. Not only have I had the
privilege of engaging in a fascinating topic of study, but I engaged with a
special group of people carrying out an honest and admirable occupation. I hope my shepherding days are not over, and
I wish with all my heart that the future generations of Abu Jabal shepherds
aren’t either.
When the sheep are happy, the shepherds are happy
Orchestrating the flocks
Navigating its unique type of wilderness
The next generation of shepherds?
