"I see what you see."

A smile crosses the shepherd's face. We make our way to the one lying there. He looks battered. His clothes were more rags than clothing. He looks exhausted.

"Hello friend," I say to him. He looks up at me with tired eyes.

"Please, do you have water? I am so thirsty. I have been wandering in this desert for so long."

I stand there dumbfounded. Stand there in lush green grass just a few feet from a clear stream. The shepherd hands me a cup. I go to the stream and return with a cup of cold water. I give it to the stranger.

The shepherd and stranger begin to talk. They seem to know one another. I begin to wonder if this will become me one day. Exhausted, out of touch with my surroundings, dying of thirst with water almost within reach.

Then the stranger fixes his gaze upon me. "I have something for you." He reaches into his backpack and carefully unwraps a cup. Full of dirt. And hands it to me.

"Uh, thank-you." I mumble as I take it from him and set it aside.

The stranger and shepherd talk awhile longer and then the stranger heads off into the "desert".

"What is wrong with that man? Has he always been like that or did he become like this?"

"There is nothing wrong with him. He simply sees things others don't. And then gives them what they need."

"But how can someone so out of touch with reality help anyone? He thought he was in a desert about to die of thirst in a field beside a stream." I was right and knew I was right.

A tear slips from the shepherd's weathered face. I felt bad. Didn't mean to hurt his feelings.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know he was such a good friend."

"Plant your seed."

This took me by surprise. Strangely, I had bonded strongly with this shepherd. Something about him. But I didn't feel like this was the place where the seed needed to be planted. Besides, he was a shepherd. What did he know about seeds?

"I can't. Not here."

Another tear slips from the shepherd's eyes. Okay, this was getting weird. I needed to get away.

"Look, it has been nice spending time with you but I really need to be getting along".

"I understand," he simply replied.

I turned to walk away but the shepherd said, "Wait." He then reached down and picked up the cup of dirt I had set down from the stranger. "You may need this."

Not wanting to see anymore tears I took the cup from his hand, thanked him, and walked away.

(to be continued)