A Modern-day Shepherd

The fact that God chose to first announce the birth of his precious Son to those considered the most lowly of society more than 2000 years ago gives us plenty of food for thought about his priorities. Not for Jesus a comfortable hotel and a place among the elite. From the start he was allied to those who had little else to give but their hearts and souls: the dregs of society and the strugglers. Life as a shepherd in Biblical times was tough and God wanted to walk alongside them.

While farmers today enjoy higher status than their forebears, perhaps, the job is still essentially a mix of hard work and wonder that keeps a man’s feet firmly on the ground, says Chris Hargraves.

Taking a snatched break from work at his home in Ford, near Thame, he testifies that for livestock farmers, at least, the hours are 24/7, 365 days of the year, often solitary, and with depressingly low financial reward.

On the other side, however, Chris says he feels continually blessed at the wonders of
creation he now sees around him as he goes about his daily chores.

‘I spent a great many years in the corporate world, in sales and marketing, before I was able to retire and was lucky to have earned enough to go ahead then and really get stuck in to what I had always wanted to do – farming.’

He now has more than 100 sheep and 20 cattle to tend to each day and land to nurture and says that, like people, the animals present a constant range of challenges for their stewards:
‘I think most livestock farmers genuinely love their animals – they must do because it certainly isn’t all plain sailing. They get into troubles and things go wrong, from health to waywardness, and you need a good deal of patience and faith to guide them through.

‘Believe me there are times when my language hasn’t been at all godly! When I’m tired at the end of the day and find that the cows have mobbed their hay and water container right in the middle of their clean pen and I have to sort it out I could cheerfully strangle them all. And sheep should definitely  come with labels saying which ones will find lambing hard and need help, rather than letting me find out in the middle of the night. But I genuinely look at each one as a gift from God and I am lucky to be able to care for them.’

Isolation is also a big problem faced by farmers and even with a small farm Chris says he has been grateful for the supportive nature of the farming community: ‘Farming is not a job, it’s a way of life and the reality is that it’s often lonely. When I’m out on my tractor I might not see another soul all day. But I have been really grateful to be able to share problems and seek advice from other farmers around me. They are not in competition with one another, they are very supportive.’

To balance the lows there are also highlights of the year such as lambing, when Chris says the miracle of new life never ceases to amaze him. He and his wife, also Chris, are always delighted to welcome the parties of children who visit from schools and youth groups to see and hear about the newborn lambs.

‘Out there in the countryside there are so many beautiful things, whether it’s wildlife or being up early in the morning and seeing a sunrise. Just like the animals it’s a humbling experience to  feel part of something much, much bigger.’

Hand-in-hand with his discovery of the wonders of creation, Chris says his faith also received a kick-started when he met his wife, Christabel, who is now curate in Goring, Streatley and South Stoke.

Although both had a foundation in Christianity as children, he says they had lost their way as ‘life happened’. Together they wanted to re-kindle their relationship with God and the only question was ‘where?’

After trying various churches they found themselves at an evening celebration service in St Mary’s Church, Thame, listening to a ‘wildly enthusiastic’ talk and feeling very much at home.
‘That’s the pattern of churchmanship we’ve taken ever since. We’re very much New Wine people and feel lifted and moved by that style of worship and fellowship. It has to make you feel alive. I started to think ‘Oh good it’s Sunday’ and look forward to it as a great part of my week.’

Gradually they felt compelled to ‘give something back’ and joined the ministry team. They also discovered a calling to prison ministry after attending a talk by the then chaplain at Grendon Prison.

‘We went along, quite nervously, wondering what to expect, and came away having had our pre-conceptions quite changed. We spent time talking with some of the prisoners and I came away thinking there were some really nice guys there.

‘Some of them had backgrounds that, with my safe upbringing, were beyond my comprehension. Others had lost their way in quite mundane incidents such as, say, a neighbourly dispute over garden watering in a drought. Hearing those stories, I realised what a thin line we all walk every day between right and wrong!’

Just as the shepherds in the Christmas story stayed by their sheep through the darkest hours, so Chris says it feels right to walk alongside those whose lives have derailed, offering fellowship and support. He and Chris feel they get as much out of it as they put in.

‘All the prisoners we talk with know where we are from, but you can’t just stuff them with the Bible. Some are definitely searching, but a lot of days God doesn’t even enter into the conversation. What is rewarding is that we are building a trust and offering a hand of friendship, sometimes for the first time in their lives.’

Back at home this month, the big event will be the annual Carol Service for the village in the Hargrave’s barn complete, of course, with sheep and cows. In its fourth year now, a big attendance is expected. Last year almost half the population were there, enjoying the setting, the story, the music, fellowship and the mulled wine.

‘Of course it’s a community event, a social time,’ says Chris, ‘which is in itself important today.

‘But they do hear the Word, and if even one person takes something away from the evening about the wonder of God’s gift to us then I’m a very happy shepherd.’