Are you a sheep, a wolf, or a sheepdog?

One of my favorite movies is American Sniper staring Bradley Cooper. It’s based on a true story, adapted from the 2012 autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who served four harrowing tours in Iraq (1999 to 2009) before returning to civilian life. Since some reading this haven’t yet seen the movie, I won’t tell you how the story ends. Hopefully, that also piques your curiosity to see the movie. And by the way, here are a few more carrots, did I mention the film was directed by Clint Eastwood and earned six Academy Award nominations—including Best Picture and Best Actor.

This is what I’ve read about Chris Kyle: He is considered the deadliest sniper in U. S. history with 160 confirmed kills. By his own count, however, the number is closer to twice that. His longest recorded shot was 2,100 yards, which translates to 1.2 miles or 21 football fields. Chris Kyle was such a significant threat that Iraqi insurgents placed a $20,000 bounty on his head and referred to him as “Al-Shaitan Raman,” or “the Devil of Ramadi,” per History.com.

As a renown amateur psychologist, I love it in a movie or a story where there’s a scene that gives a major clue to the psychology, the mindset, the driving force—you might call it the true identity of the main character. A good story often has clues that point to what shaped the person’s character and his worldview.

Just such a clue presents itself in a scene where at a family dinner one night when Chris Kyle was a boy and his father Wayne says to his sons, “There are three types of people in the world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Some people prefer to believe that evil doesn’t exist in the world, and if it ever darkened their doorstep, they wouldn’t know how to protect themselves. Those are the sheep.”

Chris’ dad goes on to say, “Then you’ve got predators who use violence to prey on the weak. They’re the wolves.”

He continues to explain his metaphor by saying, “And then there are those blessed with the gift of aggression, an overpowering need to protect the flock. These men are the rare breed who live to confront the wolf. They are the sheepdog.”

To me, Wayne Kyle is describing the true warrior. And sheep is a good metaphor for most Americans today. Sheep live in denial, that is part of what makes them sheep. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.

To some the sheepdog looks too much like a wolf, but they are not. They protect not harm the sheep. Still the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the area.

Here’s how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog is vigilant and prepared for that day.

After September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most of the citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.”

When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself in warrior hood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference. In an interview, Chris Kyle said, “The thing that…haunts me are all the guys I couldn’t save.”

In nature, the sheep, real sheep are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn’t have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.

So which do I choose? Which do you choose? Does your family need a sheepdog or if you prefer shepherd—as the Bible calls it? Is your family a flock of sheep without a sheepdog or a shepherd?

As Mark Twain once said: “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” Denial is a powerful human coping mechanism that often acts as a barrier to truth, growth, and reality, frequently resulting in long-term destruction for short-term comfort. Denial is self-deception. Haven’t you heard, “the worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves”? It’s been said, “denial is a save-now, pay-later scheme.” Shouldn’t we ask ourselves, “Am I living in a state of denial?”

Admittedly, in the locales where most of us live the odds of violence from predators is statistically low, although it’s always a possibility. But what about spiritual predators? The Bible says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

I find it interesting that the greatest warrior of all time, Jesus Christ, when confronted by Satan used Scripture as his weapon of choice. I have guns and I have passed the conceal-carry course more than once. I’ve instructed youth and men in firearms usage. Some of the students I’ve coached have actually won international shooting events, but I have to ask myself, “Have I taught myself and my family to confront and to fight in spiritual combat?” Have you?

Whether we want to admit it or deny it, spiritual warfare and evil forces surround us everyday. Is denial the appropriate response? Shouldn’t we be equipping ourselves for the fight? Should we not be spending more time in God’s Word to make us better sheepdogs including making us more aware of the wolves’ tactics? Should we not be spending more time around other sheepdogs who have fought the good fight? Doesn’t it make sense to walk closely with and to apprentice under the training and protection of the Great Shephard?

Before the strong forces of denial draw you away to some comfortable lukewarm place—but no less dangerous place—let me share this thought-provoking quote from C.S. Lewis: “One must keep pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

Thanks for taking the time to read this—please don’t shoot the sheepdog. And if you want to know about where to join others in some great sheepdog training, please get in touch with me. Feel free to share your thoughts here on the FATC FORUM about this or about whatever is on your mind. Remember our motto: It’s not just about the fly fishing.

By the way, there’s still a few openings left for the upcoming May 18-22, 2026 Altar Fly Fishing Retreat in The Driftless Region of Minnesota. Over the years, I’ve attended several of these retreats and found them to be great sheepdog training, as well as great fellowship and great fly fishing. If you have any interest, please contact Jim Craig, ASAP.

John Muckerman

FATC Inspirational and Leadership Lead