A decade later, Bodhi’s humanitarian work takes him to poor and conflict-affected countries on the southside of the Mountain of Mortality, where men kill and die over whose God is right. On one such early morning, before the house stirs, Bodhi places notes on the kitchen table, lifts his duffle bag, and steps quietly into the dark. 

The heat and suffering overwhelm him upon arrival. For the next month, he works at a social center, comforting those dying from disease and famine. At night, by candlelight, he journals and studies philosophy and religion. Bodhi depends on these quiet hours, time to face the part of himself he keeps hidden at home. 

Drawn to how ancient cultures understand God, Bodhi asks a village elder about the Priest of the Earth, said to live beside a great Baobab tree a few hours down the path. Near the end of his stay, permission is granted. The next morning, Bodhi is awakened by roosters and steps from his mud hut, restless and expectant. The savanna stretches before him, dry and endless, already warming with the rising sun. 

As he walks, Bodhi thinks to himself:

in the middle of nowhere
what am i doing here
came to relieve suffering

yet nothing feels clear

can we bear the weight
of hatred and intolerance
how long can we survive
the burden of ignorance

does life have meaning
a moral underpinning
does it rest on god
absolute from the beginning

and with esoteric questions
come those from the heart
with a loving family at home
why do i feel so far apart

The path narrows as Bodhi walks, the village fading behind him. 

Bodhi arrives at a church enclosed by high mud walls, their surfaces cracked but unbroken. Thirsty, he approaches a wooden door engraved with a dragon. Bodhi knocks and an old nun, with a blue and white habit, opens it releasing several sheep into the yard. The nun hollers at them: 

back inside

blessed ones, stay

or the wolves will try

to tear your faith away

The sheep run back into the mission, and the nun turns to Bodhi and welcomes him, warmly:

welcome young man

to the lord’s retreat

a mission of mercy

so glad we meet

my name is mother sheep

this is god’s palace

here we nourish souls

drinking from his chalice

Bodhi answers:

sorry to disturb

just passing through

to the earth’s priest

to hear what is true

walking all this way

has made me hot

looking for water

and answers i’ve sought 

Mother Sheep smiles and responds: 

thirsty you are

far from home

please come inside

where lost souls roam

Mother Sheep steps back from the doorway and welcomes Bodhi into the dark mission. The escaped sheep reenter and disappear into the hall. Once inside, the nun leads Bodhi to a small dimly lit kitchen where she motions for him to take a seat at the table and hands him a filled cup. She says to him: 

take this my son

drink up god’s love

quench both thirsts

earthly and from above

Bodhi drinks the water while Mother Sheep continues:

what is your name dear

from where did you reside

why visit the earth’s priest

he is no faithful guide

Bodhi responds:

my name is bodhi

a humanitarian volunteer

at the social center

not far from here

staying near the village

but home is far away

i come with questions

on my mind they weigh

Mother Sheep takes Bodhi’s hand and says:

my poor boy

you seem so lost

perhaps god led you here

to thaw your heart’s frost

here you will find

all you need to know

priest that you seek

he lacks our divine glow

he does not accept

what christ has shown

that those who turn away

are left to walk alone

what you will find here

unlike your center

is that we care for souls

that heaven they may enter

like those who use reason

or bow down to other divine

such as your earth priest

or the wolves, those swine

Mother Sheep picks up her Bible from the counter and leads Bodhi down a narrow and musty corridor. They stop and turn into a small room where they see a nun caring for a sick villager lying on an old cot. Several sheep sleep on the floor. Mother Sheep hands Bodhi her Bible, walks several steps toward the cot, and takes the patient’s hand saying:

open your heart

and offer love

to our father

the lord above

Mother Sheep lets go of the villager’s hand, pauses, and with tears in her eyes addresses Bodhi passionately:

jesus told me to save lives

many years ago

caring for bodies and souls

both we must know

villagers now come

throughout this land

free health and education

seek an offering hand

when time has come

we guide their breath

so they may meet god

in a gentler death

Mother Sheep takes Bodhi by the arm and leads him out of the patient room. As they exit, Bodhi says: 

thank you mother sheep

for the water free

but i must continue

to the baobab tree

Mother Sheep’s smile turns into a frown and inquires: 

are you sure

why do you leave

stay here

help us grieve

Bodhi signals he must leave, and Mother Sheep walks him to the mission’s exit. After walking for several minutes, Bodhi realizes he still has Mother Sheep’s Bible under his arm. Hurrying back, he finds the front door ajar and enters. A sick man approaches and whispers to him, frightened: 

help me escape

walls of this prison

i cannot stay here

sorrow has risen

mother sheep says i’m suffering

as christ did on the cross

says agony is a gift from god

to suffer beside the cross 

who needs medicine

when we have his word

simply accept jesus

when eyes are blurred

Mother Sheep enters the foyer interrupting the sick man and asks excitedly to Bodhi:

welcome back my son

have you changed your mind

will you be staying with us

to help see the blind

i see you have met

a lost soul to curse

although he feels pain

his spiritual suffering is worse

Bodhi, looking confused, responds: 

i’m just returning

the bible to you

i’ll leave it here

on the wooden pew

Bodhi places the Bible on a bench in the foyer and exits the mission. Turning up the path, he looks back at the door and sees Mother Sheep standing outside, surrounded by her sheep, staring at the dragon on her door, its scales catching the light. She quietly mutters to the heavens:

i try to be strong

but doubt fills my heart

dark night of the soul

from his love i drift apart

As Mother Sheep enters back into the mission, Bodhi calls out and points to the mud walls:

since you are open

to help all find god

why so many walls

so tall and broad

Mother Sheep points to the door’s engraving and responds:

those wolves from the field

eat my sheep they try

but thou shalt protects

an eye for an eye

Puzzled, Bodhi continues walking the path.