The Reverend Richard L. Pearson at one time served the Crescent Park United Methodist Church in Sioux City, Iowa. For several years that church had a living nativity scene.

On one particular night it was Pastor Dick’s job, along with a man who had a pick‑up truck, to get a pregnant ewe, which was bedded down in the parsonage garage, to the church. They went to get her about a half hour before performance time. Due to her delicate condition they carefully lifted her into the bed of the truck, and Dick rode in the back with her.

It was a bitterly cold night and the ewe evidently decided she had other plans. When the truck stopped at a light, she bolted and jumped over the tailgate. She started running down the busy city street away from the church with Dick in hot pursuit.

Passing cars sl…