I saw this very early in the morning today when I was getting ready for work. I turned on the song as I was tying my shoes, and while I'll admit that during the first few seconds I felt that I might not like the song, when I paid close attention to the lyrics, I really felt them to be synonymous with how I feel you've portrayed this character. For almost an hour after I got to work all I could think about was. "Wow man, I wonder what I should say in a comment on that picture," because I knew I definitely had a few thoughts.

After thinking on it for a little, I really feel that the lines toward the beginning "I can fake a smile, I can force a laugh, I can dance and play the part, if that's what you ask - give you all I am," are striking when set to the context of this character. I imagine a quiet Shepherd sitting alone at night, doubting his faith in God, but he feels ashamed, guilty that he's even doubting in the first place. Maybe he desperately wants to believe there's a God, and his time as a priest has only served to convince him that there isn't. Imagine how many desperate people he'd have to see every day, praying for help, answered with nothing. Maybe his choice to become a priest gave him a sense of purpose, and he's afraid to give up that part of himself, even if he's unhappy.

Despite doubting god himself, despite being unhappy, perhaps he just wants to help those that do so that they can keep on believing, and keep on being at least a little happier.

I might be completely wrong on all of this. Might just be rambling! I just feel that you've always done a great job portraying emotion with these characters, though very rarely is there dialogue; it's interesting to quietly think what might've prompted the weak smile, the weak frown, the look of dismay, the look of hope. Ecetera.

Well, now I *am* rambling. So-

TL;DR = I LIKE DIS PICHUR