Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E.
It is the dark hour before dawn. We are five people waiting for the tide to turn in a shelter shed. The three who just arrived are arguing. The nuns are midwives advising the man on the needs of his brother’s family as they prepare for a new baby.
The grieving girl I’ve been keeping watch with through this night is huddled in the corner waiting for these people to leave– waiting for the silence to return pretending silence could be peace.
I’m waiting for God to answer my own silent prayer — Dear God, stay close to this young woman on her terrible journey through grief.
The three arrive in the midst of a heated argument. The nuns insist the family must procure a fresh cow. The soon-to-be uncle raises the timbre of the argument insisting a cow is too costly, accusing the nuns of having no empathy for the poor.
One nun says, “It is the responsibility of the family to care for their infants. It’s not simply the luck of having wealthy neighbors from whom to borrow a cow! Rich or poor, your family is responsible!”
The other nun adds, “If we didn’t know your family to be poor we would demand that you hire a wet nurse. The cow is the poor man’s substitute!”
The man starts to speak. The nun speaks over him.
“All we ask is that you borrow a cow for the sake of this baby! It is the least you can do.”
The tension rises. The man rages.
“Oh, dear Jesus, have these wealthy nuns no idea of what it is to be poor?”
At this moment, the girl huddled on the bench, flips her cowl back, stiffens her posture and shoots her demon glare right at the nuns and the uncle. She speaks boldly through gritted teeth.
“Here is the fresh cow Jesus sends you.”
Silent. Stunned. These nuns have seen this demon’s glare before. Then they were prepared with a chain and manacles — though, of course, they prepared for a much larger demon. They recognize her now.
It is the nature of gracious God to send a holy happenstance.
When the tide turns the nuns, the man, and the holy gift of the wet nurse, cross the sandbar. I know the truth of this holy happenstance might seem a miracle at this moment. Really what happened is that God sent the baby to rescue the wet nurse. Thank you, God.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 