J.K. Marlin

#45.12, Weds., June 28, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Luxeuil Brother Servant calls me from something of an embarrassing conversation with the overseer of gifts while I was negotiating a place for Gabe at this monastery. I find that those monks who knew me from my association with Annegray had been grieving my death. Now they assume they’d receivedContinue reading “#45.12, Weds., June 28, 2023”

#45.11, Tues., June 27, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Luxeuil Luxeuil is different from the small cloister of monks that peopled Annegray. Now it has overseers for things like gifts from nobility. Father Columbanus is so well-known far and wide that bishops must gather in councils to request his attendance, even when they mean to accuse him of ignoringContinue reading “#45.11, Tues., June 27, 2023”

#45.10, Thurs., June 22, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Greg and Gabe have only been back from Metz for a day when they are ready to go off again, this time to find the places where noble families plot their children’s successes. We aren’t of the aristocracy, but Greg would like to be trainedContinue reading “#45.10, Thurs., June 22, 2023”

#45.9, Weds., June 21, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Greg argues against my hard rule for pacifism. He says, “When plotting bishops order their guards to murder an innocent man just because he brings them a message — then they are evil.” “’When’ you say? So evil is not a person but theContinue reading “#45.9, Weds., June 21, 2023”

#45.8, Tues., June 20, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Greg and Gabe returned from Metz more excited than ever about the possibilities of taking their accomplishments and making themselves into some twist of aristocracy. They’ve decided riding horses is more to their liking than managing the farm mule, and a polished sword dangles fromContinue reading “#45.8, Tues., June 20, 2023”

#45.7, Thurs., June 15, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges I’m tempted to lecture little Simon on the assurance that God is with him even though silent. I would tell him that, but he isn’t asking me to send him God. And really, for any of us, it is only God who can answer theContinue reading “#45.7, Thurs., June 15, 2023”

#45.6, Weds., June 14, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges So today Simon and I are sorting through his collection of strangely shaped tree roots, aged and washed in the creek. Which of these elbows of old root is a harp? Some are too fragile, some have too many parts, and some have no placeContinue reading “#45.6, Weds., June 14, 2023”

#45.5, Tues., June 13, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges I’d been telling my ten-year-old a story about those pesky psalms his brothers memorize so easily, and then I happened to mention that David, the little harp player, became a great king. So, all I was doing was adding another rung of out-of-reach accomplishment forContinue reading “#45.5, Tues., June 13, 2023”

#45.4, Thurs., June 8, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Simon is sitting with me here as I search for the secret of his smile that seems so rare. I asked him if he likes to sing the dancing songs at the little church. “Yes, I do like that, Papa. But without you theContinue reading “#45.4, Thurs., June 8, 2023”

#45.3, Weds., June 7, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges “Psalm 139 goes on after ‘I rise up…’ then comes ‘you discern my thoughts from far away.’” So now here I am correcting this child when I meant to ease his worry over all the lessons. I know it’s hard for him. “Simon, IContinue reading “#45.3, Weds., June 7, 2023”