J.K. Marlin

#41.3, Tues., Feb. 7, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil A message arrived on a bird’s leg simply mentioning “the nuns of Laon.” “Laon has no nuns, or convent or monastery. We were there this summer on our journey looking for nuns.” I can attest. But Ana knows what this means and she’sContinue reading “#41.3, Tues., Feb. 7, 2023”

#41.2, Thurs., Feb. 2, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil When I mentioned our child yet unnamed Ana smiled with her beautiful whole face beaming far beyond that recent dinge of worry. Together we touched her round belly. We’ve been in the shadow of this thing Colleen calls “circumstance” for what seems a very longContinue reading “#41.2, Thurs., Feb. 2, 2023”

#41.1, Weds., Feb. 1, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Remembering something from a very ancient time, I tell Ana, “It was after the execution of Jesus most followers believed we had come to the farthest edge of time – the end times. We waited for a sign expecting a physical Jesus to return andContinue reading “#41.1, Weds., Feb. 1, 2023”

#40.13, Tues., Jan. 31, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Maybe it is true that I was enjoying a respite from confinement and limitation. Ana has no such freedom. I just wandered off. I was immersed in a religious milieu, a clutter of all sorts of obediences and solitary ways melding over one another’s rules,Continue reading “#40.13, Tues., Jan. 31, 2023”

#40.12, Thurs., Jan. 26, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil “So what happened? Why did it take you a whole day to walk the horses back to Annegray?” Ana asked. But Colleen apparently didn’t want to hear excuses and my “sorrys” so she took her cheese and biscuit and went back into the main roomContinue reading “#40.12, Thurs., Jan. 26, 2023”

#40.11, Weds., Jan. 25, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Colleen is just coming in from evening chores as I am returning. I hope Ana has a warmer greeting for me. Colleen is clearly annoyed. She said they were going to send a bird with a message to send the monks to look for me.Continue reading “#40.11, Weds., Jan. 25, 2023”

#40.10, Tues., Jan. 24, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil My feet crunch through the crust of snow as I walk toward our cottage at sunset. My thoughts still wander the nature of the all encompassing God I know as Love. And how is it that Roman Diana was the Greek Artimas, and thenContinue reading “#40.10, Tues., Jan. 24, 2023”

#40.9, Thurs., Jan. 19, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods The sun suddenly seems to be sinking over the hills to the west, though I know full well the sun doesn’t suddenly do anything. The movements of the sun and the earth and the stars are always so predictably paced that they measure time itself.Continue reading “#40.9, Thurs., Jan. 19, 2023”

#40.8, Weds., Jan. 18, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods Mater Doe watches me explore this sanctuary with the same eye she watches over the birds searching seeds outside the window. I see this Roman statue of Diana looking very much like the goddess of the hunt our visitors mentioned. This is a deeplyContinue reading “#40.8, Weds., Jan. 18, 2023”

#40.7, Tues., Jan. 17, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods I’ve found my way to a little place on the mountainside overlooking the ruin of Annegray. Here the only words the priest can hear from another human is whatever that person chooses to shout to her. I assume she hears much more of Creation thanContinue reading “#40.7, Tues., Jan. 17, 2023”