Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè Brother August and I are here where the old, earthly bones of the monks are buried. This sculptor’s image of a soaring bird incised on the stone marks this heap of earth for Brother Joel in the most fitting way. “As it is on earth it is in Heaven,”Continue reading “Post #23.2, Wednesday, August 4, 2021”
Author Archives: J.K. Marlin
Post #23.1, Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè Brother Joel is with us in soaring spirit, though maybe never really walked on earth at all. He is surely still present with Brother August and I in his ancient strand of wisdom. I affirm, “Yes, a suit of armor called ‘pride’ would impede love for others, andContinue reading “Post #23.1, Tuesday, August 3, 2021”
Post #22.13, Thursday, July 29, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè Brother August explains, “Brother Joel gave so much guidance to take me through a sin which to others might have been considered personal pride. I’d so easily learned the spiritual moments of true prayer as art in carving stone. But Brother Joel noticed my tethers of pride were toContinue reading “Post #22.13, Thursday, July 29, 2021”
Post #22.12, Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè Changing the subject, I just asked Brother August if The Rule made allowances for an artist who cuts stone. He answers, “At Ligugè we don’t concern ourselves with The Rule yet the abbot here has been generous in allowing me to continue my prayers with a hammer andContinue reading “Post #22.12, Wednesday, July 28, 2021”
Post #22.11, Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè Here I am at the monastery visiting the place where Nic is buried. Brother August came over when he saw me here. Now Brother August remembers me from twenty years ago but even though he has heard about it, he doesn’t believe the story of my very odd giftContinue reading “Post #22.11, Tuesday, July 27, 2021”
Post #22.10, Thursday, July 22, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Ligugè As night creeps over I see ahead of me the hulking peak of an old villa roof. I’m coming upon the monastery that was a Roman villa centuries ago. In a time long ago St. Martin repurposed this rich gift of a grand Roman edifice for use as aContinue reading “Post #22.10, Thursday, July 22, 2021”
Post #22.9, Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. the road to Ligugè I’ve walked this road to Ligugè before. But all these years later so much has changed from human neglect. When inattention defines our spaces the buildings don’t just sit still and empty. There come first the little creatures, the insects, mosses and mushrooms, then the grassesContinue reading “Post #22.9, Wednesday, July 21, 2021”
Post #22.8, Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Leaving the vineyard I’m preparing to leave at dawn to walk to Ligugè. My bag is a bit weighty. But Anatase has something more. It’s a secret. She has the book of remedies with flower stems marking pages and she asks a favor. Could I copy these pages onto aContinue reading “Post #22.8, Tuesday, July 20, 2021”
Post #22.7, Thursday, July 15, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Eve’s Garden on the Loire Anatase is politely listening to me as I tell a Jesus story she may have already heard. But I wanted to tell it again, thinking of Nic, and his way of abandoning his well-earned pride in order to enact the humility of the “love ofContinue reading “Post #22.7, Thursday, July 15, 2021”
Post #22.6, Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Historical setting: 584 C.E. Nic’s pages continue to argue the rule of God’s love against a rule to manage sprouting monks, and now Nic takes issue with flaunting humility. It’s a paradox that doesn’t slip by Nic easily. Anatase reads on, “The old monk wrote, ’There are twelve steps and yet not muchContinue reading “Post #22.6, Wednesday, July 14, 2021”
Lazarus Ink 