Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century “So what will we do now?” The father is buried. The sheep have no shepherd. The shepherd is grieving. The dog and the donkey are consoling. The winter is creeping down on us all from the north. We need to use these daysContinue reading “Post #14.9, Thurs., November 19, 2020”
Author Archives: J.K. Marlin
Post #14.8, Weds., November 18, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century The winter of last night posed a mere warning that the season is turning. All day a southern breeze breeches the ridge from the valley. It would have been a good day to continue our journey. Alone, I was able to move theContinue reading “Post #14.8, Weds., November 18, 2020”
Post #14.7, Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century C.E. One mystery of courage is that it wears many faces rarely as we expect — the human moment between panic and training when the proper response comes forth and a crisis is averted. But doesn’t courage also come in the stoic intensity of aContinue reading “Post #14.7, Tuesday, November 17, 2020”
Post #14.6, Thursday, November 12, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Cent. C.E. It is Nic’s nature to persevere in kindness. It’s how I have a faithful patron after all my ways of disappointing him. It is who he is. So why would I expect anything other than his kindness when the shepherd asks us toContinue reading “Post #14.6, Thursday, November 12, 2020”
Post #14.5, Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Cent, C.E. While Nic has provided the shepherd with a proper wrap for his foot, I turned the stick he carries into a finely crafted crutch but apparently he preferred the rough-hewn rod. I defend, “I thought you would need a crutch to help youContinue reading “Post #14.5, Wednesday, November 11, 2020”
Post #14.4, Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Cent. C.E. The shepherd is enamored by great possibilities that Nic will teach him courage and the fighting prowess of a mighty warrior. His chatter lets us see he wishes to attain personal power through becoming a fearsome danger to everyone around him. NicContinue reading “Post #14.4, Tuesday, November 10, 2020”
Post #14.3, Thursday, November 5, 2020
Art Footnote: This is what happens when a pacifist artist illustrates a lesson in martial arts. Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century The shepherd, our belligerent host, defends his story. “I told you, I was injured by the rod and the lashes when I was fighting. I wasn’t running fromContinue reading “Post #14.3, Thursday, November 5, 2020”
Post #14.2, Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century C.E. This pasture is not just a random field; it’s the designated place the shepherd comes each night with these same sheep. Here, at the far end of the night pasture is a lean-to for shelter and he invites us under this thatch withContinue reading “Post #14.2, Wednesday, November 4, 2020”
Post #14.1, Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Historical setting: Along the ridges of the Pyrenees, 6th Century C.E. So I asked a simple question, “What is courage?” Nic apologizes for my apparent goading argument. “My friend here, Lazarus, is a Christian pacifist so he is probably going to tell us meaningless things about courage.” The young shepherd backs away fromContinue reading “Post #14.1, Tuesday, November 3, 2020”
Post #13.13, Thursday, October 29, 2020
Historical setting: Crossing the Pyrenees in the 6th Century C.E. The shepherd nears this ridge as the scattered sheep have forgotten their hurry away from mayhem and are distracted by grazing. The shepherd is a ragged young man in fleece, hobbling with a clumsily wrapped foot. He seems reluctant to accept our offer toContinue reading “Post #13.13, Thursday, October 29, 2020”
Lazarus Ink 