Bible Stories – Page 8

#46.6, Thurs., July 13, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Metz The bishop only scoffs at my suggestion that a Christian birthright assumes pacifism and apparently, he doesn’t see that as courage. “But your holiness, wasn’t Christian pacifism taught and exemplified by Jesus? And wouldn’t you say that Jesus showed great courage calling out his forgiveness from the cross?”Continue reading “#46.6, Thurs., July 13, 2023”

#46.4, Tues., July 11, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Arriving in Metz Ana and I were in Metz the year before the twins were born so I know where the stable is and I can find the church where Bishop Agilulf still serves. Roman works in stone idle here as a distant civilization is now overlain with theContinue reading “#46.4, Tues., July 11, 2023”

#46.2, Weds., July 5, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Our family gathers at this table; but Gabe is gone from us. Everyone is celebrating the success that his good education brought. But now, I, myself, am reconsidering this unusual requirement for literacy that Ana and I have laid onto these children. We have noContinue reading “#46.2, Weds., July 5, 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”

#45.3, 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”

#44.14, Weds., May 31, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. The cottage in the Vosges On this beautiful day I’m home with my family, healing slowly in God’s time. Greg and Gabe are still aching of childhood, not able to accept themselves as powerless in the face of senseless brutality. So how will healing turn them? Will they learn fromContinue reading “#44.14, Weds., May 31, 2023”

#44.9, Thurs., May 18, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. The secular church in the Vosges Gabe and Greg park the wagon behind the little secular church they’ve always known. Maybe it is her ordained priesthood, or maybe its her deafness, but they hope to find Mater Doe the comforting listener. They try to tell her everything that hasContinue reading “#44.9, Thurs., May 18, 2023”

#44.8, Weds., May 17, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Following the creek bed home Gabe and Greg return to this wagonload of dirty straw along with their older, and maybe wiser hunter friend, Charlie. Charlie asks them why they put their father’s body under all this filth. Gabe explains, “We needed a wagon and the stable masterContinue reading “#44.8, Weds., May 17, 2023”

#44.7, Tues., May 16, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. The road in the valley My gifted power is healing. Anyone’s healing is one of those unimaginable events of life like birthing, growing, aging, experiencing. It changes us from our physical being right through our hopes and fears. The healed and the caregivers alike are never the same. But theContinue reading “#44.7, Tues., May 16, 2023”