Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Gabe and I share this private conversation as we brush down the horses Greg and I borrowed and Gabe wants to discuss the issue burning through the night whispers in the novice quarters. “Fear of the Lord” whether required or optional, or interpreted through abusesContinue reading “#46.10, Tues., July 25, 2023”
Category Archives: Bible Stories
#46.9, Thurs., July 20, 2023
Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges The novice here on stable duty this morning is Gabe. That was probably a kindness by the brother who assigns duties to the novices. I can see Gabe is well and finding his spiritual nurture in this place. He tells me he has a betterContinue reading “#46.9, Thurs., July 20, 2023”
#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”
Lazarus Ink 