Early Medieval – Page 27

#45.8, Tues., June 20, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Greg and Gabe returned from Metz more excited than ever about the possibilities of taking their accomplishments and making themselves into some twist of aristocracy. They’ve decided riding horses is more to their liking than managing the farm mule, and a polished sword dangles fromContinue reading “#45.8, Tues., June 20, 2023”

#45.7, Thurs., June 15, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges I’m tempted to lecture little Simon on the assurance that God is with him even though silent. I would tell him that, but he isn’t asking me to send him God. And really, for any of us, it is only God who can answer theContinue reading “#45.7, Thurs., June 15, 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”

#45.4, Thurs., June 8, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Simon is sitting with me here as I search for the secret of his smile that seems so rare. I asked him if he likes to sing the dancing songs at the little church. “Yes, I do like that, Papa. But without you theContinue reading “#45.4, Thurs., June 8, 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”

#45.2, Tues., June 6, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges The full burden of my absence and the travels of his older brothers puts huge responsibility onto our ten-year-old, Simon. He is so careful with details and so mindful of the habits of farm chores that we really depend on him for the daily choresContinue reading “#45.2, Tues., June 6, 2023”

#45.1, Thurs., June 1, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. A cottage in the Vosges Healing comes on summer winds. For me, my strength and wit are coming to me in pieces, sometimes with old familiar forms of comfort, sometimes in glimpses of new starts. Thank you, God. Healing of spirit seems to be hovering around my oldest sonsContinue reading “#45.1, Thurs., June 1, 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”

#44.13, Tues., May 30, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. The cottage in the Vosges These boys stand here at the end of the bed twisting fingers, looking away from me, apologizing, sorrowfully confessing something. But what? “You told Mater Doe you were sorry and she thought you were sorry you tried to kill me. But it was youContinue reading “#44.13, Tues., May 30, 2023”