#54.4, Tues., March 12, 2024

Historical Setting, 629 C.E. A near Trier          Gaia, this woman, betrothed to Brandell, already knows my odd notions of peace, “Your pacifistic demands are known by everyone.” She tells me.  And it doesn’t even seem to bother her that I am laid out as a dead man in a cemetery.             She explainsContinue reading “#54.4, Tues., March 12, 2024”

#54.3, Thurs., March 7, 2024

Historical Setting, 629 C.E. near Trier          Gaia tells me things. “Papa Lazarus! You’ll be proud of Brandell!          “We’ve journeyed in a caravan all this way across the plains and mountains with the families of new settlers bringing their little shoots of vines kept in their tender care all the way here. They cameContinue reading “#54.3, Thurs., March 7, 2024”

#54.2, Weds., March 6, 2024

Historical Setting, 629 C.E. near Trier          I’m only starting to gather my wits and wonders. I asked these women where is this, “here”?          The older woman answers in a strange mix of old languages, “You are in a land of Burgundy of Gaul set aside for the Jewish refugees.” I understand the wordsContinue reading “#54.2, Weds., March 6, 2024”

#54.1, Tues., March 5, 2024

Historical Setting, 629 C.E. A burial place near Trier          In an aching darkness from nightmares in shadows, I imagine rising from a timeless cavern, maybe to consciousness, or possibly a better dream. I must be waking now in this darkness, in cold, hurt and hunger — voices of earth, not heaven, shout for shovels.Continue reading “#54.1, Tues., March 5, 2024”

#53.13, Thurs., Feb. 29, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. On the River near Trier          If no one should appear from the little village of refugees’ houses, that would be fine with me. We could leave now. I pull the boat I rowed over onto the shore with the bow pointed into the river for the retreat.  But now, asContinue reading “#53.13, Thurs., Feb. 29, 2024”

#53.12, Weds., Feb. 28, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. On the River near Trier “Where is your weapon, boy?”          I answer the captain, “I didn’t come for the fight.”          They are pushing the boats into the water with no time for considering consequences.          “Then you are a rower!” The one who would be a captain assigns meContinue reading “#53.12, Weds., Feb. 28, 2024”

#53.11, Tues., Feb. 27, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. On the River near Trier          It is breezes from the northeast that rustle the leaves left-over through the winter from the autumn-turning that signal a storm to come.          “I hear you will all be crossing over the river tonight and setting fire to the vineyards of the strangers whoContinue reading “#53.11, Tues., Feb. 27, 2024”

#53.10, Thurs., Feb. 22, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The Vintner’s Cottage on the Moselle          I should know not to expect a simple little Jesus story to heal the thousands of years of xenophobia, nurtured and developed with wars and walls and obstinance, slaves for a century then abusers for next. With every whim of shifting power humans collectContinue reading “#53.10, Thurs., Feb. 22, 2024”

#53.9, Weds., Feb. 21, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The Vintner’s Cottage on the Moselle          This man recites the law precisely.  So how does his understanding of this simple message turn into something so completely different than Jesus could ever have intended?          I argue, “I know Jesus, his followers and even the lawyer in the conversation were allContinue reading “#53.9, Weds., Feb. 21, 2024”

#53.8, Tues., Feb. 20, 2024

Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The Vintner’s Cottage on the Moselle          Face-to-face at the table with this vintner, the old wineskin he pours from has turned to vinegar. So, I already have a clear mind for this argument. We’ve acknowledged a distinction between the edicts of earthly kings and God’s law – something no kingContinue reading “#53.8, Tues., Feb. 20, 2024”