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”

Post #13.12, Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Historical setting: Crossing the Pyrenees in the 6th Century C.E.          “It’s no surprise then, when Jesus was born the same year as I, our families were already close and Jesus and I were together whenever his family was in Jerusalem. Even when Joseph wasn’t working nearby they still made that journey at least onceContinue reading “Post #13.12, Wednesday, October 28, 2020”

Post #13.11, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Historical setting: Remembering the First Century, Jerusalem          Nic is probably getting impatient with my explanation of First Century Temple politics. But in order to hear a whole story it’s important to start where the story starts. So my friendship with Jesus has to begin with my father and with his friendship with Joseph. Besides,Continue reading “Post #13.11, Tuesday, October 27, 2020”

Post #13.10, Thursday, October 22, 2020

Historical setting: Remembering the First Century, Jerusalem          Nic is still listening to my ancient family story. And I am still telling it.          “While my father, known as Simon, worked in the marketplace at the Temple porticos he contracted an illness, probably a pox, spreading among the foreign merchants in those days. He calledContinue reading “Post #13.10, Thursday, October 22, 2020”

Post #13.9, Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Historical setting: Remembering the First Century, Bethany          I mentioned the Gospel of Luke used our family as characters in stories, but that author didn’t even know us.           Nic says, “I did notice there was that part in Luke where your sisters squabbled and Jesus got in the middle of it. And of courseContinue reading “Post #13.9, Wednesday, October 21, 2020”

Post #13.8, Tuesday, October 20, 2020*

Historical setting: Remembering the First Century (*Looking for this post on Tuesday? Saving words digitally is clearly not as reliable as was once an ancient clay pot with papyrus scrolls stashed in a cave. Lazarus-Ink will be back on schedule this week.)          Nic and I have set the conversation between us on my childhood Continue reading “Post #13.8, Tuesday, October 20, 2020*”

Post #13.7, Thursday, October 15, 2020

Historical setting: 563 C.E. Ascending into the Pyrenees          Cloud shadows on the mountains seem to make the ever-still earth forms of rock rise and fall like the waves on a sea. We thought finding our way through this range would be the simple part going up to the mountain top then down into Gaul,Continue reading “Post #13.7, Thursday, October 15, 2020”

Post #13.6, Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Historical setting: 563 C.E. Ascending into the Pyrenees          The fog clears. No words. Awe is a word too small. Dear God, was it your intention that human eyes would be given privilege to see so wide? Have we taken a step too far and now we see all of earth from a holy place?Continue reading “Post #13.6, Wednesday, October 14, 2020”

Post #13.5, Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Historical setting:563 C.E. Foothills of the Pyrenees          This new morning we are ready for the climb but an early rain dampens every leaf and twig and greases rocks for slipping. Horses, left to their own ideas would zig and zag upwards through this woods and so we learn from them how to ascend onContinue reading “Post #13.5, Tuesday, October 13, 2020”