Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop continues reading. In chapter ten of Matthew, the followers of Jesus are commissioned to go out like “sheep among wolves.” At this reading, these men listening are in the clothing that speak this metaphor accidentally too well. The monks wear the wools and these king’s men, pretendingContinue reading “#72.7, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025”
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#72.6, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop orders, “Stand for the Gospel!” When the worshippers are the community of monks, he never issues this order because the benches are stacked away and everyone is already standing, as are the monks today, standing in the back of the room. It is the dignitaries and guests forContinue reading “#72.6, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025”
#72.5, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Visiting dignitaries becomes a procession of mourners as each visitor must ponder his own mortality and the fragility of life. Some here count the years until the charted end of the world – Doomsday – scheduled at the end of this millennium. There is the personal hope that this tragedyContinue reading “#72.5, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025”
#72.4, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Low tide opens the way for the great procession on the land bridge. The bishop’s guards set the walking pace, followed by the bishop and the people of his own household who come here often, I am told. The next to come are the wealthy patrons whose gifts support thisContinue reading “#72.4, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025”
#72.3, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The returning surviving monks continue their spiritual practice here. Some see Lindisfarne as the vanguard for the great turning of the millennium. There is the notion that this island was chosen to experience the Doomsday judgement first, expected in 999 C.E. The world has only a little more thanContinue reading “#72.3, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025”
#72.2, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Depending on the king or the earthly power, whether patriots or rebels, Lindisfarne is known either for its sin or its mercy all over one issue. And now the bishop is bringing an entourage to hear the reading of Alcuin’s letter to be read as the king’s men comeContinue reading “#72.2, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025”
#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne I arrive back at Lindisfarne to find Brother Ealdwin and several of the others still chipping images into sandstone to make markers for the graves of the monks who were slaughtered in the raid. They don’t allow my intrusion to stop their work. Even though the work they areContinue reading “#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025”
#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Returning across the North Sea, I have passage on a merchant ship, an old-styled galley, not as fast and fit as the ships of the marauding Norsemen but crosses the waters then hugs the coast all the way back to Lindisfarne. Arriving on the island, I find theContinue reading “#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025”
#71.11, Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Past lives on the Loire This horse was borrowed for a fee from the public stable on this edge of the sea. He goes wherever I lead him, while an owned horse only seems to know his way back to his own stall. If there is a fire, the horse whoContinue reading “#71.11, Wednesday, August 27, 2025”
#71.10, Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Past lives on the Loire I know the teacher toiled over what to say to the bishop, distressed and grieving. I fear Alcuin failed to curb the tone of didactic instruction. Or maybe it isn’t a failure to subdue the instructor’s voice, but an intention to offer reprimand. That couldContinue reading “#71.10, Tuesday, August 26, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 