Spotless blood betrayed
Fear increased
And not allayed
And those who paid
Made sure that
Upon the other
The guilt remained
‘You see to it’
Is what they said.
Feckless Pilate
Fearing the crowd
Which threatened riot
Dunked his hands
In the water bowl
As for guilt
He denied it
‘You see to it”
Is what he said.
Under the light of truth
Do you become defiant?
Or do you change tack
And become compliant?
“Come and see”
Is what He tells us.
RWOz2
Truth came walking
Transcending
The wide expanse
Just to find me
In the confines
Of my circumstance
I was shown
In my marrow
I can fit
Squarely within
The narrow
For there too
He’s content to be
Yet could
Temptation
Lure me
To walk away
Mar my feet
If it comes to that
Keep me
Centered
On the straitened path
RWOz2
You get what you want
In the end
What you’ve spent your life
Pursuing
Wrapping up what you’ve
been doing
Should you be surprised
When at last you realize
What you turned
A deaf ear to
You knew all
Along was true
But it was old
And stuffy
And offered
The surface
You could not
See behind
You get what you want
In the end
What you’ve been
Busy sowing
Decides what to you
Is owing
He was not beyond
Your knowing
But now beyond your reach
From your side of the breach
We were asked
To believe
The Word
Not our
Eyes
You traded
The plain truth
For satan’s
whispered lies.
RWOz2
With joy
For You we wait
Knowing
What pleases You
Is faith.
Faith, that fragile herb
Springs forth at Your Word
Bowing its head down
Straining to hear the sound
Of Your glory under Heaven
And round
The rock of truth
It clings
And midst the clods
Blooms and sings
Your praises under Heaven
Though as neat
As a mustard seed
By it You meet
Our mountain of need
And make our joy
Complete
Under
Heaven.
RWOz2
We have settled in for the night after a long day of travel. So thankful for the camel Mawuli has with him, as we thus were enabled to offload our burdens.
Unlike usual Tomas kept close contact to us throughout the day. Still he was the first to spot a young man approaching on another camel.
Thus we met one of Mawuli’s counterparts on his way to the well, one of the volunteers on the all important rotation that supplies water for the Purser’s group. Unlike Mawuli he wore a uniform.
When I asked Mawuli about it, he laughed and said there are more than one type of uniform in their camp, from practically every land they have passed through.
It was a quick one day trip, a concession to the people left behind in the hiding place. With Jezer gone down to the desert and Meesa just recently returned, they are ill at ease when their leaders are constantly coming and going.
I believe that Elijah is finally coming to grips with his need to pour himself into their instruction.
Yet how much is needed?
Maturity can be such a mystery.
Thankfully our foray proved a blessing and most necessary, for we located Jezer in the desert with the band he was endeavoring to bring in. The minute Quasimo saw us, he ran to greet us. He was relieved to know that Jezer was indeed telling him the truth.
Our guide has switched roles today, looking to Elijah and myself as guides into the Truth. He hung upon every lesson as Elijah taught from the surroundings. The plants heavy with grain, the water nourishing their roots, and the very light of the sun’s rays helping us to see these things.
Time seemed to stand still as we kept on our way. Before we knew it we were beyond the fields and into unreclaimed desert. The dryness added discomfort to the heat.
We began a swing to the north following the contour of a bowl-like depression, the end of which meant a steep climb up to a new elevation and a view of the megapolis- minus its tallest building.
We lingered long over breakfast before parting company from our new friends. They brim over with joy and thus are a pleasure to be around. They shall be missed. And the feeling is mutual.
Though the parting was tinged with sadness, the hope of our meeting again encourages all alike.
If any of their relatives remain in this world they are hopeful that they may win them to the truth.
Elijah for his part is confident that when we meet up again in Jerusalem, they will have added substantially to their number.
Our quartet had easy going on the southern route. We kept a constant vigil, scanning the sun baked horizon for the army on its march.
No sighting yet.
The Captain and Tomas have kept to themselves since their ordeal. It’s clear to me that they were cowed by their experience. Our neighbor paid a call and they thanked him profusely.
After the ex-islander left, Elijah called us together for a talk. He had not planned on telling us, but something our neighbor had said, released him from his silence and indicated that it would be proper and right to reveal a truth about our friends’ future.
As calmly as only Elijah can, he told our friends that they will die martyrs’ deaths together.
Not surprised, Tomas told us that they each had a vision of the deaths of Elijah and myself.
And Elijah added, “Yes. In Jerusalem.”
Elijah and I wandered around the port today trying to converse with people. I noted a higher than usual distrust toward strangers.
In a couple of instances Elijah was able to penetrate their defenses and gain an understanding of their predicament.
After the time of the Glorious Appearing a great many people on this island disappeared. (We know what happened. They don’t.) Those left moved into the vacant properties and businesses, and are plagued by the notion that the rightful owners could return at any time.
We tried to explain the truth, but that made them all the more fearful.
All this was forgotten upon our return to ship at the sight of a warship tied up next to us.
Watch This Space 