What is that sound? Donkeys aren't on our street this early.
Where are the sounds of the morning birds? Why don't I hear
Father's prayers? "Mother, Mother, what time is it?"
"It's late Joshua. I let you sleep in."
"But Mother, I must get to the temple to get to work. I will
miss the people from the small villages who come early into
market and the temple. I them heard yesterday; many of them came
in before the Sabbath." Joshua pushed aside his sleeping
robe and ran fingers through his hair.
"I'm sorry, but you tossed all night. I thought you would
need the extra sleep. I saved you some breakfast; hurry up and
quit complaining." Naomi poured some water for her son, her
only child, and went to get his breakfast.
"All right, but I will be short this week!"
"Don't worry about that. With all the village people in
Jerusalem, your father will sell more pots this week. They love
the detail of his work."
"I suppose Eleazar has already been by."
"Yes." She placed some bread and fruit on a plate in
front of her son.
"Then how am I supposed to get to the temple. I can handle
the neighborhood by myself but..."
"Quit worrying; someone will be going. Now eat!"
Joshua wolfed down three handfuls of figs and two small barley
cakes before he stopped to wash it all down with some water,
drawn fresh that morning from the well. The water always tasted
better in the morning when it was fresh. Sitting all day, even
next to the cool stone walls of the house did not help the taste
of anything, except the figs.
"You will never sleep late again in my house." Laughter
peeked out from behind the harsh sound of her words. "You
ate that so fast it will make you sick all day."
"Oh, Mother! Now who is in the street to take me to the
temple?" Joshua was glad to hear at least the hint of
laughter in his mother's weary voice.
"I only see Sar... Simon Bar Samuel"
"Simon Bar Samuel smells like the tanner he is. I only know
one person who smells like the Passover rain." Joshua turned
from his mother to face the street. "Sari, are you going to
the temple? I need someone to take me."
"Joshua, how dare you." The laughter completely drained
from her voice, Naomi spoke in a horse whisper. "I have no
intention of you hurting that girl any more than you already
do."
"Mother, she doesn't mind. We talk some times, away from
here, and I have to get to the temple."
"Oh all right, but don't let your father know I said it was
okay."
"Yes, Mother." A quick hug assured her son she was not
overly upset. Practiced feet easily found their way to the door
and down to the street. A practiced nose guided him in Sari's
direction, and a practiced heart let him know when he had reached
his goal.
"How do you always know exactly where I am?"
"Oh, I just follow my feet and my nose."
"Your nose! Do I smell so badly that you can find me with
your nose?"
"No, of course not. You smell so,... You smell like...
" If I say the Passover rain, she will think that I am
trying to... "You smell so much like you. Thanks for taking
me. What takes you down to the temple at this time of day? I
overslept or I would have been there hours ago."
"Haven't you heard about the rabbi from Galilee? I want to
go see him. They say his eyes shine with a love deeper than the
sea. I wanted to see for myself."
I wonder if he is my uncle's miracle teacher. "Is he the one
who does
miracles."
"I think so; have you heard of him."
"My father spoke of a teacher from Galilee. My uncle is
always coming up with a new prophet. He followed the Baptist
until they beheaded him. So much for Uncle's prophets. I have
profits of my own to worry about." This said, Joshua did not
add any new fuel to the conversation the rest of the walk to the
temple. Sari didn't know what to say. They finally reached the
temple area after an uncomfortable silence.
"Oh, go ahead and sit all day in front of the temple. I want
to hear him at least."
"Well, thanks for bringing me here. I'm sorry I sounded
upset, but I've no time for prophets and messiahs. I have things
to do. I hope you find what you are looking for." Joshua sat
in front of the temple the rest of the day. Each time he heard
footsteps, he listened for a familiar pattern. He knew how much
to expect from each of his regular customers. He knew what
seasons he could expect more from the farmers, or the vine
keepers, or the carpenters, or any one of the local businessmen.
He knew how much he would get if the weather were bad, or if
another beggar were nearby. Even his few years of sitting had
told him a lot about people and their ideas. He enjoyed listening
to the teachers and the law keepers argue over the minor points
of the law. He knew all of the voices and who would win. In the
middle of one argument, he heard a new voice, one which spoke
with authority. Then he smelled the fresh scent of a Passover
rain. Was this new voice the voice of Sari's Galilean? What are
they talking about?
"Master, tell us. Why was this man born blind? Was it his
own sin or his parents'?"
"I tell you it was neither. But, that the power of God might
be made manifest, while it is still day, we must do the work of
him who sent me."
Joshua heard the sound of a man spitting on the ground, then a
voice that echoed all the power and authority of the highest of
priests and sounded a new deeper element of love spoke to him.
"My son, go to the Pool of Siloam and wash this mud from
your eyes."
I don't understand what is happening. First, they talk about my
blindness, and then this man puts mud on my eyes. He must know
what he's doing. His voice has none of the anger of the other
teachers. He sounds like he really means what he says. How can I
find the Pool from here? There must be ...
"Joshua, take my hand. I'll lead you to the pool."
"Sari! I thought you were near. Who is this man? What is
going on?"
"Lower your voice. I'll tell you on the way." They
passed out of the market place protected from the curious
onlookers by a shell of quiet and promise only a few people in
all of time could understand. "His name is Jesus. He comes
from Galilee; some people say that he is a prophet. I don't know
who he is, but I know I have never heard anyone speak with that
kind of love and power. Come on let's hurry!"
"Sari, do you think that he means to ... I mean when I wash
off the mud, you think that... Well, is it possible that..."
"Joshua, will you ever learn to just be quiet. Here is the
pool; let me help you."
"No, I better do this myself." I must do what he asked
me. So many promises are in my hands, in his hands. I know what I
want to happen, but if I leave the mud on my eyes, I won't have
to face his being just another one of so many. My father has had
every teacher, healer, and seer from here to Samaria stop in our
home, and this man, this Jesus -- was that his name -- comes to
me off the street, spits in the mud, and tells me to wash in a
pool. He didn't say anything about my eyes or seeing or anything,
just "go and wash in the pool." I suppose some Pharisee
will see me and say that I am working on the Sabbath. What's the
difference if I wash my face at home or at the pool? He would put
coins in my basket on the Sabbath and not curse me for working on
the Lord's Day. What does he think I do for a living? Make tents?
I guess I'd rather disappoint this Jesus than the Pharisees.
Joshua's mind, reeling in those few moments it took him to bend
over, finally let him reach out for the cool water of the pool.
The clay was already dried at the edges from the late afternoon
sun. Joshua scrubbed the last of the clay from his face, stalling
for any extra moment not wanting to face the failure of another
unmet promise, not wanting to face the explosion in his mind, the
colors he had only sensed and heard of for so many years. Most of
all he waited, wondering what the gentle curves of Sari's face
would tell his eyes that his fingers had not seen. Finally the
last drop of water was gone; he had no mores excuses.
For the first few sight-filled blinks, Joshua's mind could not
organize itself enough to think. Words then leapt from his mouth.
"Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One."
For the next few sight-filled moments, he could not get any more
words past the shock to his senses.
"Joshua, what's the matter?" Sari's mind raced to the
possibilities. He simply stares out into space. He shouts praise
to God and then is struck dumb. Has he gained his eyes only to
lose his voice? What kind of man would play such a cruel trick on
a poor beggar? I must find him. I must tell him what he has...
"Sari, where are you going!? You must help me find the
rabbi. I only know his voice. You know his face."
"Joshua, you can talk. You can see, too." Her words may
have been cut short by the sudden embrace of the man she had only
hoped to love across an impossible abyss, but her mind continued,
her consciousness almost washed overboard by the flood of
unreachable promises suddenly jumping out to embrace her.
Minutes passed and they shared the first precious scenes
together, retracing their steps back to the temple. Days passed
and Joshua was brought before the Pharisees and questioned. When
he gave them the simple answers of a simple man,"this man
must be a prophet of God! Don't you know only God could open a
man's blind eyes", their pride and misunderstanding threw
the poor confused man out of the temple. Weeks passed and he went
from shop to shop trying to find a master anything who would take
on a man as an apprentice.
"Unheard of" they said.
"I wish I could, but...."
Finally, "If you would like to try, come back in the
morning, it's late tonight..." were the words that finally
gave him hope.
© 1998 Laughing Wind Production Company. All rights reserved.©
1998 Laughing Wind Production Company. All rights reserved.
Chapter One
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Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five
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