The halfbaked Bard

'Come Enoch let's walk'. Enoch thought that would be just like any other day. Walking with God. But that day was different somehow. He didn't know why. Everything around him was joyous. The smile was even more radiant in God's face. He couldn't understand when the wind whispered in his ear, you're going home. But joy was definitely bubbling in his heart too. He didn't know why. Yards turned to miles. Sand became rocks. But the talking and fun wouldn't cease. Then at the top of some mountain they reached. He said, come lets go home with a radiant smile. Enoch turned to walk back alone. He thought Oh! I have to wait till tomorrow again to meet my Love yet again. But he could see the ground dropping low, and the air getting thinner. And when He realised he is in the arms of his husband, oh! What joy. God is taking him to his heavenly home for eternity. No more time constraints. Enoch's heart was now jumping with joy. Kissing frantically ...

I have always been obedient to my father. Though sometimes it sounded illogical. Of late his demands are more irrational. I have seen him spending time praying. But now he is different. He travels around Judea and sometimes even to Israel to listen to this man Jesus. Some say He is a rebel. Some say He is the son of God the Messiah. I don't know. I haven't been religious. I like this part of the Ten Commandments which says if you want a long life, then honour your father and mother.  Ever since my mother passed away, my father had been lonely. They were in love. Never have I seen anyone love like this, even the newly weds. He had been gloomy for the past ten years. But now there is a smile in his face. He spends time in his room often, praying. Other times he is out to listen to this man. But there is joy in his face, that I know.  Today why did he ask me to go and collect water from the town? No idea. There are slave girls to do that. There is plenty of water here...

Mk:5:21-43 Now I have started to feel awkward. My daughter is dying. I finally found the Master believing only He can heal her. I could convince Him. Now He is on His way to my home to heal her. Now everything will be alright. But wait. Why this delay? Why is this old woman coming on now? Master you will know who touched you in this crowd. Come on. This is quite unnecessary. Better hurry up. We don't have time. In case you forgot, my daughter is dying. Don't be afraid, just have faith. Master finish this thing fast. I have seen my daughter struggle. She is very sick, in case you don't know. Don't be afraid, just have faith. On your way back also you could have stopped to heal her. You could have come this way again. Gone and met her to heal her. You could do that. You know everything. This is no life and death situation for her. My little daughter is literally dying. Don't you understand? Or is it that you don't care? Is it because I am a leader of t...

I have captained this ship for years. I have faced many a strom. But never has Captain Zadok been so helpless. What is happening? Why this outrage? The waves are higher than ten times what I have faced. There is ruckus all over this deck. The mast is broken. What is left of it is a ghost. The rudder has flewn off like a wheel. The anchor is lost. The stern is like a ploughed field. The shrouds are like harp strings, waving around and causing much damage. Shredding pieces of wood and flesh and blood everywhere it hits.There is vomit all around. The ocean water occasionally washes it into my own room and brings it back. The luggages are all floating.  All of the crew is running havoc. Captain Zadok, what should we do? Captain Zadok shall we pull down the sail? Captain Zadok shall i call on my gods? You call on your gods, I used to tell, but I have got this. But have I? Is there somebody up there laughing at the gimmicks that i have been showing althrough my life? Asking m...

My name is Jazaaniah,  I'm writing this as a testimony. I belong to the Rechabite clan. Though we do not belong to any of the tribes of Israel, we are also true Israelites. We have been with them since they came to the promised land.  Yes we are different people. We are nomads, we are teetotallers, we do not own any property. Because of all these we are made fun of by others. We are called water drinkers for nothing. Me being the elder of this nomadic society I had to know how to strengthen my community.  Our ancestor Jehonadab Ben Rechab had made a vow and forbade his brothers to be stringent regarding these. He was sure, this is from God. We have been trying to be true to Jehovah. Because we were sure that He alone is God. No country would be protected and provided for like Israel, unless the Living God is with them. We were sure. Though we were gentiles, we were sure we are part of His kingdom.  It was hard to see the children go wayward as we the outs...

Is he mad? I believed he is a genuine person. I knew him, though from a distance. A brilliant guy. An academician - might not be as brilliant as I was. That is exactly why I could learn under Gamaliel and he under Sheltiel. I was hard working. He was too. He knew more things than an average Israelite.  Then somehow our paths diverted. I heard that he has become a follower of this blasphemer called Jesus. Now, my blood boils when I hear his name. He claims to be the Messiah himself. But we all know where he is from. He is basically a carpenter from a small town called Nazareth. Who might have learnt a little bit of magic, a little bit of sorcery. A little bit of fraudery too may be. May be he healed a few people. May be he did a few miracles. May be he did things out of divine power. May be he is a prophet from God. And his teachings were also acceptable. But the moment he calls us all sinners and him as God, a Jew cannot listen to it and not do anything. As if he is no ...

I am tired; I am fed up John.  The whole day I was running around. Starting from Gethsamene. Previous night also I couldn't sleep. But if at all I had known what is our plight twenty four hours down the line, I would have been awake to sit and pray. If at all I knew my master was perspiring blood there in agony, I would have rushed to help. Let my sleepiness and laziness be doomed, Peter wailed.  John said, We all have failed him, Peter. None of us were with him when it was expected of us.  James pitched in, Ah! At least you were there at the foot of the cross, John. At least the Rabbi could see you being entrusted with his mother. I do not know how on earth she is surviving. The trauma that she had to go through in her life, no body can even dream of it.  Simon says, (after all he was a Zealot) If at all that traitor, Judas was alive, I would have beaten him to death. How could he do this to him, to us? What wrong did Jesus do to him? Even the money purs...

I was in deep darkness. I have dwelt in this darkness like for eternity. I have enjoyed in this deep sullen darkness from the time I remember.  Light was uncomfortable to begin with. Because it exposes many things. It showed my ugliness. It showed my filthiness. But slowly light becomes something I liked. It showed more clarity. There was freedom in the light. There was deliverance. I realized I have been destined to live in the light and not in darkness. That I have more cones than rods.  But I was blinded by the darkness, that I thought I was made for darkness. Though I loathed it, it was eating me up. I was made a slave. But the moment light shone, there was a release, there was loosening up of all the chains. I could see the stumbling rocks that I frequently tripped at; that I can now be careful. I can now avoid.  But light cannot help; if I deliberately stumble, if I love to trip and fall. I have to trust the light. I have to realize that light is for my ...

"What foolishness Aristophiles? Why? You just had to obey the orders." "I couldn't Mastus. I couldn't." For Mastus the dinginess in the cold dungeon was already killing him. He was wondering how Aristophiles could survive in this crampiness. That too in chains. He is unable to even walk about. He remembered how his brother was the one who could not sit idly. Wanted to do something or the other at home. Always moving about. What changed him? The water droplets dripping down the damp walls are already taking him on his nerves. The clothes are all wet. The atmosphere is unrest because of humidity. Though it is ice cold, he is sweating. How could his younger brother tolerate this voice (which has become a noise) day in and day out. It has been a dragging twenty eight days. Rats and mouses (and what not) running around. Stale breads nibbled by creatures unknown. The squalor all around makes him want to sneeze. How could Aristophiles still be smiling? ...

Phinehas and Bartholomew. They were both born on the same day. May be minutes apart. Probably that was their bond. May be that is why they gelled. As children they met first in kindergarten. It was there where everything started. They could sense that intimacy. They always wanted to be together. Into elementary school and middle school they grew up in the same bench. They played together. They learnt together. They had fun. Immense fun especially when they were together. They had their alone time too. They were quite unlike other friends. Not the superficial hi-bye. But intimate, brotherly love.  They both were of the Levite tribe. But their status were totally different. Phinehas was of the priestly order. His father was destined to be the next high priest. Bartholomew's father was one of the men who was allocated to clean the altar. But that didn't come between them. Other fellow Jews looked with odd eyes at them, at their bond. It looked like bondage to them. Eve...

"Yose Yose", Nicodemus came panting. "Did you hear, what is happening?"  Yose with face still downcast. Couldn't lift his eyes up. He knew what Nicodemus is referring to. It was painful for him to realize or accept it. Forget about telling it aloud. He just said a hmmm.  Nicodemus and Yose have been friends since childhood. Both were not just good friends. They did everything together. They studied well the Jewish laws as expected from them. They both as young as they are came to high places in Jewish High council and Pharisee order. But they continued to be thick friends. They did everything consulting each other, asking what the other person thought was right, so that they wouldn't take any decision on a bias note. They encouraged each other. And was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.  And when this man came out of nowhere saying contrasting things, initially they both were skeptical. They were both angry that this one person was talking e...

"Though it's drought and famine for long, our species has been blessed with much food. Even meat. We all are having pretty much, enough and more. Every day. We are lucky." "It is not luck. It is God's provision. The Lord has been kind to us. Yes many of the other birds have died because of the famine. But we have been sustained." "Oh! Again. I can't understand how you can say it is given by a God whom you have never seen. I wake up every early morning and strive hard to get the food for me and my family. How can you say it is a God who has given me." "Dear, who can say that I have done it by my own might. Unless the Lord has given, how will we survive. You said our species has been blessed right? By whom? Shouldnt we also have died like the other birds or animals. Don't you think there are other birds who wake up early. Why, us Ravens alone was spared? I think there is a purpose that God wants with us. A plan that He has. D...

  All of you look at my people with contempt. Including king David. Can't blame him though. My own people despised him as he was on his way to capture the city of Jerusalem, saying even the lame and the blind could keep him out. We were proud. All the other nations were driven out from the land that flows with milk and honey. Except our fortified city. We Jebusites were proud of it. And as their king, I Ornan had a role to play in that too. We forgot that it is not by anyone's might that Israel is being established in this land. I mean, the stories if true, lasting for years, decades and centuries of bringing them from the mighty Egyptians and outrunning them in the Red sea, drowning and destroying them all. Slowly but steadily travelling as nomads through the wilderness and coming to the land of Canaan, ousting each and every single king here. Everyone except us, the Jebusites because of our fortified city. Some had alliances with their kings. Some had given over t...

How is it even possible? Mary is not of that type. I know she loves me. Her love to me has no boundaries. Unconditionally she loves me. Through her love only I came to know how much more my Father in heaven loves me. She cares for me. She forgives me without keeping a list. She loves her God too. She fears her Father. She would never commit this sin because I know her completely like no one else does. I know for sure, more than she loves me, she loves her God. She hopes for the Messiah. She would never commit this wretched sin. She knows the consequences. Not out of the fear of consequences, but out of her love to God, she would never do this. I'm sure.  But who would believe me? She is pregnant. The fact remains a truth. It's disgrace for me. It's disgrace for my family. She says she had a vision. How could someone be pregnant by just a vision. She might be true, I know her. She wouldn't lie. But how am I supposed to believe this? What will my friends tell ...