SIMON THE LEPER
31 AD – the Journey – Judean Wilderness to Galilee
“Father… Father?”
Simon thought he was dreaming. He woke up looking up at the tattered tent cover that he used ten years ago to put a roof over his shelter. He slowly sat up and felt the aches in his back. But his hands and his feet lost all feelings some years ago. He tried to get up but the lack of feeling in his feet still affects his balance. He reached over to a rough wooden cane he made and slowly painfully stood up.
A voice again called from outside his shelter. “Father? It is me, Lazarus.”
He has not seen his son ten years. He had given explicit commands to Tahan to never bring Lazarus with him when he brings the supplies. But Simon was so lonely, he didnot hesitate. He threw aside the curtain that was his door and stepped outside. At first, his son was smiling but in an instant his eyes widened in horror.
“Father! Yo… your face! You have no nose!”
Simon quickly covered his face. “I am sorry, son. I was so happy to see you, that I forgot… It is the disease.” He left it there as the only needed explanation.
“I am sorry, father, that you have suffered so.”
“Oh my son, I had hoped that I would be healed but I now know I will die maybe soon. There is no more hope.”
“But father, there is hope!” Lazarus excitedly said. “We have been hearing of a rabbi in the north country who can heal the sick.”
“A rabbi who can heal? Why have I not heard this?”
“Uncle Tahan did not believe in the news. I argued with him for weeks. So, I came on my own. I was fortunate to find this canyon.”
“A cure,” Simon mused. “It is almost too much to believe.”
“Yes, it is father. But you cannot afford to not try.”
“Mmmm…” Simon thought about it for quite some time. Then he nodded. “Son, you are wise for your age. Very well. We might as well leave now, the day is still quite new. Unfortunately, my mule is way too old to carry me to the… Where exactly are we going, son?”
“In Galilee… somewhere near Capernaum is what I heard. And don’t worry about animals. I brought three donkeys and left them up on the plateau.”
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Greeting friends…
I hope you are enjoying the 18th segment of my ebook, FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS.
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Until the next post.
Johann Q.
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Johann Quisumbing 