It wasn’t until thirty-nine years later that he’d begun on the prototype guitar he now held in his hands. He took his time. He knew every single grain of the wood by touch. He knew each curve and crevice by heart. There were exactly two imperfections in the work—nicks he’d put there when he first started. He was devastated when the plane slipped the first time, and he nearly gave up when he gouged the wood with a chisel the second time.
But then he remembered: The King was also a carpenter. Josh had no idea if Messiah had ever worked on a guitar—during his first Presence he had built houses and furniture—not instruments. But it was worth a try anyway.
So Josh journeyed to the palace at Jerusalem. It took a while, for sure, but he had time and the walk did him good. There he approached the King’s audience chamber and was admitted guitar in hand. King Messiah was overjoyed to see him, and a smile lit up his face when Josh showed him the project. The King rose from his throne and took the guitar from Josh’s hands. After silently looking over the project, he beckoned to Josh and began to show him how to work with the flaws.
And now here he was—done with this first portion of the guitar. It was a thing of beauty—unlike anything he had ever seen in the old world. He had made it; with the help of the King he had produced it. Josh marveled for a while longer, then set about working toward the next part. One day he would be finished. One day he would play the guitar for the King.
~ ~ ~
Coffee in the Kingdom
“Here, John, try this.” Matthias passed the cup around the circle of six men until it reached the designated tester. “If you didn’t like Ho-Chi’s tea, you’ll definitely like this.” When the cup reached him, John tentatively raised the dark, steaming liquid to his lips. A hush fell on the men as he sipped. Mischievously smiling faces leaned forward as John’s face mirrored his internal appraisal of the new drink. First his eyebrows dipped and his forehead wrinkled. Then his face seemed to implode as his mouth puckered further. The men burst out laughing as John finally spit out the drink into the fire. He always gave the best reactions, and today’s were among some of the best.
This particular game was one that the group of friends had taken to in recent months. Each of them came from different eras in the old world, and many from different countries. So on breaks they would each provide a drink from their era and country of origin to pass around. Some drinks most liked. Others were less well-received. John didn’t seem to like any of them.
They were an odd bunch. Ho-Chi was from a rural town in China and had lived in the era just before the Renewal. John and Matthias were brothers who had grown up outside of Ephesus a few decades after the Apostle Paul planted his church. Kieran was from a small town in Scotland and had grown up around the time of John Knox. Eliyahu and Eliel were father-and-son that had lived through the wandering years of Israel. Each of them different, but every one of them shared a love of the outdoors and the forests.
Initially, the King had assigned them each to the care and keeping of the mighty forests northwest of Jerusalem. Their varied pasts and lack of common experience had led to some interesting first days. But once during a break, Kieran broke the silence and began talking about the forests and hill country of Scotland. As they talked, the barriers of time and space began to melt, and the group became fast friends.
Several years later, they still sat around during breaks—sometimes entrenched in a deep discussion about the Creator’s intention for a particular plant, other times laughing and joking. The game of drinks had started recently when Matthias brought mulled wine to their fireside gathering. Ho-Chi had never tasted the stuff, and was only mildly impressed. The next night he brought tea. John’s reaction had been enough to put the men on the ground laughing, and a game was born. The goal was, so they said, to find something that John would like. But in reality they just enjoyed his reactions to what John called “foul and undrinkable.” Today, Kieran steeped some coffee. John seemed to like it less than he did the tea.
“You know, my friends,” John said, face still resembling a prune, “I’m not sure you’ll find anything I do like. In fact, I’m beginning to think you’re not even trying.” His friends started to object but he waved them down. “No, no,” he continued, smiling, “I quite enjoy this game of ours. But from now on, for every one thing I drink you all will have to eat something I cook.”
There was a soft thump as Matthias’ own cup of coffee hit the ground, splashing the steaming contents on Ho-Chi’s leg. “Gentlemen,” Matthias chuckled, face worried as he reached for the fallen cup, “we better start finding tasty drinks.”
“Why?” Eliel asked absently while poking the fire with a long stick.
“Because my friend,” Matthias replied with a smirk, “John is, perhaps, the worst cook I have ever met.” Once again, laughter filled the air.
###
About the Author
Jedediah Ostoich is a husband, writer, teacher, student, and avid disc golfer and juggler. His passion is for the Old Testament and the stories, truth, and wonder that the ancient words convey, and, above all, the Kingdom of the Lord Messiah Jesus. His desire is to communicate the truths of the Scriptures in such a way that anyone can understand them. The hope is that by reading his works you are encouraged to pursue life as a citizen of the Kingdom of God’s son.
Jedediah has a B.A. in Old Testament Theology and Hebrew, and is presently working on his Th.M. in Biblical Theology of the Old Testament. He is a professional writer and the associate pastor at North Highlands Bible Church.
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