"So John's gone?" Mariam asked, taking a turn at the churn on the edge of the yard. She loved making butter. It was a task that left her mind free.
A group of family was gathered in the courtyard, each doing respective chores. They often did this, using the time to discuss things which concerned them.
"He's off doing what he feels is important," Ruth said. She carefully mended the hole in one of her robes.
"You don't think it is?" Maria said. She was glad she had finally gotten away from her business to spend time with her husband's family. They grounded her.
"Unfortunately, I do," Ruth said. "It's just that I have a feeling I can't shake."
"It's in the air," Maria said.
"You got that right," Uncle David said, as he worked on carving an alabaster rose.
He planned to create thirteen identical roses, one for each of the women, and a special one for his sister-in-law, Mary, maybe one he could attach to her door. He had always loved her more than his other sisters-in-law. She was at-one with what was important. At times he drew strength from her.
The yard was empty of children. They were with Sarah attending lessons. The smallest of them, including his step-son, Jacob, were asleep. Uncle David loved children. They climbed all over him, like he was candy. They always had, even when he was young. But sometimes, like today, he was glad they were absent. He was restless.
"The meeting is set for this afternoon just before sundown," Yeshua said. He joined the group, bringing with him a scroll, pen and ink. "They ought to start showing up soon."
"I hope they can get through. The soldiers have been stopping everyone," Mother Mary said, glad for a moment when nothing was required of her.
"What are they looking for this time?" Mariam asked.
"Who knows," Uncle David said. "They want to keep us off balance."
"What did you have in mind for today's session, son?" Father Joseph said, working on the finishing touches of a wooden chest. He'd promised to deliver it in two days. Lately, he had been feeling poorly. Sometimes it felt like his time was close. At others it seemed he'd live to be ancient. The mind delivered such contradictions, all masquerading as reality.
"To develop an overall plan," Yeshua said.
"What would you all think of a brainstorming session?" Maria said.
"With everyone putting in their ideas about how to make this society work--one person at a time," Yeshua said.
"That sounds like a start," Mother Mary said.
They spent early afternoon discussing ideas for the meeting.
Ruth's thoughts were on John, when she tended little Daniel, when she helped with the chores and during the discussion. Whatever it was, whatever she sensed, loomed like a thundercloud before the strike.
It was dusk before everyone arrived. Torches, secured to poles in the courtyard, provided light. Mother Mary and Father Joseph, the thirteen women and thirteen men and their families crowded the compound.
Yeshua spoke first. "We come together to set out a plan."
Father Joseph said, "Soldiers are harassing more and more people, daily. Around here we don't see as many of them, but in the bigger cities their presence is everywhere. Women are being raped and abandoned by their families as unclean. Soldiers are attacking the very old and the very young. I'm sure you've heard stories."
"We need to come up with a better way of dealing the soldiers," Mother Mary said, "and to teach people to be kind to victims. Blaming a woman for what she can't help is cruelty. The child born of the rape, to outcast such a child is a crime against kindness and honor."
Maria said, "I've set aside some of my resources to help women and children. I've found a building for the orphanage and shelter. They will be housed together. Today, after our meeting I'd like those of you who have ideas about it to discuss them with me. If you know someone who would like to work there, or if you have any ideas of how best to get the word out to those who needed it, I'd like your input."
Mariam, Uncle David's wife said, "I'd be pleased to run it."
"Me too," Uncle David said, proud of his wife. "Where is it?"
"In a secure location," Maria said.
"Okay, now," Yeshua said, "I'd like to hear everybody's concerns and ideas about what we need to do next."
"Last night Claire came to me in a dream," Ruth said, standing with the baby nestled against her in a sling-like carrier. "He said the tide is rising, and we need to build a boat."
"Do you know what he meant?" Yeshua said.
"A boat can be anything that keeps us from drowning in the tide of events," Maria said.
Ruth said, "I don't think he was referring to saving ourselves. I think it's more like an instrument."
"Like Noah's?" her brother, James, asked.
Ruth said, "More like a vehicle by which people can find real meaning in their lives. We are here to become."
"To become what?" Mariam asked.
"Our real selves," Melanie said, proud that Ruth had been teaching her the higher ways.
"Yes, that's it," Ruth said.
"How can we do that," her brother, James, said, "if we're always worried about whether or not we're going to get killed?"
"Tragedy and travesty make the most convincing teachers," Yeshua said. "When things are easy we don't learn much. Throw in heartache and difficulty and you've got motivation."
"That's all fine," Simon said, "but let's get practical. I go out fishing early in the morning. Let's say the soldiers are there when I get back, and they take my catch. Now, I can either fight them or acquiesce. I'm tired of acquiescing. I've seen a number of fishermen sliced in half because they refused to give their catch to the government. The soldiers laugh about it. It makes me furious."
"So, we figure out when the soldiers are less likely to be there," James, Simon's brother, said, "and we come back then."
"Okay, so we have two issues," Maria said. "One of them addresses the practical everyday issues of survival, finding ways to circumvent the government and it's minions. The other involves personal growth."
"That's the way I see it," Father Joseph said.
"Fighting the government straight on will produce nothing but our own deaths," Yeshua said, "and we've gained nothing."
"People follow martyrs," James, his brother, said.
"Yes," Ruth said, "but do you want to be one?"
"Not especially," James said.
Ruth wondered why her brother, James, was not one of the thirteen. He had such a passionate, caring soul.
"Okay," Father Joseph said, "maybe we should divide into groups. Those of you who want to work on helping people with personal growth in one and those who want to work on practical ways to avoid the government's cruelty in another. Someone in each group can take notes. When we're done, we can get back together and share what we've come up with."
"Simon and Maria would you be willing to lead the group on practical steps?" Yeshua asked, with a cryptic smile.
Simon and Maria glared at each other.
"Come on," Yeshua said, "both of you think in terms of strategies--from the male and the female perspective. Father, maybe you could go along as an advisor and keep the peace?"
"Sounds good, son," Father Joseph said, his eyes twinkling.
"Ruth and I can lead the personal growth group," Yeshua said, "with Mother as advisor."