Tracie Peterson by If Only

Author:If Only
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

It met with the satisfaction of both Peter and Mary when a monastery came into sight. It wasn’t just any monastery, however, it was the very one in which Peter was to deliver the king’s missive. They were growing ever closer to York, and with its nearness, Peter’s confusion grew.

Sitting alone that night in the quiet of the abbott’s study, Peter reflected on his journey north and wrote in the journal he’d kept for King Edward. The number of dead had lessened as they moved north, and to Peter’s relief, they had found no more children in need of a home.

With a yawn, he rubbed his tired eyes and contemplated what he should next do. He had done as the king bade him, and now he should return to report his findings. But returning to Edward meant leaving Mary. And the children.

“Is it well with you, my son?” the abbott questioned, entering the room.

Peter suppressed another yawn. “I am nearly spent, but otherwise well. I am more relieved yet to find no sickness among your walls.”

“Aye, we are most grateful to God for such a blessing.”

Peter sat back and looked quizzically at the priest. “Is this illness the hand of God? His punishment upon a faithless people?”

“There are those who say it is. The Egyptians were sent plagues in the time of Moses. Still, these are not the things upon which I personally choose to concentrate. Sickness often does bring a man closer to God, and oft it brings him thoughts of his own limitations and his own death.”

Peter nodded. “I confess, ’tis so with me. I lived a life of ease, and even though I lost my family at an early age, I was blessed with comfort and purpose. I have seen much and lived much, but never gave thought for the morrow because it simply did not matter.”

The abbott took a seat on the bench beside Peter. “ ’Tis not unusual for man to think thusly. The church is always here to guide and offer direction to mankind, but without a repentant heart, there is no salvation.”

“This salvation you speak of,” Peter said, suddenly realizing he needed to know more, “is it that which saves man from death?”

“Not physical death,” the abbott replied. “By God’s Holy Scripture, man is instructed that he must die in his flesh, yet a spiritual death will follow for those without the forgiveness of Christ. For what is a man but that which makes up his spirit? The flesh is weak. ’Tis here one day and gone the next. By your own witness you have seen such a thing be true. The soul of man is that which physical death need not touch. The soul of man is that which can be given over to God in obedience to the Scripture and thus a spiritual death may be avoided.”

“I have heard this within the walls of great cathedrals,” Peter admitted, “yet it seemed unimportant at the time. I went to the battlefield

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