I was beginning to get a little restless in Nazareth; It seemed like a nice community and everyone was friendly, but it was clear that we were the outsiders.   But more than that, I missed home and Esther, and it seemed strange not to see the water every morning when I got up. I didn’t…

“Seriously?  What were you thinking?” After leaving the synagogue we made our way back to Mary’s house, a table had been set up outside to accommodate everyone and lunch was about to begin when Jesus’ brothers and sister arrived.  And they didn’t seem happy. “You just show up and had to stir the pot, didn’t…

The days had flown since we returned from Nazareth, some days I fished and other days I spent with Jesus and the rest of the group.   Our days with Jesus soon fell into a comfortable routine.   He’d come by the house and we’d chat for a while and then we would wander through the village…

Turn the other cheek.  Did he say, ‘turn the other cheek’?  That was just crazy. What would that accomplish? From the sound of the crowd it was plain I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.  “Listen to me.” Jesus raised his hands to get people’s attention.  “The law that said, ‘an eye for…

I couldn’t contain myself. “That’s fine the first time, but how many times do we need to forgive someone?  Five times?  Six times?  Seven times?  Won’t they just keep taking advantage of us if we keep forgiving them?” Jesus looked at me and said, “Let me tell you a story.  Suppose a man owed a…

I was sitting by the fire thinking about all that Jesus had been teaching us.  Some of what he said made complete sense, but there were still things that baffled me, and others I outright disagreed with. We were on our way to Nain and there was the usual group tagging along. “Peter or would…

Mary must have sensed my disbelief: “I know.  You wouldn’t be the first one to doubt what happened.  How do you think Joseph felt? “Within days I knew I was pregnant, that a life was growing inside of me, and I realized that Joseph would have to know. “I still remember the look of shock…

It wasn’t long after we had arrived in Caesarea Philippi that some religious leaders came to the house where we were staying.    Without so much as a greeting, they started in at Jesus, telling him if he was going to teach in God’s name and claim the authority that he was taking that he needed…

The next day we were back at the beach and it wasn't very long before a crowd had gathered to hear Jesus teach.  “Jesus, Jesus, I need to see Jesus, please let me through.”  Everyone turned to see who was making all the commotion and out of the crowd came Jairus, the leader of the…

It was just like the last time when Mary approached me to finish her story.  The rest of the group had gone to bed, and I was sitting by the fire, waiting for it to burn itself out. I was in my nowhere place, not thinking of anything in particular when she joined me. “May…