Church,  A School of Love

Part 4

Thirty-three

The majority of religious scholars agree that Jesus was thirty-three when he died on the cross. Aaron was now thirty-three. He felt a need to find a church. He decided he would try a different church every week until he found one. 

Week one:

This church was nice enough. But NO ONE spoke to him. Greeted him in any manner. He reasoned if he was going to tithe to a church, they could at least shake his hand. 

Week two:

Aaron felt like all things had their place. At least these people spoke to him. But church felt like a honky tonk. The piano player could really play; if you were in a saloon and wanted to sing Annie Get Your Gun. 

Week three:

Forty-five minutes of singing. Thirty minutes of worship. Forty-five minutes of singing. 

Week four:

No music. This church believed that Jesus was everyone’s brother. That didn’t sit well with Aaron. Jesus was his Lord and Savior, not his brother. People were brothers and sisters in Christ. And Christmas got honorable mention. The resurrection was their main focus. While Aaron agreed, the resurrection was the foundation of Christianity. Christmas had to get more than a honorable mention. 

Week ten:

These people believed that the only place for women was Sunday School teachers. Other than that, women had no rights in the church. 

Week eleven:

Aaron was greeted at the door. Warm handshakes and heartfelt smiles. The second visit, the preacher was attempting to learn his name. The third visit he was invited to a church potluck. Even at the potluck, folks were friendly and inviting. On the fourth visit, the sermon stirred Aaron’s heart.  The pastor preached, that church was a school for love. We are to love and welcome each other. We are to feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Shelter the homeless. Give of what you can so that others might share in the glory of God. Everyone was welcomed in God’s House. 

Had Aaron finally found the church home he’d been searching for? Had he found a church that really was a school for love?

The end

Lost Past; A Star Trek Story

Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.

Mythical beings

Worf brought Alexander to the throne room. Sher entered the room from a side door. She was always wearing glowing dresses. There was something about her that made Worf’s heart stop. He understood why Data would be attracted to her. At that moment he also understood why men would follow her anywhere she would lead them.

Both of them saw Westerfield hanging in his cage. Thor had moved his family.

“Hello young Alexander.” The sound of her voice only intensified Worf’s feelings. 

“Hello your highness.” Worf spoke as they bowed. 

“I know your father has been busy. But have you had time to read about Der and Freda?”

“It was hard reading but yes I read it.” Alexander answered. 

“What made it hard?”

“I am still learning Klingon. I am not very efficient yet.”

“What did you think of the story?”

“I have so many questions.”

“Ask away Young Alexander.”

Sher set on the bottom step of the throne pedestal, while Worf and Alexander sat in the floor.

“How do you fit in the story?”

She laughed, “We get to the hard questions first. There is no beating around the bush with you young man. I am ghubDaQ.”

“You are the first born of Der and Ferta?”

“Yes I am.”

“No. The story seems to.” She gave him time to think of the right word.

“Stupid.” Westerfield called from his cage.

“No.” Alexander frowned. “Mythical. It reads like The Illiad.”

“Yes it does and yes it is.”

“You and your family are mythical beings?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Wow! I’ve met a mythical being.”

“Don’t believe her young one. Don’t believe her.” Westerfield screamed.

Alexander ignored him. 

“Would you like to meet my family?” Sher asked. 

“Would I!” He exclaimed.

They started walking out of the throne room. “Why do you look like this?”

“We take many forms. However, the form you see before you is the form we

prefer.”

“So when you said that you led my father into battle, you were not playing. Warriors would pray to you to guide their swards?”

“Yes. If the battle called for it, I would fight beside them. That was in the old days however. Now there is no need for my presents. Therefore, I busy myself with other battles.”

“What if the side you are own loses?”

“It happens. Faith goes along way. All battles require faith. If just one warrior looses faith, if makes us feel like we are not wanted or needed.”

“Can’t one warrior’s faith make up for another’s?”

“Sometimes it can. Der made up for his brother’s faith when they fought Twa.”

Twa was a monster.” Alexander stated matter of factly. 

“Yes she was. Let that be a lesson that not all monsters are men. What do you think of the love part? After all, love is the underlying story.”

“At first, it made me sick. But then as I continued to read, it got better. It didn’t make me sick anymore. I understand that you have been sick.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Why, if you are this all powerful, all knowing being how can you get sick? Why cant you see that these things are going to happen?”

Somethings have to happen in order to bring out the evil in people or the good, it

is whatever the situation calls for.”

“Can you be killed?”

“Yes, we can.”

“How old are you?”

“Alexander,” Worf scolded. “It isn’t polite to asked a lady her age.” 

Sher smiled. “How old do you think I am?”

“I don’t know.”

“That is the beauty of it. You are to never know. You are only to assume.” They had walked into the courtyard where Data, Freya, and Thor where sitting on the patio watching four men play. “Young Alexander, this is my mother Freya. My father, Thor, and I believe you know Mr. Data.”

“Of course.” Alexander smiled.

“And out there playing are my brothers.”

“The same brothers that were in the story?”

“Yes.

“Wow! What are they playing?”

“They are wrestling. It keeps them in shape.”

“Who’s winning?”

“Horus at the moment.” Thor answered.

“Is it okay if I watch or awhile?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Great!” Alexander watched in amazement as the grown men took turns wrestling each other to the ground.

Sher sat beside of Data. “Alexander, I am going to have an ice cream party. You are welcome to come.”

“Ice Cream, can I father.”

“Yes.” Worf half smiled.

All the cuteness

You remind me of a time

sweet, innocent and sublime. 

When I see you, I automatically smile.

In the folder ‘things that make me happy’, is your file. 

If you’re being chased by a dog, I cheer for you. 

If you are dead on the highway, I weep for you. 

From your cute nose to your fluffy tail,

little bunny, in the wild, your life is so frail. 

Run. Jump, play. 

Enjoy everyday. 

You don’t know it, little bunny,

but you make my life sunny. 

http://livingpoetry.net/2026/05/04/may-visual-poetry-prompt-8/

Lost Past; A Star Trek Story

Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.

Nightmares

Data caught Sher inches from the ground as she was falling. She was panting and crying. He hugged her up. “Sher?” His voice was calm. She started screaming struggling against him. “Sher, it is Data. I am here. It is I.”

She reached to touch him. Her eyes were open but Data wasn’t at all sure if she could see. She was patting him as it she couldn’t. She fumbled her way to his face. Her hands where trembling. As she traced his lips with a finger, he kissed it. “DaTa,” she sobbed, “I can’t see.” I can’t see.”

“It is okay. Close your eyes.”

“DaTa?”

“Trust me, please.” He remained calm. He knew that if she sensed he was scared it would make her emotions that much worse. He kissed the top of her hand. He knew that was where she liked to be kissed.

“DaTa?”

“I am right here. Keep your eyes closed.”

“I can’t. I can’t.” She sobbed.

“Yes, you can. I am right here. Nothing is going to hurt you. Please tell me what is wrong.”

“No, I can’t.”

Data put his hands on her shoulders. “Please.”

She couldn’t stop crying, “I shouldn’t,” she took a deep breath, “I was doing so well.” She sunk to the ground, “have watched.” She gagged, “I should have just,” she started coughing, “kept walking.”

“Sher?” He sat down in front of her, wiping at her tears. “Are you having nightmares?”

“Yes. I was doing so well. I wasn’t having any. I was sure I wasn’t going to have to go through this.”

He pulled her to him, wrapping her in his arms. “If you let me, we will work through these together.”

“How?” She continued crying.

“First of all, do not fight me. I am on your side.”

“I know.”

He kissed her forehead. “I love you Sher. Please.”

She slowly opened her eyes. It took a moment for her surroundings to come into focus. She sat up, looking into Data’s eyes, he was crying. It was her turn to wipe away his tears. “I promise, I will try.”

“As will I.”