-Martin Luther
"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime."
-Martin Luther
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The Atonement is an Easter short story written by Ludwig von Gerdtell (1872-1954). Gerdtell was born into an aristocratic family in Prussia; his father and grandfather had been military officers but, against expectations, he became a theologian. Incidentally, Gerdtell was an early critic of Adolf Hitler: while based in Germany in the 1920's, he frequently warned about the dangers of the Nazi party. Then in 1934 he was denounced by a snitch neighbour for badmouthing Hitler and had to flee the country, only escaping arrest with the help of a sympathetic local police officer. He eventually ended up in the States, teaching religion at a university in Indiana. After World War II he founded the European Evangelical Society. The Atonement is an allegory for Jesus sacrificing Himself for the sins of the world. It tells the story of a just and good king who faces a rebellion by a faction who wants to put their own leader on the throne. One day he finds that some important state documents have been stolen from his desk. Fearing that the confidential information in them will be used to depose him, he sends out a proclamation that anyone caught committing treason will be executed, and anyone found in possession of stolen papers will receive 100 lashes in the public square. To his horror, several days later the king's mother and two sisters are caught by the palace guard attempting to open the cabinet where he keeps his papers using a master key. Further investigation proves without a doubt that all three were involved in the conspiracy against him. The news of the perfidy of the Queen mother and princesses sweeps across the land and the papers are full of articles which say that this is the time for the King to prove that he is indeed just and that he puts the law above even family concerns by fulfilling his decree to punish the perpetrators, no matter who they are. The three women fall to their knees, begging for forgiveness and mercy. The King is agonized; he loves his family, believes that their repentance is sincere, and shrinks from subjecting them to that shame and suffering. But he cannot rescind his proclamation and go back on his word. To do so would show him to be unjust, untrustworthy, and dishonorable in the eyes of his subjects. Torn, he locks himself in his rooms, fasting as he tries to decide what to do. "The king in him became a tyrant toward the mother’s son he was and demanded equal rights for all. The son and brother in him, on the other hand, became a rebel against the king and demanded pardon." After a sleepless night, the King emerges from his rooms and orders that the executioner report to the town square and that the people assemble there. As the crowd gathers, the King leads his trembling mother gently by the arm, his sisters following, ashamed and scared, as they make there way to the square. The King, pale but resolute announces that, so that both his people and his enemies will know that in his kingdom there is equal justice for all, he is delivering his mother and sisters to the executioner to be whipped for their crimes, as he had decreed. Unable to watch as the executioner uncoils his whip, the King covers his face with his hands. As the sound of the whip cutting the air breaks through the stillness though, the King springs forward and grabs the executioner's arm before the lash can descend on his mother's slight form. He orders the executioner to let the women go, saying that he will take the lashes in their stead. He does so, then is carried back to the palace, unconscious, bleeding profusely, and more dead than alive. It takes him a long time to recuperate from his wounds, but his selfless actions have won over even his opponents and his kingdom is now at peace thanks to the King's wisdom, justice, and love. Related Posts:We've had a slew of family birthdays in the past few weeks. One of my nephews had his; I gave him a game and a Super Mario pillowcase... unfortunately I only had enough Mario fabric to make the cuff out of it, not the body, but he liked it. My sister-in-law had a birthday as well- a milestone one. Since we weren't able to all get together for it, we surprised her with a progressive supper, during which they- she, my brother, and their kids- travelled about to every other family home within range and had a portion of their meal. I was assigned the soup course and served corn chowder with cheese bread. One of my sisters also had a birthday. I sewed some tea towels for her and gave her a book but I forgot to take a picture of them. I did make some chili for the occasion, though. It was upstaged by an amazing trifle her husband made for her, because she doesn't like cake. It was delicious. One of my nieces is turning a year old this week and we had her party yesterday afternoon. I gave her a book and some boot slippers that I sewed for her: The cake my sister made for the party was really cute. Related Posts:Thinking today about an author who brought much joy and laughter to my family and so many others: Beverly Cleary (1916-2021). "Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood."
-Beverly Cleary Last night we watched the first season Road To Avonlea episode Aunt Abigail's Beau. Abigail is Janet King's spinster sister who still lives at their family home where she cared for their father until he died. She's become very set in her ways and is known for keeping the cleanest house in Avonlea- and for her award winning pickles. Out of the blue Malcolm McEwan arrives back in Avonlea. He grew up there in a poor family, attended school with Abigail, and was always in love with her. When old enough, he began to court her and eventually asked her father for permission to marry her. It was refused; her father said that Malcolm had no money and no prospects, and to come back when he had made something of himself. Determined to do just that, Malcolm left the Island and went to the north to prospect for gold. It took years, but he eventually struck gold, is now extremely wealthy and has returned to Avonlea to win Abigail. She is shocked yet happy to see her old beau- who left town without telling her- but he explodes like a bomb in her tidy, well-ordered life. Never exactly suave to begin with, years of living in mining camps haven't done much for Malcolm's social skills. He's brash, boisterous, knocks into things, and- to Abigail's horror- doesn't wipe the mud off of his feet when he comes into the house. Also, anxious to show everyone that he's now worthy of Abigail, Malcolm talks frequently about his new found wealth and splashes money around town. He means well but it comes across as crass and sometimes a bit obnoxious. He manages to irritate Alec who, though usually easy-going, is smarting a little because the children are all agog with Malcolm's tales of adventure in the north. Alec tells himself that his life has been boring and conventional; he stayed home, took over the family farm, and has never been any farther than Halifax. This inner irritation flares into outright anger when, at an auction, Alec bids on a bed which he thinks Janet would like. Malcolm casually outbids him, offering an amount for the bed that Alec can't possibly afford to beat and then jovially says to a disappointed Alec that he never could resist a challenge, and wasn't that a lot of fun. Malcolm quickly proposes and, swept up in the moment, carried along by his boundless enthusiasm, Abigail accepts. Almost right away though, she starts to have misgivings. She fears losing her independence and is frequently dismayed by the chaos which Malcolm brings to her life with his outsized personality and loud uncouth ways. Their engagement is in jeopardy as it becomes doubtful if either one of them will be able to change enough to suit the other. This is a very good first season episode of Road To Avonlea, adapted from L.M. Montgomery's short story Aunt Olivia's Beau in her book Chronicles of Avonlea. It is alternately funny and touching, and introduces us to a couple of new characters while giving us fresh insights about the recurring ones. Also, I don't think I've mentioned this before, but one thing which makes Road To Avonlea so great is the presence of so many great side characters- town residents like Clara Potts, a gleefully malicious gossip- who add so much to the show. They're out in full force in this episode.
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