After a lunch of lentils, Stephanas spent the afternoon kneeling again in prayer. Neither of the Nicholases felt at liberty to speak over his silence, and neither felt it right to join him without an invitation. The rest of the day they sat some distance from the hut, conversing in hushed tones.
The days went on like that with Stephanas spending most of the day and night kneeling in vigil over Bethlehem. Eventually, the two Nicholases felt they ought to leave him to his silence and they ventured down to the town. The marketplace was small, but young Nicholas found the swirl of activity refreshing. The bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle and the haggling of merchants made him feel as if he had just emerged from a dry wasteland into an oasis.
He passed some baskets for sale and took notice. He said to his uncle, “Look. These fetch a reasonable price, enough to support a man who lives only on lentils.”
His uncle said, “He has turned his back on pursuing money.”
Nicholas shrugged. He thought it a sacrifice on the backs of others. He couldn’t see it accomplishing anything.
They soon came across some roasted chicken and bought some. As they devoured the meat, Nicholas insisted, “This is the best tasting chicken I’ve ever eaten.”
His uncle chuckled. “Yes. A life of great sacrifice is not something everyone can bear. But if you can, you will be greatly blessed.”
“I don’t understand,” said Nicholas. “How is he more blessed for giving up meat?”
“It’s not the meat. It’s the prayer. He has given up worldly pleasures so that he can devote himself wholly to prayer.”
“Can’t he pray and eat meat?”
His uncle shook his head. “You don’t understand. There is much you can learn from him.”
“He doesn’t seem very interested in teaching.”
“I believe if you were to ask him, he would take you under his wing.”
Nicholas raised a brow. “You mean, stay here?”
“If the Lord calls you to it.”
Nicholas let out a skeptical gasp. He couldn’t see that happening.
The days went on like that with Stephanas spending most of the day and night kneeling in vigil over Bethlehem. Eventually, the two Nicholases felt they ought to leave him to his silence and they ventured down to the town. The marketplace was small, but young Nicholas found the swirl of activity refreshing. The bleating of sheep, the lowing of cattle and the haggling of merchants made him feel as if he had just emerged from a dry wasteland into an oasis.
He passed some baskets for sale and took notice. He said to his uncle, “Look. These fetch a reasonable price, enough to support a man who lives only on lentils.”
His uncle said, “He has turned his back on pursuing money.”
Nicholas shrugged. He thought it a sacrifice on the backs of others. He couldn’t see it accomplishing anything.
They soon came across some roasted chicken and bought some. As they devoured the meat, Nicholas insisted, “This is the best tasting chicken I’ve ever eaten.”
His uncle chuckled. “Yes. A life of great sacrifice is not something everyone can bear. But if you can, you will be greatly blessed.”
“I don’t understand,” said Nicholas. “How is he more blessed for giving up meat?”
“It’s not the meat. It’s the prayer. He has given up worldly pleasures so that he can devote himself wholly to prayer.”
“Can’t he pray and eat meat?”
His uncle shook his head. “You don’t understand. There is much you can learn from him.”
“He doesn’t seem very interested in teaching.”
“I believe if you were to ask him, he would take you under his wing.”
Nicholas raised a brow. “You mean, stay here?”
“If the Lord calls you to it.”
Nicholas let out a skeptical gasp. He couldn’t see that happening.
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