On the way home from the forum, Nicholas’ parents Epiphanius and Johanna followed their usual track, turning aside to the drifter camp just outside the city. Tents and shacks dotted a patchwork of small rutted fields, always shifting from the last visit. The faces changed too, coming and going. Some of the families spotted the carriage far off and gathered expectantly. Most of the wealthy who gave gifts to the poor preferred to do it in the city forum where everyone could see them. Nicholas’ parents preferred to keep it quiet. Nicholas helped them hand out most of the food they had just bought. With each gift, his father would say, “In the name of Christus.” Many took their food and immediately retreated back to their hovels. A few asked which god this was, in whose name he gave; and he would smile and tell them. It made Nicholas happy to help the people, but the camp itself always made him nervous. He thought it would make the perfect hide-out for some dangerous criminal, and his parents’ carriage would make an easy target.
Nicholas felt relieved as they set out for home. He asked, “Father? Why did you turn down the proconsul’s protection?”
Nicholas’ mother Johanna wondered aloud, “He was with you?”
Epiphanius gave Nicholas a look and said, “Apparently so.” He had told her of his conversation with Silvanus, but Nicholas did not feature in the story. He said to Nicholas, “You should not be listening to conversations in secret.”
Nicholas replied, “I didn’t plan to. And I meant no harm.”
Epiphanius was not angry with him. He merely instructed, “When you listen, you become responsible for what you hear.”
“Yes, sir.”
Epiphanius was silent for a time as the carriage rumbled on its way. Then he explained to Nicholas, “Gifts from above are freely given. Gifts of this world come at a price... And how could I tell him of the power of Christus after agreeing that Christus needed his help?”
Nicholas thought about it for a moment. He asked, “Father, could not Christus have sent him to help?”
Epiphanius shook his head. “He would not.”
“Why?”
“Because he would not ask me to take refuge in a temple of idols.”
Click here to go to beginning of the book
Nicholas felt relieved as they set out for home. He asked, “Father? Why did you turn down the proconsul’s protection?”
Nicholas’ mother Johanna wondered aloud, “He was with you?”
Epiphanius gave Nicholas a look and said, “Apparently so.” He had told her of his conversation with Silvanus, but Nicholas did not feature in the story. He said to Nicholas, “You should not be listening to conversations in secret.”
Nicholas replied, “I didn’t plan to. And I meant no harm.”
Epiphanius was not angry with him. He merely instructed, “When you listen, you become responsible for what you hear.”
“Yes, sir.”
Epiphanius was silent for a time as the carriage rumbled on its way. Then he explained to Nicholas, “Gifts from above are freely given. Gifts of this world come at a price... And how could I tell him of the power of Christus after agreeing that Christus needed his help?”
Nicholas thought about it for a moment. He asked, “Father, could not Christus have sent him to help?”
Epiphanius shook his head. “He would not.”
“Why?”
“Because he would not ask me to take refuge in a temple of idols.”
Click here to go to beginning of the book
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