“Sure you say this, but we see who you sleep with.” Shouted a burly misanthrope near front of crowd.

“Mary is my touchstone and she is daughter of your master. He is a fine man but he cannot change world by himself. I see you are brave and I will be assured by Joseph that you will not only not be punished but you should be rewarded. Thank you.” Jesus walked off raised platform and went to get man. He brought him to Joseph and he asked Joseph.

“Do you have a place for this man that he deserves due to his long and hard life that you and others have brought upon him?”

“He will be made a forest warden and live in a cottage not far from here. I know that all of you deserve more but I am beholden to forces beyond my control. I did not have to bring our young Lord here to speak with you and I do not have to do all things I do which make your lives far better than other miners. I do these things as best I can and I hope that during my long absences that any transgressions that have occurred outside way I have instructed things be handled, will be brought to my attention.”

It was along night that saw most of managers sent packing or offered a job as a deep miner. Many of miners were asked who they thought would be best replacements for managers. The atmosphere of hope that prevailed was most satisfying to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They spent night around a bonfire and entertained their ‘brothers’ who became more open and willing to entertain them as night wore on. As they left next day to head back to Isle of Avalon near Glastonbury they were met by non-working shifts who had gathered along roadside to pay their respects. The man who was to become warden stepped into path of horses and would not move. He waited for Jesus or Joseph to come out of carriage and walk up to him. Jesus and Joseph both came towards him and Jesus opened his arms. The man came crying into his arms and he said.

“I have a son who works in another mine which is run by someone from another Phoenician enterprise. I want him to have this warden’s job.”

“It will be done.” Joseph spoke and crowd began to cheer. Again Jesus was touched by or shook hands with many of miners before he returned to carriage.

Words cannot describle love that I felt When I surrendered all to him as I humbly knelt To be loved by family and friends is a wonderful thing But to be loved by Jesus made my heart sing

To know that Jesus loved me made me happy and free That he could love me so much was a miracle to me His liquid love that came and filled my heart Washed away my past and gave me a new start

Irvin L. Rozier aka walkin2e