physically realized where I live in love.
Ambrose reminded me of our journeys together to witness the suffering and fear of most conscious beings on earth. The gift of my life with Mary, as tumultuous as it has been, and will be as Belshazzar reminded me, is that I am deepening in compassion for myself as well as for others.
I had lost my way, separated from Eloha by the veil of my fear. Thankfully, I was steered back on course by my teachers whose provocative questions acted as beacons of light. As my being expanded with love, Mary awoke from her fevered slumber. Her mind, now clear, expressed her delight at being forgiven, but it was forgiveness of my self-judgment that was necessary to heal the wound my fear had created in our relationship.
***
The journey home from Nabataea has been long, but with the speed of the white stallion, Teoma shall arrive before the Pesach. The graceful strength of his mount fills him with hope. Yeshua must have forgiven them for Mary called him home, pulling on his heart just like that fateful night. When the stallion’s hooves strike the rocky path, he winces, holding his right side. The Nabataean king’s healers have not the skill of his friend. As the valley of Jezreel stretches before him, his mind wanders back to the desert.
After Yeshua’s dismissal, Joseph sent him to Judaea under Theudas’ command, a very different experience than under Judas. The zealot leader used his Roman appearance to gather intelligence from the oppression. After months of infiltrating the Herodian guard, Teoma’s loyalties were nearly discovered by a sharp commander. Theudas swiftly dispatched him south of Judaea to gather resources from their Nabataean neighbors. That is where he first espied the horse.
The tribes of Nabataea had gathered for the great chariot races to be held in Herod’s coliseum. The zealots amused themselves watching from the far ridge as the young men raced magnificent horses. A white stallion caught his eye. Ignoring the taunts of his companions, he brazenly approached the young sheik.
“What would you wager for that animal?”
“I would give up my wives before this stallion!” The sheik laughed and Epher tried to pull Teoma away.
Shaking off his comrade, Teoma appraised the fine horse, caressing its face and looking deeply into its dark eyes, certain that it desired to be taken to Mary. “I challenge you to a test of skills, sheik!”
Stroking his short dark beard, the Nabataean studied him. “I do love a challenge. But what do you have that I might desire?”
“I have a great inheritance!” Teoma cared not for the wealth, but his uncle would be furious if he lost his mother’s inheritance on a wager. Epher shook his head.
“I am Ahad, son of King Aretas; I do not need your gold!”
Teoma knew that the Nabataean king was in great debt to Herod Antipas. “I hear your father must win this race, prince!”
Ahad’s face darkened. “I will best you, Roman mongrel,” taking in Teoma’s shaven face and cropped hair, “and take all of your family’s ill-gotten wealth!”
Feats of skill followed feats of strength. All the training Teoma had received in his youth proved insurmountable by young Ahad. By the end of the first day, he had won the sheik’s wealth, including his five wives, but Ahad stubbornly refused to wager on the horse. It was nearly midnight when the king’s guard interrupted their game.
Unmarked before, the soldiers brought Teoma bruised and bloodied, before the Nabataean king.
“If my son has lost everything, why does he not look as bad as you do?”
“Prince Ahad was not the one to mar my skin, sir,” his breath shallow from the great pain in his side wrought by a thick staff.
Aretas grumbled, studying Teoma a long while. “You have much courage. I have only seen one man use an atlatl as well!” The king held up the grooved piece of wood from which spears are thrown with great speed. “How do you know the Aksum king?”
“Belshazzar came to Nazareth to train me up in the ways of the young men from his land.”
The white bearded king looked surprised. “You? No, there was another about your age. Who is your companion?”
Teoma hesitated. What harm could Aretas do here in Nabataea? His closed mouth incited his captor.
His eyes mere slits, Aretas warned, “Perhaps I should return you to my guard?”
Standing straight to hide his pain, Teoma vowed to protect Yeshua with his life. Let Aretas have his way, he would get nothing from him.
Aretas called for kaffa and sipped the hot dark drink slowly, draining two cups before speaking again, “I know Belshazzar well. Nearly twenty years ago, we visited a babe in Nazareth with Hor of Tarsus. You protect the prince of peace, do you not?”
Keeping his lips sealed, Teoma wondered if it was true. Was Aretas one of the three kings rumored to have paid homage to his friend? His passion took hold. “Wasn’t it you who alerted Herod of his birth?”
The king nodded, his face shadowed by sorrow. “Yes, and I have paid dearly, giving my precious daughter to his crude son, Antipas. How unhappy she has been all these years because of her father’s mistake. It is a wonder you survived.”
His uncle had taken Teoma and his mother to Egypt during Herod’s rage, while Yeshua remained safe within the mists at Nazareth. Aretas looked for his response to no avail. Defeated, he slumped back on the plush cushions.
“The stallion is yours. Take it as a gift to the young Judaean prince.” The king released a great sigh. “When shall he bring us peace, do you know?” Teoma shook his head. “I remember his wedding; the miracle of the wine shall not be forgotten. But what since? Why has he not come? The Romans grow stronger while we wait for him.”
Teoma was saddened by the king’s words. How long would Abba Joseph keep Yeshua from the world? “His time has not come. He is not ready to make a stand.”
“Well, I pledge the support of my tribes. Surely the kings of Tarsus and Aksum shall do the same! What more does he need?”
“The support of his own people.”
“Ahh! What fools are they who wait for a mashiach, when the man resides amongst them!” Aretas softened his tone at the look on Teoma’s face. “I mean not to offend your mother’s lineage. I do not remember you at the wedding in Cana, but if I had known that Yeshua had a fondness for horses, I would have brought him a foursome as a wedding gift!”
Teoma swallowed, “The stallion is for his wife.”
Aretas could hardly contain his mirth. “What use does a woman have for a horse? I shall send you back with finery fit for the wife of the prince.”
“The horse will do, sir.”
The great white stallion races toward the ridge of Nazareth. Excited to be so close to home, Teoma leaves his memories to attend to his mount. They pierce through the mists and into the lands of Joseph to be greeted by Yeshua at the stables.
“My
