Ezekiel kissed his mother on the cheek as he got ready for a meal of lamb, grapes, and bread. “It smells wonderful, Mom.”
“I know you won’t be here forever, and I would like to spend a little time with my only child.”
“I’m not a child anymore. I’m twenty years old.”
“You will always be my child. And, yes, I know you’re a grown man. I haven’t told you enough how proud I am of you.” This made Ezekiel smile.
“You didn’t deserve the lot you were handed, and I will forever live with the guilt in my choice of husband.”
“You didn’t have much choice in the matter.”
“That doesn’t make the feeling go away. Just please tell me you’ll be careful in those boats you’re building.”
“How did you know about that?”
“I may have been foolish with love, but I am no fool when it comes to my son. I hope you’re not in debt.”
“I’m not, Mom. I’ve been doing extra work to pay for the boats. I hope to have the nets soon.”
“I have no doubt you will make a great fisherman, but I worry about you. Please be safe.”
“I’m always safe. Sometimes I think I try to be too safe.”
“Those are the comments that worry me.”
“Don’t worry. I will always be around to take care of you.” Ezekiel smiled at his mother’s scowl.
They ate in silence for the rest of the meal. As they cleaned up, Rina announced her presence before entering the house.
“Rina, I didn’t realize you were coming over tonight.”
“Sorry, Mom. We’re going for a walk, but we’ll be back before too long, alright?”
“If I refuse, would it make a difference?”
“You won’t refuse, and I love you for that.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’s safe,” Rina said sweetly.
Ezekiel smiled, and they made their way onto the street.
“I didn’t think you would come.”
“Well, I couldn’t talk there. Mother was in the other room listening to our every word.”
“So, were you lying back there when you told me you need security more than love?”
“No, I wasn’t. Look, my heart says one thing, but my mind is telling me there are other options. I care for you, Ezekiel, but I have my entire family to think of.”
“Is there someone else?”
“There’s one suitor who’s trying to get me to agree to marriage. He comes from a wealthy family, and my family would want for nothing as long as they lived if we married.”
“Do you love him?”
“I can learn to.”
“I wanted to show you something that might change your mind. However, if you’ve already made up your mind, then it will be worthless.”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” she said.
“So, do you want to see it?”
“See what?”
“It’s a surprise.” Ezekiel winked.
“Well, lead the way!”
He took her along the shore to where Simon worked on the boats.
“I’m learning the fishing trade, and these are my boats.”
Rina looked puzzled. “How could you possibly afford this?”
“I recently came into a lot of money.”
“By dishonest means, no doubt.”
“No, not at all. I just sold something and . . .”
“What? What did you sell?” she interrupted.
“Just something my father left me.”
“So it was by dishonest means.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“I need to go, Ezekiel.”
“Well, wait, I—”
“Don’t say anything else. I cannot marry a thief.”
“I’m not a thief!”
“Your father was. Anything he gave you was stolen. If you sell something that was stolen, then you are no better than the thief.” Rina walked away.
Ezekiel was so taken by surprise that he didn’t bother going after her. He kicked the dirt in frustration and returned home.
This was his future. There was no way he could attain it without the promise of a career. He was lucky. He could just as easily have been a beggar on the street. But this was an opportunity he could not pass up, even for Rina. He wouldn’t give up on her. She just needed time to think about things.
The next few months passed in a slow and painful march of time. Ezekiel began his fishing career. The bounty was plentiful, and he prospered. He soon hired a crew of eight, then twelve. It wasn’t long before his name grew in stature among the regions—a young man who’d made something of himself from so little. It was an act of godliness to create something out of nothing. To some, he became a hero. Others looked upon him with suspicion and jealousy. Ezekiel took it in stride as he worked hard six days a week, sunup to sundown.
CHAPTER 5
Rina still refused to marry. She wouldn’t marry just anyone, and she tried to remain friends with Ezekiel. His marriage intentions suffered her more grief than she let on, yet she refused to let her heart go easily, finding herself continually drawn to this upstart son of a thief. He was like a well that looks shoddy in the distance but reveals itself to be deep and reliable when you come near and plumb its depths.
On a bright blue morning in the middle of the week, another well presented itself on the shifting horizon. Asher walked through the streets of the market with his mother and sister. Despite the hustle of the market, he walked as though he had no care in the world. Asher held his head high, not in the off-putting, cocky way of someone trying to prove himself, but in a certain way that showed he knew where he was going. If you observed him, perched overhead on a rooftop or balcony, you would see how the crowds seemed to part before him naturally—unconsciously, even—as he wound through the thickets of patrons and merchants.
He tossed dates, one by one, into his mouth as he walked. When she saw him, Rina looked up and away. He noticed, and Rina blushed. Her heart dropped like a smooth, heavy stone in the ocean. He was, in both looks and demeanor, incredibly attractive.
“Hello,” he said.
Rina looked up to see a set of perfect teeth, a sight as rare as a string of pearls. Above, the smile in his eyes was even more disarming.
“Oh, um . . . hi?”
“I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before.”
“I live on the north side of the city. I don’t come to this part of the market very often.”
“Well, that explains it. The name is Asher.”
“That’s a unique name,” said Rina.
“It means happy. My parents wanted to have joyful children, so they named me Asher. My sister over there is Abigail, which means—”
“My father’s delight,” Rina interrupted. This brought an even bigger smile from Asher.
“I’m Rina. It means a song of joy.”
“In this instance, I think the Arabic meaning suits you better.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“One who is beautiful.”
“You are too daring.”
“So, I’m told.” Asher smiled.
At that moment, they heard a woman cursing at a vender. “This is the worst produce I’ve ever seen. These dates are rotten. How could anyone let you sell such horrific fruit . . .”
Asher rolled his eyes. “My father’s delight indeed!” He looked at Rina as if to say, I’ve got to take care of this.
“I’ve got to go,” Rina said, almost knocking over a basket of fruit. She blazed a trail through the people and didn’t stop until she was home.
CHAPTER 6
Fishing was hard, and Ezekiel loved it. He wore his exhaustion proudly at the end of each day, like a piece of fine clothing. He slept as deeply and silently as an underground cave. Each morning he woke naturally before dawn, never once hesitating to break from the cocoon of his mat into the cold morning air. The energetic way he tossed aside his swath of bedlinens, still wa
rm from wrapping him through the night, almost seemed callous. He was, however, merely young and brimming with purpose.
Life on the water was aggravating. Every task was subject to the weather, and the central job—netting a large school of fish—sometimes seemed like a game of pure luck. As fishermen are among the most superstitious people, that was a testament to how fickle the trade could be. One thing was sure, however, he loved the influence he had gained over the fishermen, once they saw he treated them fairly. Each wage was balanced carefully using honest scales. His crew became like a family. On the fifth day of each week, Ezekiel would send his fishermen elsewhere while visiting each of his merchants. He soon learned that relationships were the stuff of good business. He made sure each merchant was reputable as well. On this day, as he made his rounds, he came upon the carpenter hut where he first met Yeshua.
Ezekiel had the time and decided to pop in. It would be good to see the look on Yeshua’s face since he was doing so well. Unfortunately, the carpenter was out. I’ll have to catch up with him later, he thought.
“Ezekiel.”
He turned to see Yeshua returning with an armful of short logs.
“I wish I could say I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“Because it means you were wrong?”
“No, it means you didn’t heed my warning. The heavenly response to your choice will shake the very ground you walk on. But I tell you,” Yeshua continued, his eyes locked soberly on Ezekiel’s, “I tell you the truth, if you persevere, you will find happiness again.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You will know soon enough.”
“How will I know?”
“You came here to tell me I was wrong. And now you ask yourself whether I’m right. My dear Ezekiel, your heart is conflicted. You love a woman who questions whether she can love you back. So, you sold a dagger that was not yours to build a fishing operation for yourself. You’re in a hurry to get to a future that you may or may not want.”
“How do you know these things?”
“That’s not the right question. The question is: If I know all this, what else do I know?”
“I don’t understand.”
“See this block of olive wood? It started its life as a tree. When it was too old to bear much fruit, it was cut down. Then it was cut into pieces. For it to be useful again, I will get to the heartwood. The bark is stripped away, and the natural beauty of the wood comes to the surface. Then it must be smoothed and shaped into the bowl or beam or paddle or mast. None of which can happen if it is left to rot. Look at me, Ezekiel. Life is going to do the same to you. Don’t let it beat you into meaninglessness. You’ll have to excuse me, now. I have to get back to work.”
Ezekiel turned to leave.
“And one more thing. The answer you’re looking for is yes.”
“Yes?”
“She does love you.” Yeshua smiled and began chiseling.
Ezekiel nodded politely and left.
The next day was like any other. Ezekiel woke up and went out on his boat. His fishermen worked hard for the next eight hours, hauling in load after load of fish. The market was flooded with travelers, and people loved spending money this time of year. Ezekiel smiled as he ended the day by salting the fish for the next day’s market. Afterward, he swam in the sea to wash off the muck. He felt grateful the sea continually changed its colors, that it was fickle and made his work difficult while keeping its promise of remaining ever new. The shade of difference between yesterday and today was always clear to fishermen. They paid attention to the details that expressed the novelty of that chameleon called , or “the present.” As Ezekiel returned to the gently sloping bank, his eyes alighted on the figure of Yeshua, waiting patiently where the water met the Promised Land.
“How was your day today?” Yeshua asked as Ezekiel emerged from the water.
“You should already know. You seem to know everything about me already.”
Yeshua smiled. Ezekiel made his way out of the water and quickly donned his cloak.
“Well, I wanted to hear it from you.”
“It’s been a good day in one respect and not so good in another.”
“That would be yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“Ezekiel, I would love for you to be one of my followers, but I already know you’ll turn me down.”
“Why do you say that?”
Yeshua just smiled as Ezekiel looked at him glaringly.
“You are really into fishing, huh?”
“Yes, it’s the life I have chosen,” Ezekiel responded.
“What if I told you I could make you a fisher of men?”
“I would say you make no sense.”
“Exactly. Have a good evening, Ezekiel.” Yeshua left to walk down the shoreline.
“Go tell Simon that fisher of men thing. He would probably fall for something like that.”
“He already has,” Yeshua called back.
Ezekiel rinsed his feet off in the water and ran his fingers through his matted black hair. The sky faded over the countryside in a brilliant display of red, yellow, and purple. Ezekiel took a moment to enjoy the view before he headed home. The gentle wind felt cold on his back. He held his head high to compensate for the emptiness in his heart. He was learning to hide his emotions well. Heartbreak and pain were constant companions and had been for quite some time.
CHAPTER 7
Rina could not get Asher out of her head, and, consequently, she lamented her foolish behavior at the market. What if he came calling for her? Should she give up hope that Ezekiel would become someone who could give her a future?
Asher’s so handsome, she thought, but it feels like a betrayal to Ezekiel.
She couldn’t just think of herself and her suitors, however. Her family’s future was tied up with hers. How would it look to marry the son of a thief? She lay on her mat, wondering what it must be like to lie on cushions. What feeling came with owning your own horse? She drifted off to sleep in a sea of emotions.
The next day, Rina’s father, Hadwin, returned from his work in the vineyards. He worked at the adjacent vineyard where Rina’s mother picked grapes. His job was to oversee the wine presses and account for the wages of the workers. It was honest work, and Rina admired her father.
He liked Ezekiel, which was a wonder to Rina. “Life is hard for the rich just as it is for the poor,” he used to say. He was a hardworking man of few words and a kind smile. He somehow escaped the bitterness that harsh times seemed to lay on men his age.
“Father, how was your day?”
“It was a good day.”
“You say that every day.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Why don’t you ever say more than that?”
He just smiled and laid down his satchel.
“This is what I mean. You don’t even answer questions sometimes.”
“If I don’t have an answer, why would I give one?”
Rina chuckled. “You see? This is why you’re in charge of all the workers. They know you won’t inflame the emotions of the laborers.”
Hadwin just smiled. Rina went about her housework. She was glad her father was home. His presence made her feel secure.
“A young man was looking for you today in the market.”
“Oh really, who might that be?”
“He looked rich. Sorry, though, I didn’t ask his name.”
“I met someone the other day. He’s really handsome, but I’m not ready to settle down yet.”
“You’re running out of time, Rina.”
“Abba, I’m only twenty-three.”
“Most women have been married for six or seven years by now. What’s holding you back?”
“I like my life right now. I don’t want it to change.”
“My dear Rina, life always changes. The sky has never been the same color twice. The life you dream of does not exist. Just find a nice young man and settle down. I would like to know my grandchild
ren before I die.”
“Well, if I wait, maybe you’ll be motivated to live longer.”
He laughed briefly then fell silent.
Rina heard the familiar sound of feet crunching the gravel outside the door. Ester walked in.
“I concur with your father. You need to find a man as soon as possible.”
“Mother, I will not rush into this.”
“Then you will die an old maid with nothing to show for it.”
“Maybe that’s what I choose.”
Rina’s father nodded to Ester to quiet her.
“You’re always placating our daughter. Perhaps if you had a stronger hand with her, then she would come to her senses.”
“It’s her decision. Our daughter does not exist for us. We are entrusted with her care until we can give that over to a man who will then take care of her.”
“Humph!” Ester stormed out the back doorway.
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Rina softly. He just smiled.
“I want to know a little bit more about this young man.”
“I only met him once. There’s nothing there.”
“Well, he seems to think there could be. How is Ezekiel?”
“Why would you ask?”
“Because you’ve been fond of him since you were young. Have you spent any time with him lately?”
“Why do you like him so much? Mom thinks he isn’t worthy as a suitor.”
“What do you think?”
“I still think about Ezekiel. As far as Asher goes, he’s handsome. And he has the appearance of someone who’s well off.”
“Who makes you happy?”
“I’m extremely attracted to Asher, but I feel at ease with Ezekiel.”
“Alright.”
“That’s it? Just alright?” Rina looked at him in disbelief. “How can you offer no solution?”
“I’ve learned that people can talk themselves into the right decision if given the right amount of time. They can also be talked into the wrong ones by those they love.”
“How did you know Mom was the right match?”
“She knew before I did. I think she had me picked out and placed herself in situations where I would notice her. She didn’t have to. I noticed her right away and fell in love with her spirit. What can I say? It worked.”
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