RP - Visit From Brendan

[on_holy_ground]

Darius spent the afternoon in silent reflection and prayer after hearing the news of the death of Pope John Paul II.

Comments

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

Brendan slipped into through the door, closing it again behind him. He made his way down to the front, crossing himself and taking a seat in one of the pews.

His childhood had been when he'd spent the most time in church, each Sunday with his family. Then he'd done it because it was expected, you had to, and everyone else in the village did. It was more a social event as far as the kids were concerned, and when the sermon was over and the parents all gathered for their tea and scones, the boys would be out in the paddock, a football already in play, and jackets and ties being tossed onto the line of fence that stopped the ball from disturbing the adults. Most of the time.

After that fateful Saturday, when his world was blown to bits, literally, he had turned his back on the church. He couldn't understand how a supposed 'loving God' had allowed his mother to suffer so badly.

"Look at her, Father!" he'd hissed at their priest. "What did she ever do to anyone to deserve that?" The words the priest offered were ineffectual, as most things were at that time. He'd sat there and watched her die, incapable of doing anything, of helping her, of stopping her pain.

He'd left the church after her funeral, remaining only long enough to see her buried beside his father's, sister's and brother's fresh graves. He left the village, left the town and left the country. He couldn't handle the sympathy. Nor the senselessness of it all.

Seven years and a journey through hell later he'd returned. Again. Scared, but sure it was over this time, and needing a place to recuperate. To forget the horrors. His childhood mate had taken him in, and he'd lived with the family for the six months it took him to regain his sanity. Out of respect to them he started going to church on a Sunday, remaining silent unless spoken to, the new priest leaving him be, being told of his family's tragic past. He'd told Brendan if he'd ever wanted to talk, his door was always open and Brendan had thanked him. He'd never gone there.

When he'd brought Tess here it was because there was something different about Father Darius. He couldn't put his finger on it, but then who could when it came to these priest type people he'd decided. And when he'd heard the pope was dying, he'd stopped for a moment and tried to remember when it hadn't been Pope John Paul the second. He couldn't. So when the new everyone knew was coming finally arrived he felt drawn to go to Father Darius' church and just sit there for a while. It was the end of an era.

What would the next one bring?

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Upon finishing his afternoon of solitude upon hearing of the Pope's passing, Darius made his way quietly into the church in order to light the candles and do various other things that were needed in order to prepare for people who would come to pray after hearing the news. He had considered giving a service this evening, but decided to simply change the topic of his sermon for tomorrow's services instead and honor the passing of the Pope in that small way.

He had seen Popes come and go in his years as a priest, and while their passing always saddened him, he was a bit more unsettled by this one than usual. Even he had become accustomed to Pope John Paul the second being in the Vatican, and it had once again reminded him of how quickly mortal lives passed.

Darius paused upon seeing Brendan, and he made his way over quietly, not wanting to intrude upon his thoughts.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

Lifting his head after sitting there a while Brendan saw Father Darius was seated nearby.

"Father," he said, bowing his head in respect.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius smiled softly and nodded in return. "My apologies if I have intruded on your thoughts and prayers. It was not my intention to do so."

Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"No, you didn't intrude," Brendan replied, shaking his head slightly. "Just thinking back over the past... well, the past 26 years I guess," he murmurs. "Everything seems to be shifting again."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius nods. "It is the nature of life to change, even when we don't always wish it to."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

He nods slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, like a train in a way, sometimes slow and steady, others you wonder if you'll ever make it to the top of the hill, then next thing you know you're careening along, almost out of control and wondering if you'll ever stay on the tracks."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius smiles softly. "That does seem to be a rather apt description of the process."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"Tell me something?" he asked, looking at Darius with tired eyes.

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius looks at him with concern. "Of course."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"How do manage to keep believing?"

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius is quiet for a moment as he considers this answer carefully. "I think the reason that I manage is because it is easier to believe, than it is not to believe."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

Brendan frowns, not expecting that for an answer. "Surely not, Father, because to believe means y' have to give trust to something, or someone."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"Lucky for us, hey? That you met him. Who was he? A preacher?"

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius nods slowly. "He was a holy man that I met just outside of Paris. We didn't talk much, but he had more of an impact on my life than any other person that I have ever met."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"A positive impact?"

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"In my opinion, yes."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"That's good," he sighs. "And seems we're the ones to benefit from it too," he adds.

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I am glad to know that someone is benefiting from my presence here."

Darius looks at Brendan for a moment and then asks in a soft voice, "what is it that made you lose you're belief?"

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

He looked down again at his hands, his elbows having been resting on his knees. Sitting back he folded his arms and tucked his hands underneath.

"Things that happened to people who didn't deserve it t' happen to them."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius observed the movement and wondered to himself if it was done for a particular reason.

"We all go through things that shouldn't happen to us, it's a part of the cycle of life."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

"Not me, others," he muttered. "Innocent people," he added.

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes in a world were we are all given free will, people use this great gift to do harm to others, even those who are innocent. It is a sad thing when it happens, a horrible thing, but to let it destroy your faith and belief in others is perhaps the most horrible thing of all."

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[stormybrendan.livejournal.com]

His jaw tightened as he felt a slight admonishment in Darius' words, his eyes remaining lowered, the back of the pew in front offering a study of woodgrain that appeared fascinating for the moment. "So the old story of 'turn the other cheek' is your creed?" he blurts out, regretting it as soon as he had said it. It had haunted him for many years, and when he finally had acted, all those years later, it had still been there, the old teaching which had been a catch phrase of his mother's.

Re: Old memories, new eras.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius is quiet for a moment, his hands slipping into the sleeves of his robes. When he finally does speak, his voice is soft as he lifts his eyes to look at Brendan.

"Yes, I suppose that you might say that it is my creed. If there is one thing that I have learned through the years, it is that violence begets violence, and it is a vicious circle that will not end unless we can all learn to 'turn the other cheek'. No one wins when violence is the solution that is chosen."