I waited patiently, at the designated meeting place by the Trevi Fountain, in Rome, the Eternal City, for news of my thirty-year search for the Veil of Veronica, a Christian relic sought by countless antique collectors, like myself.
Roberto, my treasure hunter extraordinaire, strode purposely toward me and spoke softly, ” the object you seek is valued at $25 million, cash only, and you are to meet with the owner at midnight with the cash in hand, in room 306, NH Collection Roma Giustiniano, don’t be late”.
Midnight found me tapping furtively on the door of 306, which was immediately opened by a silver-haired, well-dressed gentleman, who graciously smiled and invited me in, inquiring if the bag I was carrying contained the price for the veil.
I opened the bag to reveal the cash, ” how do I know the cloth is authentic, I’m not handing over this much money without proof of the cloth’s authenticity”.
The elderly gentleman smiled in understanding, and grasping my right shoulder he produced a knife and slid it easily through my ribs and into my heart.
I was in a crowd watching Jesus struggling with the cross he was carrying, he staggered to his knees, and a drop of blood from the thorns piercing his brow fell on me, and I awoke alone to see the money and the gentleman had disappeared and the Veil of Veronica draped over my chest.
Wow! “The proof is in the pudding.” Bravo!
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Always test the merchandise. Make sure you get your money’s worth.
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Ask and you shall receive. You asked for proof and you received it. Will there be a part II?
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No part 2, Abi. I like to move on. Ask and you will receive, indeed, sometimes with unexpected consequences.
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Expect the unexpected. Looking forward to your next story.
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There’s nothing like a miracle to convince a person.
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Indeed, he got his money’s worth.
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Wow! THAT was intense. Which was most worth it: the vision and revival, or the object of miracle?
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Thanks, Liz. I’m wondering what’s the price of a miracle these days.
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Well, at least he didn’t get ‘stabbed in the back’ which is quite common in some circles.
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Too true, Gary. The elderly gentleman lived up to his word.
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A very captivating way to provide evidence of the veil’s authenticity. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Frank. The fun was in the research on the veil.
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Objects and desires…too often they cloud us, don’t they, Len.
But then a miracle appears in the most unexpected(?) corners of life and then it is for us to embrace it or not.
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Thanks, Nick. Exactly, the hidden hand of God is there for us to find.
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wow! that left me speechless. that was quite a story, Len. i love the Jesus scene as well. that was well crafted! 👏👏
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Thanks, Audrine. I try to include religious themes in my stories. Not always practicable, but whenever the story line warrants.
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Nothing like product-testing before committing. But the very nature of the buyer’s quest involved faith. Truly enjoyed reading! Nicely done.
~ Dora
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Thanks, Dora. I considered the buyer a bit like Thomas, the apostle when he doubted the appearance of Jesus.
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What better way to prove its authenticity than by demonstrating its power. Brilliant.
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Thanks, Keith. I always believe in action over words, anytime. What was the song from My Fair Lady, “If your in love, show me” ?
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good usefof the cue
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Thanks, UP. I try.
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Damn* I’m with the others, excellent story-telling complete with a hook at the end. Roller coaster rhetoric at it’s finest.
* a compliment
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Thanks, for your damn compliment, Clark. Glad you liked the damn story.
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The journey from exterior to interior wealth nicely expressed.
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Thanks, Jenne, I like that interpretation.
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Hauntingly scary.
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Thanks, Bernadette, scary with a happy ending.
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