Let's end at the very beginning

As OOTLE 15 comes to a close I can hardly believe all the things I have learned. But the most profound knowledge I received is that there is still so much more left to learn... we have just touched the surface! As we have studied the Hebrew Bible this semester (Old Testament) or Tanak, we have learned it is composed of three parts. We have discussed the Prophets and the Writings and this week we discussed the Torah. The Torah is considered the first 5 books of our Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). In the Torah we find many stories called 'sagas'. "A saga is a legendary narrative about an ancestor or community figure." (more on that here).
To put it simply... the plot of a saga is simple! Sagas have these identifying traits:

• There is a single plot (no sub-plots), with a single rising tension or conflict resolution and denouement. 

• There is a small cast

• There is no "back drop" or "back story that is needed to understand the narrative at hand.

• sagas are not necessarily moralistic, they do not "have a moral". But instead are a way of defining "who we are". (sometimes who we are is not pretty!)

By telling the stories of their ancestors, the tellers came to understand their own being. (Bandstra)

Today my assignment is to create my own saga.

Instructions: Choose any figure from the past whom you identify as part of your “tradition” (national, ethnic, ecclesial, political, academic, or what have you). Write this figure into a short saga, using the formal features above as a guide. This should be a fictional episode; while it presumably takes place in that figure’s historical context, that context should be largely “invisible” behind and around the events of the saga.

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A story as old as time, the story of Charlene. Charlene, daughter of John Jr. and Juanita Jo, was a kind girl. As she grew up on the farm she had a special heart for the animals. Charlene took care of the sick ones, and befriend the outcasts. Charlene loved God and knew that God called us to care for others.

Her first year of school came and Charlene was excited. As the school days carried on Charlene noticed a girl at school, Betty Shoemaker, who was always sitting alone. Not only was she sitting alone but she only had one shoe. Charlene looked for Betty at lunch one day. "is anyone sitting here? Can I join you" she asked, as she approached Betty at a table alone. Betty looked up with hopeful eyes and a smile "sure!". Charlene sat down and they became instant friends. The next day, Charlene brought her only other pair of shoes to school to share with Betty.

As Charlene grew in years, her love for animals and love for others grew as well. Charlene continued to look for the chances to love others and reach out to those who might need a friend. Charlene went to college she met her husband. They created their home to be hospitable, kind, and open to others in need. 

The first summer of their marriage they took in 32 families, at different times. Some were traveling on their way somewhere else, some were in troubled times and in need of a home and some were visitors. In their years together they had four children. The children grew up hospitable and kind. Each of their children married and created hospitable homes, open to those in need. Their youngest child, Larry Jo, created a shelter for those experiencing homelessness or just needing a place to stay for the night. Their oldest child, Juan, created a kitchen, open to feed those who were ever hungry and in need of a meal.

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It has been a joy learning along side you this semester.

Thanks for reading, here is to the continued journey!