Tell me a story - about healing
Where do I get my ideas from?
Sometimes I pair randomly selected careers with types of conflict. Here’s what came out of pairing forester with theology:
In a village between forests, a middle aged priest goes about his week, pleasant to some and unpleasant to others. The mayor goads him, saying the church's time is nearly up, that realism is sweeping the country.
A forester is badly injured, and the priest heals him.
The villagers are divided - is their cranky priest a saint despite everything? was it the forester who was valued and the healing spirit merely used the priest? was the whole thing a con? was it wicked magic instead of holiness?
The [diocese] sends an investigative squad of specialist clerics. The village unites in distaste for these outsiders. The villagers repel the investigators with a joyous mixture of obstruction, eager exaggeration and classic yokel pranks.
As the squad leaves, they carelessly start a fire, which spreads. The priest helps physically, just as everyone does, but naturally cannot pray it away.
The healed villager is hurt again in the fire, and dies as the fire is overcome by everyone working together. The mayor is also injured; the priest soothes him by saying it was all chance, magic is tricks and gods are dead, agrees the church's time is nearly up but communities will find a way to replace it.
People repair damage. The middle aged priest goes about another week, pleasant to some and unpleasant to others. The mayor, walking with sticks, says the time of realism is coming.
Thank you for joining me while I learn how to newsletter. Until next time, enjoy the quiet.