Stretch: The Humbled Hero
Stretch: The Humbled Hero
Writing Exercise #38
New To Gibberish? Check out Navigation for Newcomers!
This week, I am experimenting with offering a feature for Paid Subscribers. In the Chat this week, and for foreseeable future weeks, I will be hosting a discussion about the craftsmanship lessons (or story concepts) that I learned from this exercise, and asking about what aspects of craft paid subscribers are thinking about.
If you are a paid subscriber, check out the chat here!
If you have ideas for Prompts, Crunches, Sprints, Relays, Stretches, Fables, or other writing exercises in the future, please leave them in the comments! If you would like to write your own take for this exercise, please comment with a link so that I can see what you wrote and support your work, maybe even share your version with my subscribers. Please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments, or constructive criticisms as well!
Enjoy!
Stretch: The superpowered monk
The great miracle had happened all over the world. That’s what they told me, a few years later. At the time I had no idea what was happening. A light shone down from heaven, and—well, you know the rest.
Different people received different powers. I felt like I had them all. It was like waking up with the awareness that I could drive a manual car, or skateboard, or walk a tightrope. I knew I could fly, I knew I was strong, I knew I could burn things by looking at them.
Yet—surely, this miracle was some mistake. I was a novice in a monastery, I had given my life to God and secluded myself in the cloister.
I told all this to my confessor. The first thing my confessor asked was, “Do you feel you do not have a vocation?”
I refused. “No, not at all!” I said. “Only, I feel as if God gave me these abilities for some purpose. Surely, because I have them, I ought to use them for some good?”
My confessor looked very stern, upon hearing this. “If your vocation is to the Order then your first duties are to the Order. We receive novices from all over the country. Some can paint, some can build, some can run fast, some can cook. All of them use their skills for the good of the Order, or exercise their recreation after their duties to the Order have been fulfilled.”
He paused briefly, but saw a hopeful look in my eyes. Anticipating my next question, he continued: “God has given you these powers. Hmph. So be it. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. If the Lord wishes you to use these talents, let the Lord Himself come and instruct me to grant you permission. Until then—you have been given an exercise in humility. You must not leave the grounds of the Monastery, nor are you permitted to use your powers for any reason whatever. Offer this sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
= = =
I obeyed. None of my brothers knew of this unique brand of suffering I was given. It was a long time before reports of others with abilities began popping up. One, even appeared in the nearby city.
Pilgrims to the monastery would tell us of his deeds. And as these stories began to work their way around the monastery, it was clear—the man in the nearby city was not doing the Lord’s work.
I went to my confessor. I begged him, I pleaded with him, I explained—this man had to be stopped. God put me in the right place, with the right abilities, at the right time to stop some evil.
My confessor harrumphed. “Do you feel you do not have a vocation?” he asked.
I assured him, no—I was committed to my vocation.
He continued, “God gave you this Monastery to head off a predisposition to pride, perhaps? Until the Lord Himself instruct me otherwise, you are to remain here.”
That night, in my free time after Compline, I sat at the highest point of the monastery, and watched as Megaton Man attacked the city.
Oh, how I prayed for release.
(547 words)
Talk to me!
Your feedback helps to improve my writing. I would really appreciate a comment on your thoughts on this writing exercise. Consider telling me your thoughts about:
Have you ever read Canticle for Leibowitz? Asking for no reason.
What is your signature talent or skill?
Have you ever visited a monastery that was still active?
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
Have you taken a look at the section called “The Volume” recently? All my longer-form stories are kept there! Be sure to take a look and catch up on any stories you’ve missed!
Thank you and God bless!
Well, I have no superpowers, it's hard to say what I am best at., yes I have visited a monastery and even wanted to join one. Well again, this exercise has again revealed that thumb- typing is my worst skill.
I have read Canticle for Liebowitz. Have you read Lord of the World?