THE JOURNEY 

By Tessa Harvey

    Dressed in his army uniform, Thomas had almost always been greeted with warmth, a welcome of war-time bread and whatever else could be spared and very weak tea or water to drink.
    One woman had opened the door eagerly, but she saw it was not her son and tears had come into her eyes. Sad for her, Thomas turned away, but she saw his limp, his thinness and his bone-weary features and called him in.
    One of their chickens had died and the nourishing broth had given them both new life. As always he helped with some chores.
    Their chaplain had preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the men of war. John turned away, scoffing, but it meant hope to Thomas. The chaplain had given them a copy of two psalms. He gave her, the lonely woman, a copy of Psalm 23 about the Good Shepherd. Her name was Fiona and she took it gladly. Long forgotten, it had been her parents' favourite psalm.
    Thomas knew it now by heart. He took the other, Psalm 91 with him as he set off again to find his parents, praying for those he met and for his family.

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