793 C.E., Lindisfarne, Northumbria, England

Flashes of lightning and heavy storms came in England as Brother Algar rings the bells of the monastery tower in warning and every single one of his brothers began to seek shelter to the monastery “Brother Algar!” came the cry from below as he looks down then saw Brother Aart, the Novice looked concerned as he was looking above Brother Algar.

“Have you seen Bishop Higbald?!” the young boy asked as Algar shook his head, also becoming alarmed at the fact that their bishop is nowhere to be seen, usually the bishop of Northumbria would often be found on the chapel, praying at its altar or at the shores singing his usual praise to God for the providence he provided to St. Cuthbert’s monastery, but he can’t be wandering off around in a storm like this! Algar thought as worry can be seen on his face as well as to the young Novice.

“Have you seen him at the chapel?!” he demands of the Novice as he took a deep gulp of water and vinegar from his wineskin, tired from running up to the tower to ring the bells of the monastery of St. Cuthbert.

Brother Aart shook his head “no Brother Algar! I asked around the chapel they said they haven’t seen him there!” Algar put back his wineskin as he thinks he knows where the bishop is and the danger he might face.

“He must have been at the shore! Come follow me!” he cries out as he stops ringing the bells and he and Aart began to descend on the tower of the monastery eager to go outside of its safety to look for their bishop.

It was as if the Lord had send a second flood to wash away the sinners of this world, thunder crackle and lightning scar the sky as large torrents of water rain down from the sky and the waves from the sea blew and blew as if attempting to drown the small island that keeps the final resting place of Saint Cuthbert, Oh Lord preserve us! Algar thought in horror as he began to see the first casualty of the storm, the farm animals that wasn’t able to be taken by the other monks and had to leave them behind at the  mercy of the deluge that came to swept them away.

“Oh Lord Christ why did he have to go out at such a dangerous day?!” Aart cries loudly as the storm continuously smashes them with tempestuous rains and sea borne waves that reminded them of God’s flood that almost destroyed all of creation if not for his infinite mercy of a man named Noah whom he instructed to build an Ark to save his family and all of creation.

“We should keep looking for him Brother Aart!” Algar tells him as they walk towards the shore, the only remaining place where Bishop Higbald could have been.

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“Bishop Higbald! Bishop Higbald!” they all cried out in the rain as they look for the bishop of Northumbria that could possibly be outside of the monastery, at the shore where he would often praise Lord God for the sea and St. Cuthbert for the providence it brought to Lindisfarne.

“Children I am here!” came the cry of Bishop Higbald as they both turn then found the bishop in a small shack where fishermen would often seek respite from the hard days at the seas, “we mustn’t tarry here any longer!” he calls out from the inside of the shack as he was being followed by huddling people, fishermen who possibly had sought shelter from the storm.

“Come with me Bishop Higbald!” calls out Aart as he began to assist the man with his outstretched hand, but he was pushed by the bishop towards the fisherfolk.

“We must ensure their safety first Brother!” he shouts as both monks tried to insist his safety first but the bishop of Northumbria was forceful in making the safety of the common folk a priority, insisting that he be left behind to look around for more fisherfolk that could be stranded on the shore.

“Bishop Higbald please by God’s mercy let us go to safety!” Algar insisted once more as finally the stubborn bishop had relented and they rush back to the safety of the walls of the monastery, all of them huddling and praying for salvation against the storm that has struck their land once more. “Pater noster qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum, fiat voluntas tua, sicut in coelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos a malo, Amen”

“Amen, amen” Brother Algar prays as the Abbot Aidan had finished the service and began to comfort those who had sought refuge in Saint Cuthbert’s chapel with food and drinks that they had stored for lean times such as these.

I pray for our salvation oh Lord in such trying times, save us from this storm and forgive us of our sins that made you send such storms, Algar thought as he blew the candles and then lay on the prepared straw mattress in the floors of the chapel, preparing himself for the next day to come not minding the sound of thunder and the flashing of lightning in the sky.

He was awaken by the sound of people shouting their praises to God for their survival last night, men, women, and children that seem to take refuge in the monastery were all but eager to come out now, it seems the storm has passed and Algar could only smile in relief as the doors of the church open and people flood out of it like the creatures of Noah’s ark that survived the Great Flood and are once more sent out to the world, the whole place was ruin but nothing is possible with God on your side, as Abbot Karl often tells them during his masses.

“Good morning Brother Algar” greeted Brother Alcuin as his skin began to feel the heat and the light of the sun and much to the delight of him and all the denizens of Lindisfarne a rainbow can be seen in the sky a covenant from the Lord when Noah had given him a proper offering a symbol that all men would hold dear to them, Hope, Brother Algar could only breath in relief as it came to the sky as everyone began to recuperate and recover on what was lost to them during last night’s storm that almost laid them to ruin.

“A Good morning indeed”