GARMENTS

It was a beautiful sunny day. Fishermen launched their boats for another day's catch. The Island buzzed with visitors, a great opportunity for the locals to improve their business prospects. Boats were moving in and out of the harbor and the fishermen congregated examining their catch. Others shouted greetings across the waters to their comrades. While gluttonously devouring the leftover fish the seagulls mixed their cheerful shrills with fishermen's bellows.

Princess Ilenia slipped through the crowds in disguise in order to enjoy herself by taking part in the activities of the island.  The sun was marauding through the barren sky in solitude.  Its regular companions, the clouds, moved into a different territory that day.  The fiery ball reached its zenith and began to sink into the other side of the sea.  Ilenia's eyes still feasted on nature's ever-changing beauty when a small boat obscured her vision.  She felt a stream of excitement, yet not knowing why.  She realized that someone was watching her with a real interest.  As the boat approached she quickly swayed her eyes away from the horizon and toward the boat.  In that instance she understood the cause of the rising excitement for the boatman. Mesmerized by her sight, he strenuously attempted to turn his head in another direction, but in vain.  Nothing existed except the living sculpture of the girl standing on the shore, frozen... still... breathtaking.  

Their eyes met and locked together as in a mystical bond. Both ends held on to this invisible cord.  Then silence was broken.
"Hello." The man waved.
"Hello." Was the reply.
"Beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Yes, but too bad that it is coming to an end so soon."
"Yeah," the man carried on, "But actually, I was looking forward to sunset. I am tired and hungry."
"Aaah, I see," the princess responded.
"Are you a visitor on the Island?" He asked.
"Yes."
"For the first time?"
"Yes."
"So, how do you like it?"
"Oh, very much.  It is very picturesque."
"I agree," the man continued and then brought the boat to the shore.
"My name is Iconeus, but they call me Ico. What is your name?"
"Ilenia, but you can call me Ila."
"Okay, Ila.  It is nice to meet you."
"Likewise," she replied.  

They kept on exchanging words and glances as they were watching the sinking glittering fireball getting redder and more distant with its setting.  The reddish brush strokes of the painter accented the colors of the endless ocean.  Now their ears instead of eyes began to take pleasure in the harmonious and rhythmic pulse of the waves.  

First stars began to twinkle and silence started to rue for the night.  "Would you like to come with me on my boat to the harbor?", Ico asked.  After a pause Ila replied, "Well, why not."  "Great, hopp in!".  Once the boat docked the two slowly strolled toward the town.  That evening Ico and Ila agreed to have a meal together.  Ila then revealed her true identity, and as everyone already guessed....they fell in love.  

Time passed. Ico and Ila exchanged letters.  Winter arrived and the sea became cold and turbulent.  The people of the island prepared for the off-season.  Ico became restless for he was consumed with love for Ila.  The fact that he was just a simple fisherman in love with a princess was too heavy to bear.  He hated the social structure of the society.  That was the pinnacle of injustice to him.  Nothing else existed in his world but his love for Ila.  

Ilenia suffered also.  Her suffering became unbearable when her father busied himself arranging her marriage with some spoiled royal brat whom she had never seen before.  Time was mercilessly moving on and the king was getting impatient.  Spring was knocking on the door which was the season for wedding feasts.  Ilenia could not bear the separation anymore and decided to travel back to Dietan.  

"Ila, my darling!  I missed you so much.  I cannot live without you.  I am consumed with love.  I would rather die than live without you."  Ico kept embracing Ila, kissing her tears of joy and utter happiness.  She was again in the arms of her beloved.  "Let's run away to a distant country!" - she whispered.  "But what about your father and the kingdom?"  "I don't care, I just want to be with you", she insisted.  But Iconeus was not ready for this.  He didn't have any money, position, or future, while holding in his arms a future queen.  It was a hard thing to digest.  "Oh, I wish that I was born in a royal family.  Why did I have to fall in love with a princess?  An orphan who does not know even his own parents and is loved by a king's daughter?"  Ico despaired.  

The next day Ico and Ila went to visit an old man, a bookbinder named Pharius.  Pharius was someone Ico had known since his childhood, almost like his own father.  He was a kind, upright man, wise and generous.  

"Pharius, it is good to see you," Ico greeted his old friend.
"Oh, Ico.  I am so glad to see you, my son, and who is this beautiful lady?"
"This is Ilenia, the woman I love."
"Bless you my children," Pharius reached toward Ila and kissed her forehead.
"Woman you love, huh?  I don't blame you,such a beautiful lady. So what brings you here, my son?"
"I need an advice," Ico carried on.
"Ilenia is a princess." Pharius lowered his head, his glasses slid down to the tip of his nose, eyebrows raised with his blue eyes wide open, he replied;  "A princess?  You want to marry a princess?" Pharius' wandering back and forth between Ico to Ila. It seemed as if eternity passed and no one said a word.
"A king's daughter and a fisherman. Hmm. An impossible union.  Not in this day and age. I have no advice. Sorry."  

Their hearts fell back into the state of desperation.
"We will run away!"Ila exclaimed.
"We will leave this crazy world of impossibilities. Love has no borders, no limits, no social barriers, love will never be isolated and locked into prison.  Never!  Never!" Her passions were aroused by the injustice of this world and she could not stop herself. Pharius raised his hand signaling as if he was trying to say something very important.
"Ila, Ila, wait.  I understand how you feel. This world is not a prefect place for lovers, yet love is found in these imperfect surroundings. Love is a diamond found in dirty earth and when it is found its price becomes more precious because of the dirt it in which it was found. If we walked on earth made of diamonds, how could we ever appreciate them? Because of this seeming impossibility your love is all the more precious if only one would be willing to pay the price... Well, for the real thing. I mean."

After a pause Pharius continued, "I am connected with royalties and dignitaries. Perhaps we can do something. Perhaps we can even arrange a royal wedding and if the truth comes out you can always run, but then already as one."
"What are you trying to say Pharius?" Ico insisted.
"Leave it to me" he replied.
"Come back to me next week and you will know."

A week passed and Pharius presented his brilliant idea.
"I have arranged for you to be a paper prince just for the wedding."
"What!" Ico exclaimed nervously.
"Yes, a prince." Pharius chuckled. Ico shook his head. "I do not understand." But Pharius carried on.  "I have prepared special garments and royal entourage for you to make you look exactly like a prince.  I even have people who would not hesitate to play the role of high dignitaries in the royal palace. Just for you. For a true love! What do you say?"
"Wow.  I am shocked. I don't know what to say.  It this even possible?"
"Of course. Both of you do not care about social status anyway. All you care about is your love for each other.  Isn't that so?"
"Yeah, we do not care." The princess added.
"Well..." There was a  pause.
"Let's do it." And they all laughed.

Upon hearing the good news, King Hileous was anxious to meet his future son-in-law, the prince Iconeus. Ico arrived with his entourage dressed in exquisitely tailored clothes, handsome, strong and smart looking.

The  young man made quite an impression on the king.

The date was set.

The wedding day arrived.

The capital resounded with music and joyful noise. Iconeus and Ilenia were made one and the feast carried on throughout the entire night. Pharius was the "prince's" advisor and without him Ico would not dare to engage in any conversation with the king.  The wedding feast came to an end, the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon to one of her father's castle in the mountains. The bookbinder had to return to his Island and Ico's entourage with him.  

Soon their honeymoon was over and the young couple returned to the capital. The royal dowry was spent and the fisherman prince had to look for an income; and the royal palace did not feel like home to him. The cost and presence of servants and strange faces was not to Ico's liking. The continual  awareness of him being an impostor was getting on his nerves resulting in tension between the lovers.  Ico wanted to depart for his island and to go back to fishing, but now he would have to have the royal company with him. It was hard to hide anything. Though their secret was not yet discovered they decided to leave secretly for Dirtan. They left a note without any detailed information, but simply stating that they had to leave for the province of Balomeos. The king was not happy about this sudden departure and after some considerable time elapsed the king grew suspicious so he sent spies throughout all provinces.  

Ico and Ila enjoyed the island living humbly from fishing, Pharius was their frequent visitor.  Very soon the king of Balomeos received the devastating message:  "Your son-in-law is just a simple fisherman on the island of Dirtan."  The king hastily arranged a trip.

Following a tip he stood at the doorstep of Ico and Ilenia. His face was cold and frozen, locked in an angry grin. He shouted:  "You tricked me! You impostor! You stole my daughter! You will pay for this!" Ico trembled while Ila huddled behind him.
"Take him", the king ordered.  One of the king's swordsmen grabbed Ico, bound his hands and led him outside the door. Ila was picked up by the other soldier and carried on to the royal carriage and then as prisoners brought to Balomeos.  

The next day, as usual, Pharius came to visit Ico and Ila. He quickly learned from the neighbors what had taken place the day before. One part of his plan had failed and the couple had no chance of escaping now. Pharius despaired. Plagued by guilt and loneliness sleep alluded him that night.  

Weeks past. Ico was in prison and Ila was put into seclusion.  Suddenly a guest was announced.
"Your Majesty, Pharius, the bookbinder, wishes to see you".
Pharius is allowed to come and present the purpose of his unexpected visit.
Pharius had barely crossed the threshold when he heard a thunderous voice of the king.
"Pharius, you conspiring thief! You are responsible for this disaster. I could have you bound and thrown into a dungeon.  How dare you to come to my palace!"
"Please. Please you majesty... May I be heard? Pharius pleaded.
"With your permission, please let me speak."
"Well, what!" The king shouted back angrily. Pharius was permitted to speak.  
"Would your Majesty listen with patience to the words of wisdom, not of a wise man, but of a simple bookbinder." Thus Pharius introduced his monologue. "Your Majesty can see how anyone can be fooled by an appearance, at least for a season though the truth will always come out at the end. anyway  Nevertheless, your Majesty was impressed by the looks and the presentation of the young lad and for a while Iconeus found favor in your majesty's eyes and perhaps has even kindled a warm feeling in your heart. Isn't that true, my lord?" Here Pharius paused parsing through any visible signs of softens, and the continued. "But upon learning the deception your fury took preeminence, not because of Ico's humble status, but rather because of the insult done to your royal pride." Here he paused as if checking the new climate.  

"I have documents with me proving the birthplace and the family tree of Iconeus. When he was just a baby, I rescued him form a burning palace in today's non-existent province of Cataloris. During the war, the kingdom of Sutaleos fell into the enemy hands. The palaces and castles were burned down and people were exiled. King and the queen of Sutaleos were carried away into an unknown region of their exile. What happened to them no one knows. However, before their departure, they managed to hide their son, leaving him in care of the Providence."

"Those of us who have survived went to scavenge the royal palaces and estates. In one of the palaces I found an almost suffocated by the smoke baby boy. My heart went out to this little crying thing blackened with soot.

I settled in Dirtan and learned my trade, raising Ico as my own son.  I never revealed his real identity and I never would have done so had he not fallen in love with the princess.  Ico, in his ignorance, followed my plan to disguise himself as a prince and you took the bait.  The truth of the matter is that he is a real prince, although he still does not know it. Don't you think that someone should tell him?"  Pharius ended his tale.

The king was very moved by the story. He examined the documents and then replied, "You are a bookbinder. You have the skill to forge any important document. Why should I believe you?"
"I have gone through much trouble to obtain these documents from different sources, survivors who used to serve at the royal palace. Here are their marks of attestation to this truth."Pharius replied and continued, "Your majesty has the absolute freedom to make up his mind; to believe or to doubt me. I cannot force my Lord to believe me. Ico's kingdom does not exist. The royal couple, his parent, may even be dead.  All that is left is my story and these documents which are real." Pharius kept assuring the king.  

Both parties became silent. A gentle cool breeze swept through the chamber. The king took a deep breath and said, "Bring the prisoner!"  

"Pharius!",Ico cried with joy upon seeing his old friend.
"I am so happy to see you!"
Pharius knelt down on one knee, bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, Pharius the bookbinder at your service."
Ico opened his mouth in disbelief.
"What are you doing?  What's going on?"
The king rose from his seat then approached Iconeus, placed his arms around his neck and kissed him, and with a quiver in his voice said, "My son, please forgive me..."

The prince was immediately brought into the king's chamber.  The queen rushed in after hearing the good news.

Ilenia was brought to the chamber and then quickly ran to her husband. Soon the scene was that of hugging and kissing with tears of joy.

"This calls for a feast!" Thundered the king.

* * *

In the Old Testament we read about God's wrath, but upon reading some more we come to understand that this wrath of His does not emanate from God's heart but rather from His garments.

He put on righteousness like a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing  And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle (Isaiah 59:17). 

Do you know the heart of your heavenly Father? Jesus introduced us to Him. 

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth… (Exodus 34:6) 

That's who He really is. Everything else is His garment which He puts on and takes of when dealing mankind, the time zone and our fleshly attachments. God is Spirit.