Steven

By Terrence Aubrey

A boy was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England; seemingly just another baby boy to be born into the World, but... it soon became apparent to his parents and those around him that he was an unusual boy. From a very young age it became increasingly apparent that he only had one point of interest, to know God, his name was Steven. His parents, good, but simple people worried about him, eventually seeking counsel from their local Priest. The Priest on eventually meeting him was astounded and inspired by the young boy’s single mindedness and intelligence, his name was John Barnsdale. John Barnsdale began to spend his every free moment with Steven, he was convinced that he was in the presence of divinity and eventually called his Bishop, in York. The news of Steven soon reached the Vatican. John Barnsdale began to worry about Steven, eventually, with the help of a colleague from the Church of England; he took Steven into hiding, in Scotland. As the years went by Steven became ever more divine, devoting hours each day to, as he put it, connecting to the God within himself. This is the story of Steven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terrence Aubrey
• Release date: Oct 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301535460

Terrence Aubrey

Terrence Aubrey was born in Bristol, England, the only son of a Ballet dancer mother and composer father. Rebellious of nature and from an early age, he abandoned his education at the earliest possible moment, fifteen. He showed no inclination of following in the artistic footsteps of his parents during his formative years. Preferring a self enlightening process, he set off upon an adventure that led him to experiment with understanding the mind and the development of self awareness. During that period he enjoyed extensive World travel across the countries of Europe, the America’s, north and south and the FSU. He found those travels, enriching, mind opening and educational and in equal measure. He discovered both a passion and love of writing by chance, while establishing a website. It was a website than required a lot of varied content. That ultimately led him to the writing of many articles upon diverse subjects. That in turn led to him creating a blog. The leap from blogging to writing full length novels was a gradual process. Many of his novels reflect his environmental concern for the way we, the human race have evolved and the consequences that path has led us towards. Whilst many of his novels are dramatic, even apocalyptic, they also show a way forward. Whether you believe that way to be better or worse than the current status quo is for you to decide. Terrence Aubrey currently lives on a farm in southern Spain and cultivates Avocados. He has four sons, three dogs and writes. He has now published several works of fiction and they can be found on Smashwords.

Book preview

STEVEN

Terrence Aubrey

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Terrence Aubrey.

All rights reserved worldwide.

All contents copyright 2012 by Terrence Aubrey

All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the Author and publisher.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction, an invention on the part of the author. All names, characters and places used within this story have been invented, from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, places or localities is completely coincidental.

About the Author

Terrence Aubrey was born in Bristol, England, the only son of a Ballet dancer mother and composer father. Rebellious of nature from an early age, he abandoned his education at the earliest possible moment, fifteen.

He showed no inclination of following in the artistic footsteps of his parents during his formative years. Preferring a self enlightening process, he set off upon an adventure that led him to experiment with understanding the mind and self awareness development. This path led him to meet at the age of twenty four a young man from India who at the time was thirteen years of age, to this day the wisest man he ever met.

He has enjoyed extensive World travel across the countries of Europe, the America’s, north and south and the FSU. He found those travels, both enriching, mind opening and educational.

Writing is something that he found he had both a passion and excitement for, quite late in life and set up a popular blog.

Terrence Aubrey currently lives on a farm in southern Spain, cultivates Avocados and writes. He has published several books.

Prologue

A boy was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England; seemingly just another baby boy to be born into the World, but… it soon became apparent to his parents and those around him that he was an unusual boy. From a very young age it became increasingly apparent that he only had one point of interest, to know God, his name was Steven. His parents, good, but simple people worried about him, eventually seeking counsel from their local Priest. The Priest on eventually meeting him was astounded and inspired by the young boy’s single mindedness and intelligence, his name was John Barnsdale. John Barnsdale began to spend his every free moment with Steven, he was convinced that he was in the presence of divinity and eventually called his Bishop, in York. The news of Steven soon reached the Vatican. John Barnsdale began to worry about Steven, eventually, with the help of a colleague from the Church of England; he took Steven into hiding, in Scotland. As the years went by Steven became ever more divine, devoting hours each day to, as he put it, connecting to the God within himself. This is the story of Steven.

Chapter One

Steven was born at eight PM on the fourteenth of August 2005. There was nothing special about his birth, but for his parents, Linda and Peter it was a miracle. The midwife told them that he had ten fingers and ten toes. Peter puzzled if this was a definition of normality.

Linda, born in Barnsley Yorkshire was twenty eight years old. She regarded herself and always had done as normal. Not really beautiful, but not ugly either, intelligent? Well certainly not stupid. She had left school at sixteen and become a hairdresser. She had experienced several boyfriends, some for a while and some for less time and then at the age of twenty five had met Peter. With perhaps feminine instinct she had felt he was different, special and fell head over heels in love with him. Whilst she may not have been blessed with a huge intellect she had been blessed with something perhaps more important. Goodness, it ran through her body like blood. She felt only kindness towards everyone she met, even those that did not share her innocence, or reciprocate her kindness.

Her meeting with Peter was perhaps made in heaven. Was he super handsome, super clever, or successful? No, but he was a good man, honest to a fault and kind and generous. Whilst not wealthy, he was strong, in his own quiet way, he had a sense of values and lived by them and Linda shared those same values. He would never be a rich man, he was a bricklayer, but Linda didn’t care, he was for her.

They had married in 2002 and enjoyed every moment that they spent together. In 2003 they decided it was time for a child and were blessed two years later with a son.

Was he an exceptional baby, son, child? For them, yes, yes and yes. They doted on him he was the living proof of their loving union. They had named him Steven.

Steven began to perceive the World at a young age, the age of three. Was he super intelligent? Maybe yes and maybe no, but he was inquisitive. He felt his mothers love it was as the sweetest honey for him and he felt his fathers also, different, harder, but as solid as a rock. Did he know he was blessed? It did not matter, their love for him was as manna from heaven and he developed as a person remarkably quickly.

Peter and Linda tried for another child, they tried and tried, well it was enjoyable effort, but it did not happen. Steven would be their only son. Unknown to them, he would be a remarkable son.

At the age of five he was enrolled into primary school, Steven was very excited. He returned home after his first day disappointed, Linda had felt his disappointment as soon as she met him. It would be some hours before Steven articulated his frustration.

They treat us as imbeciles, he complained over supper.

No Steven, they do not. His father explained strongly. How many children are in your class?

Forty, I think.

Steven, they have to teach all of you. The clever, the not so clever and the slow ones, be patient Steven, be patient. Even at five, Steven realised his father was right and at the age of five he recognised arrogance, his own arrogance. He developed patience.

Twice a week they were given religious instruction, during these classes he was less able to contain himself. After hearing for the third time that God was omniscient and all knowing and that Jesus was the only son of God he found himself standing up.

Sir, where did Jesus live?

We believe In Jerusalem, in what we now call Israel.

But, Sir, Steven replied exasperated. How did the rest of the people across the World know of him? His religious teacher was a little perplexed; he was not used to fielding such difficult questions from five year olds.

The followers of Jesus Christ would eventually spread his word across the World. Steven sat down perplexed and frustrated. God was omniscient and yet his only begotten son would only be known to a small percentage of the Worlds population? Even at the age of five he smelt a rat.

Steven withdrew into himself, he asked his parents to find him anything, everything about religion and spiritual leaders across the World. Linda and Peter did as he asked without question. It was not inexpensive for them, but they did not complain. It was quite a pile of books. Steven devoured the information as his classmate’s devoured sweets, he was fascinated. He became distant; withdrawn from those around him, as he read account after account of spiritual revelation. It did not take him long to discover that there had been important, very important spiritual leaders throughout the World. He’d been aware between the ages of six and seven that his parents seemed anxious, worried. He learnt that there was some form of economic turmoil affecting the World. It was something he could not affect, nor did it over interest him. He concentrated on his studies, whilst giving extra care to them both.

He had read about Spiritual masters from the indigenous Indians of the America’s, to India. From China to the Middle East, he felt reassured; God had in fact sent many messengers.

Both Peter and Linda were Catholic and whilst not devout Catholics tried to attend communion at least once a month. Linda, whilst not over worried, realised that Steven was different to the other children of his age. Steven showed absolutely no interest in playing with his peers. His preference, during the past couple of years had been to sift information. He had learnt about the Mohamed and Islam, the Buddha, Buddha’s, Krishna, the Dalai Lama and the teachers of Hinduism. He had also found evidence of many lesser know Saints and Spiritual Masters scattered across the World. As far as he could see there was no unifying factor in the worldly life of these masters, some having but a few disciples, others many. But they all shared one very important thing, a loving understanding of God and the realisation of the importance of their connection to the God they had found. He made a decision and set his books aside, he wanted to know this God that all of these masters had taught about. Steven had also made another very interesting discovery. Only rarely did these Masters lay down in writing their thoughts, or knowledge. No, this was often done by their followers and often long after the masters had died.

Peter, sharing Linda’s concern about their only son, had suggested that they speak with their priest when they next went to Communion and Linda had agreed. He was a good man, quite young at thirty. Within his preaching he tried hard to simplify the teachings of Jesus Christ. Verbalise them in such a way that his parishioners could relate them to their everyday lives. After communion one Sunday Linda asked the Priest if they might speak with him privately. His name was John and he readily agreed. He arranged to meet with them the following Tuesday afternoon at six.

Linda hoped Peter would not be late back from work, he was often asked to work over. She need not have worried; he knew the meeting was important for her and was home at five sharp. They both felt a little nervous when John opened the door to his office in the rectory, but he soon relaxed them. He was not dressed in his robes. He had learnt that dressing in his daytime clothes helped relax his visitors. He shook both of their hands and invited them to join him upon some comfortable chairs and asked their names. They each told him.

I’m very pleased to see you, Linda, Peter He told them. I have seen you in church, but this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to speak with you. He knew that something must be troubling them and allowed them to tell him in their own time. Linda told him.

Father, it’s our Son Steven, he is eight years old and he is different from the other children of his age. John nodded, with a smile. He does not go out to play with his peers and seems to have few friends. Straight after school and supper, he retires to his room to read of ‘Holy’ men.

Weekends also. Peter added.

And how long has Steven been doing this? John asked.

More than two years now, Linda explained.

Does he seem happy, content?

Oh yes, very, well within his own contemplative way. John was interested; this was indeed rare behavior for an eight year old child. He masked his interest, not wanting to alarm them.

Would you like me to visit your son?

Yes, if you can spare the time Father. I’m sure that I’m worrying unduly and should be pleased in his interest in religion. Linda replied apologetically. A meeting was set up for the following Thursday for four PM and this time he would wear the robes of his religion. When Linda told Steven that she had invited their priest to visit them he was pleased. He had only visited the church twice, he’d found it boring, but the priest seemed a nice enough man.

Linda had spent that Thursday cleaning the house. She kept a very clean house anyway, but this day she made a special effort. Both she and Peter had decided that the Priest should speak privately with Steven, the study would be perfect. In contrast Steven seemed very relaxed, as he eat his light tea after school.

Hello Steven, John greeted him on entering, I have been hearing very good things about you from your mother. John told him. Steven smiled, offering his hand.

It’s nice to see you again. Linda interceded. "Perhaps you would prefer to talk in the study? I have to prepare supper for my husband.

Yes of course, we don’t want to get in your way, do we Steven? They entered the study and Steven shut the door. Steven felt very relaxed.

Why do you dress that way? He asked. John was a little taken aback, but only a little.

Most of my congregation prefer that I do so, does it bother you?

Oh no sir, I did not mean to be rude. Only I don’t think Jesus Christ dressed so. John realised that Steven was a very intelligent young man and with knowledge well beyond his years.

What do you know of our lord Jesus Christ?

Not as much as I would like to. Steven admitted. "The bible covers very little of his life and as far as I can see was written second or third hand and then translated I don’t know how many times. Now John was taken aback. This young man had just articulated observations that had taken him years to articulate. He changed track.

What do you want Steven?

To know God. Steven replied simply.

Perhaps I can help you?

Excuse me Sir, I don’t mean to be rude, but how can you. You do not know God yourself. Now John was totally taken aback. He knew that this young boy had spoken truthfully.

How will you know God Steven, how will you find him?

The same way that Jesus did.

But Jesus was the Son of God.

So am I and so are you, we all are. John realised he was out of his depth, but was fascinated.

Where will you begin your search, Steven? Steven pointed to his forehead.

Here, he said. I know God is within me, you and everything around us.

Do you know how you will find God within you Steven?

No, but I think I will be shown. John realised that