Simple Acts

By David Holdsworth

About the book:

Angelos opens on the field of Culloden, Scotland, as the legendary battle of 1746 has ended and the wounded Jacobites are being shot or clubbed to death. Davy MacLeod holds a gun to the head of his former friend, Paul Cope, his hands shaking, ready to pull the trigger on this man who betrayed him and delivered his family to death. This man who took even his beloved from him...

"This short story will help us to engage with our own inner voice and to find the courage to find expression for our convictions. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was left with much to ponder. Do actions really speak louder than fine sounding words?" (MH)
About the author:

David was raised on the Isle of Skye in the Free Church Mission House in Lonemore. He then went on to study Social Sciences at Inverness College and Theology at the Highland Theological College in Dingwall. He has also worked for a number of Christian ministries and charities including Lee Abbey, L'arche Inverness, Kilravock Castle and Redwoods Caring Foundation. He desires to promote Love, Joy, Peace and Justice in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pencil
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354385476

Book preview

Simple Acts

BY

David Holdsworth

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ISBN 9789354385476

© David Holdsworth 2020

Published in India 2020 by Pencil

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Any person who commits an unauthorized act in relation to this publication can be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. The opinions expressed in this book do not seek to reflect the views of the Publisher.

Author biography

David was raised on the Isle of Skye in the Free Church Mission House in Lonemore. He then went on to study Social Sciences at Inverness College and Theology at the Highland Theological College in Dingwall. He has also worked for a number of Christian ministries and charities including Lee Abbey, L'arche Inverness, Kilravock Castle and Redwoods Caring Foundation. He desires to promote Love, Joy, Peace and Justice in the world.

Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Epigraph

Orginally self-published under the name Angelos

New edition

Copyright © 2021 David Holdsworth

All rights reserved.

You may not see me, but I am near. Travel through time. Travel through space. Travel through eternity. Some have entertained me, but were not aware. The infants, ill, and dying see me most, as I bless them with the heavenly hosts. You are not alone, we are around you, just as we stand before his throne. I repeat, you are not alone. Messengers of love and truth walk among mortal men. You are not alone as we guide you home. (Angelos, a poem by David Holdsworth) 

1

Culloden, Scotland, April 1746

All around was the awful sound of moaning.

It was not just mournful, but the sound of immense

suffering, the cries of dying men. The battle had

waged on, and the day was far spent. In dirt and

blood, the soldiers waded on. Horizontal rain, snow,

and wind made the normal battle conditions much

worse.

Near the edge of the field I stood holding a

gun, pointing it at the lad who had once been my

best friend. He was dressed in the red coat of a

government soldier; I was not.

You won’t do it! he yelled.

What makes you so sure?

You don’t believe in violence.

I felt the anger rising within me. "How could

you?"

It was orders. I had no choice.

"So that makes it all right? We took you in,

and you betrayed us!"

"I didn’t know what the redcoats were

planning. I swear I didn’t."

"They are not liberators as they claim. They

attacked our village and killed everyone!"

With a growl my friend retorted, "We need

to stop the rebels at any cost!"

"No remorse! You think they can police the

world by force, that might is somehow right? You

claim God is on your side. Don’t you think he

knows what you have done? Did he tell you to help

those who killed my family and friends? We aren’t

even part of the rebellion!"

The images of my whole family flashed

before me as the words burst from my mouth. I

recalled Mother helping me up after I had fallen

down when I was a little boy, playing in the trees

with the other village children; Father showing me

how to ride a horse for the first time; the kind pastor

who had taught me many Bible stories—and my

beloved.

"I didn’t know this would happen . . . I’m

sorry. Please . . . put the gun away and we can talk.

Please!" he