What is beauty? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for me, the beholder was the most powerful man on the earth, King Xerxes or King Ahasuerus , as some people call him. I am his queen. I am modest and I reserve my beauty for the king. When I was ordered by seven eunuchs to display my beauty to the people and the nobles, I refused to come. I did not want to be insul ted or disgraced by a drunken king. After all, he had been drinking for seven days and was “in high spirits from the wine.” On learning of my refusal, the king was furious and burned with anger. Therefore I was banned from the court and never again permitted to enter into the presence of the king. My name is

I would love to work with my hands, but I cannot see. Thus I sit here begging on Route 5, that is, the Jericho-Jerusalem Road. But what is all that commotion?

“Sir,” I shouted, “What is that commotion?”

“That is Jesus, son of the carpenter, Joseph,” someone answered.

“Son of Joseph?” I thought. I shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” If I could only see where He was. But the crowd shouted to me to be quiet. Apparently they could not hear what Jesus was saying. That meant that Jesus must be within hearing distance. I redoubled my efforts and shouted at the top of my lungs (for only He could heal me), “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then, before I knew it I was told that Jesus wanted to see me. I threw down my cloak, and jumped to my feet. Because of my faith, Jesus healed me and now I see. Hallelujah! I immediately followed Jesus. My name is

I am a powerful official who tried to prevent the Israelites from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. I accused the Israelites of preparing to rebel against the king. But still the walls went up. Then I “became angry and was greatly incensed.” I ridiculed the Jews and my friends taunted them by saying that “if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones.” I plotted against the Israelites, but Nehemiah prayed and posted a guard, so that we were once again foiled. The wall was up, but the gates were not yet in place. Then I sent a message to ask Nehemiah to meet me on the plains of Ono. Nehemiah refused, and I sent another messenger. Five times I sent messengers, and five times he refused to meet me . (You cannot deny that I was persistent!) When Nehemiah went back to the Persian court my daughter married into the high priestly family. Hal And Nehemiah thought that I was beaten. But then Nehemiah returned and my son-in-law was driven away. (He who laughs first, laughs best.) Who am I?

Peer pressure was as prevalent in the Bible as it is today. How many ofus when we were children have not made fun of a bald man? “Did he polish his head this morning?” we would snicker. “Old cueball,” we would laugh. Fortunately we did not live in the Bible times. Then 42 youths were mauled by two bears because they had called a prophet of God, “Baldhead.” Who was the prophet.?

Glenn P. Palmer is stationed in Belgium. His address is USDAO Embassy, APO, NY, NY. 09667.