800 words
Consecrate

    Patrick Lanigan was on the run. He had escaped from prison where he had been incarcerated for shooting two men in their home. Why this happened no one knows because he never told and the others cant. Another strange thing about Patrick was that he was very religious. He thought of himself as a man of God. In fact, in another life he had been Father Lanigan of the Roman Catholic Church. But that was no more.
    God had freed Patrick from the horrors of that sinner’s hold so that he could resume his duties to God. Patrick knew that he could not yet return to his previous life yet. The pagan government was chasing him because they didn’t understand what he had to do and he could not explain to them why. He knew what they considered him, a convict, con for short, and nothing more. He was part of the same group of scum as he had been trapped with. Yet he was smarter, and much more capable of escaping and getting away. “God is on my side.”
    When Patrick first got out he knew that the first thing he would need is money. He had money, but it was in a bank twenty miles away. Patrick made it to the rode and managed to hitch hike a ride to the bank. The man who gave him the ride was a lawyer in town named Tom Miller. As they talked on the way into town Tom was delighted to hear that Patrick was a priest and not one of the normal low lifes that roamed the highway. “I don’t normally pick up hitchhikers,” Tom said, “but I got this strange feeling when I saw you and had to pull over.”. He also explained that he himself was a regular at the local church service every Sunday. Patrick did not recognize Tom but believed him none the less. As Tom told Patrick about his life, Patrick debated wether he should tell Tom the truth or not. He decided he had no choice, he would not sin right now. “Tom,” Patrick said, “I have just escaped from prison, with the help of God, for murdering two sinners.” “My goodness!” exclaimed Tom. And then it dawned on him, “What did these two sinners do that you needed to kill them?” Patrick told him. “They deserved it then Patrick. The government is knows what those two men do, DID, was very wrong. I will help you Patrick because i understand what you did and why you did.”  “Thank you, my son.”  7
    Tom drove Patrick to the bank where Patrick withdrew his money without incident. They proceeded to Tom’s house where, Tom said, “You can rest and get a decent meal before we decide what you need to do.” Patrick was very grateful for this. Patrick already knew what he needed to do though. God had showed him the path. He would leave the country, not by plane because the airports were watched, but by boat to the Andes Mountains in Peru where he would serve as a missionary to the pagan tribes there who had not yet been introduced to god. When he had finished a delicious meal and showered he sat on the couch and told Tom what must be done. “I am going to go to Peru. There i will serve as a missionary of God to the pagan people who live in the mountains. It is necassary that i leave not by plane but by instead by boat. All i need is a ride to the docks and the Lord will take care of me from there.” Tom replied, “I am happy to be of service to you.” “Bless you my son.”
    Patrick sat on the floor of the ship. He could barely feel the boats movement in the water. Just a gentle up and down as it made its way to Peru. Next to him was John. He had met John soon after the ship set sail and the two had quickly bonded with their shared religious beliefs. John was going to be a missionary in Argentina. “John what’s in that box over there?”
    “I don’t know there are hundreds of boxes over there! We are in the cargo hold, remember?”
    “It has a cross on it. I’m going to go open it.”
    John walked over to the box and pried open the crate with his hand. Inside he saw books. Stacks of thick books with gold lettering on the front. Holy Bible was written across the top. These books and the box he declared sacred in the name of God. They were consecrated.

    So now you can remember that when a “con-see-crate” and it has something special he can consecrate it, or dedicate or declare sacred.