REVELATION-final1

DAY ZERO(Friday, 18 April 2014)My road to CalvaryIzzy has tears in her eyes and I fight mine back, as do her parents, Manuel and Robin, while I pack mysuitcases on a rolling cart and try to express my gratitude and love to my friends before walking into theterminal and getting on my one-way flight to Rome.It is a bold move. The latest in a series of many I have undertaken over the past four years, a hungerstrike at the gates of Vatican City with no money, no safety net and the possibility of another arrest eitherin Canada, just before departure at Pearson International in Toronto, or in Italy, upon arrival at Leonardoda Vinci airport.Everything happened at the last minute: a hefty donation from an “anonymous” Canadian angel paid formy airline ticket and a month’s rent; a tip from a Russian lady living in Berlin, Germany, put me in touchwith an American maverick living in Rome who found me an apartment within walking distance from St.Peter’s Square during the month with the most visitor’s in the Eternal City’s history; a Californian activistset up a donations account to fund my hunger strike and soon money started to trickle in after she openedthe spigot to her own wallet in a rather generous fashion; an English photographer living in Swedenvolunteered to join me in Rome and document on film my entire escapade.The power of the Internet worked its magic and with only a couple of weeks to put it all together Isucceed and get on the plane with $200 in my pocket, a lot of hope and even more uncertainty as to whatwill happen next.While I am not going into the unknown, as I am rather familiar with Italy in general and the city of Romein particular, having traveled extensively throughout Europe, where I was born, I am going with a heavyheart. For with every step I take and every mile I fly, I am getting further and further away from my dearboys, Ben and Oliver. Even though I have not seen them in three years, my physical proximity to themgives me the feeling of togetherness and the peace of mind that if need be I can reach them within threehours by car. Italy, however, is across the ocean and the thought of leaving my sons behind isdisconcerting, painful even, especially knowing that they are surrounded by my enemies.But I will deal with my enemies when the time comes. For the time being, I must deal with the enemiesof mankind, who pose the greatest and most immediate threat to my children and to my people, theworld’s seven billion human beings who are under attack by the world’s 193 national governments.And so I get on the plane and get ready for battle, feeling on this Good Friday the way Christ would havefelt on the day of his Crucifixion. The flight to Rome is the beginning of my Calvary.16