If you were to write a gospel,

what would you include?

What might you leave out?

Would you slide in a cameo

of the time that Jesus,

passing through your toll booth,

caught your eye, mouthed,

“Follow me”?

Would you elide the moment

of mad fear, somersaults

of stomach and soul,

taste of metal as you bit

your tongue stumbling

to shuck off your tabard,

un-tag your name,

agonize for less than a second

too long whether to lock up,

where to leave the keys,

afraid that he will turn

his face away?

Will you tell

of the love that he levied

as he set you free?

___________________________

Featured image: Saint Matthew, by Joachim Wtewael (public domain via wikimediacommons). First published at https://episcopaljournal.org/the-call-of-matthew/