When Synapses Go Bad

Where is He? He said He was going to return soon.

It’s only been a day or two at the most Mat. He won’t be gone for long.

Well, how do you know that?

Because He said so that’s why.

And don’t call me Mat. The Name is Mathew, Mathew the tax collector if you prefer. I know, I know. I’m from the IRS and I’m here to help you, ha, ha – right.

And you believe Him?

Darn right I do, and if you will be honest, you know that you do too. Look, has He ever lied to us, ever?

No.

That’s right, everything He’s said He would do He has done. Even when we were right there with Him and said He was going to do something that sounded so far out, almost miraculous, He did it! Hey. I know it’s not easy to trust Him when most other people, important people laugh at Him and take advantage of Him. Some of His closest friends, heck my closest friends too doubted him like Thomas. Why, that old fishing buddy of mine, Peter, he got stopped by the authorities and denied even knowing Him, much less being His friend. Peter went so far as to deny knowing Him not once, not twice but three times. That’s three times, count them, one, two, three, no I don’t know Him. Huh, some friend. He even went back to his fishing boat, Peter did.

All right. all right. It’s just that I’m not like the rest of you guys, living off the land so to speak. Or make that off the sea. I’ve been a business man all my life. Made a lot of money, a lot of money. Maybe it wasn’t always on the up and up, you know, the straight and narrow like the “teach” would say, but still it was a tough job, really tough. I mean nobody but nobody likes a tax collector. Do you?

Ugh, no, can’t say that I do but I never did have to pay much in taxes. I hardly made enough shekels selling those stinking fish we caught.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So now you think your fish don’t stink huh?

So Mathew what the hel… heck is your point?

My point, my point. I’ll tell you what my point is John. My point is that, that. I really miss the guy John. I mean, I don’t care what you call Him, Teacher, Master, or some have even called Him The Messiah …. well, anyway. He really changed my life John. You remember when he rode into Jerusalem that day?

Of course.

Yeah, well being as short as I am I climbed up to a high branch on that tree so I could see Him better. I wanted to poke fun at Him, laugh at Him. I mean, some triumphant entry Him riding into the capital city on some dumb ass. No, not Him, the donkey. Anyway, when our eyes met I got the strangest feeling like, a good feeling. I don’t know how to explain it but it seemed that for the first time in my life I actually felt good. You know, about me. Not the money or the prostitutes, no, no. This was just about me-and Him of course. Then you know what He did.

Yeah Mathew, I know what He did then but you go ahead and tell me because frankly, I like hearing it again.

See what I mean, that’s the kind of feeling I’m getting at. He made me feel wanted, actually loved. He made me, me, Mathew the tax collector yes me, He made me feel … whole.

That’s why John, that’s why

~ by Vinnie on September 2, 2014.

Posted in Spiritual
Tags: Spirituality, tax collector