Fishers of Men

First, please take note that WabiSabi has been labeled a stalker by Locust and Honey in the weekly round-up of Methodist Bloggers (You'll have to scan to the bottom of the posts to see it -- under the W's). I have it on firm authority that the Smallest Angel is his accomplice. Keep it up, and be sure to show us the pictures!

Secondly, I've been mulling the idea of a poem about Peter for a long time. Other poems have presented themselves to be written first, but it looks like it might be Peter's turn. This is one of two that I'll post this week -- maybe others, but two have been written already. Here's the first:

Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18; Luke 3:1-11; John 1:35-42

It was the end of the day.
The sun was still shining, but just barely.
It reflected off the water
Giving everything an unearthly hue.

Simon, the son of Jona, was bone tired.
He had fished all day
Pulling on the nets
Hauling nothing onto the boat
Time after time.
Endlessly.

He felt that his life was a waste.
Each day, catching fish.
Or, even worse, catching nothing.
His life had no purpose.

He had worked that day with his brother, Andrew.
His brother had enthusiasm, optimism.
Andrew told him stories of a man named John,
And lately of another man, Jesus.
All day long on the boat,
Andrew could speak of nothing else.
It only made Simon feel like less.

As he was folding his nets,
Preparing for the next day,
A man approached them at the lakeshore.
The setting sun glinted in his eyes
As he smiled at Simon.
He was a man with a purpose.
A man with a vision.
He carried himself across the sand and rocks
As if he knew exactly what he wanted.
Exactly who he wanted.

Andrew grabbed his arm
Saying, "That's him. That's Jesus."
Simon shook off his brother
And waited for Jesus to reach them.

Once Jesus was close,
His feet wet from the water,
He reached over and examined the nets
A rock was caught amid the ropes,
And he worked to free it,
Lifting it up to expose it to the sunshine.

"Come with me, and I will teach you be fishers of men."

Simon looked away, uncomfortable,
And said, "You don't want me.
I am a sinner.
I am not worthy of the work you offer."

Jesus held on to the rock
And waited patiently for Simon to meet his gaze.
When he did, Jesus repeated, "Come with me."

Simon had no way to know
That this man, this decision, would change his life
Would change the world
Would end his life.
Would give him life everlasting.

The only thing Simon did know
Was that he had found his purpose
His calling, his mission, in this man.
He dropped his net,
Left his boat,
And followed Jesus.

To Walking on Water