Against the Law

Against the Law

(“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’” Luke 18:13)

He lived his life carefully, keeping prayerfully
between the white lines. Although he was known
to speed on occasion. Stop signs were a reason
to step on the gas
and watch how fast
he could leave the others behind.

But still, he was on a mission, an important calling,
a committee of certainty to discuss the downfall of
the nation. He carried his credentials in the glove compartment
in case he was ever stopped and asked
to slow down.

He had learned his lessons well, raised on good manners,
flagstaffs and potato salad. From alcohol to etiquette,
he knew what to forbid and what to accept. The
Fourth of july was nearly as sacred as
Lent.

It was no wonder that the person only caught his eye,
a jacket or a blanket draped over a figure kneeling
on the shoulder. There was no time to stop, nor to
even notice, how the gravel tore into the figure’s knees,
how the blanket became a shawl, how the figure had a voice,
a voice so scratched with time and loss, it sounded like
a 78 rpm record found in the attic. He had no time to
hear it, and besides, he would have to cross the median
which was--certainly the figure knew--which was
against the law.

And like every other mission, he took his seat
around the table
just in time.