Felt a certain fullness of fallenness as a boy,
Short of falsenesses to be multiplied to destroy.
Forceful was the inclination to be impulsive,
But even more were the reasons to be decisive.
Pillar, living to be earned on the open water,
Pulling woven nets full of fish to sell or barter,
Into the boat where Christ called Jesus would one day call him,
With a hearty catch that would fill his craft to the brim.
Now catching men and moving faith to walk on the sea,
The Master kept him close and showed him who he was to be.
Put him in his place and foretold of his denials,
With love and mercy strengthened him for many trials.
A band of brothers, though cut from less than common stock,
Would found His saving church on Peter, the mighty rock.
Gary Edward Geraci