THE GOSPEL OF TRAVIS - Chapter Three

TRAVIS COMES BEFORE THE LORD

On the next day, Travis went down to the house wherein the Lord and his Apostles had spent the night, for they always seemed to be able to find free lodging wherever they went. Despite his concerns that they were moochers, Travis had to admit they were very skilled at it.

He found the Apostles gathered around the well which, as we know, was a very popular place for people to congregate in those days. Many a story has been shared and an awkward joke politely laughed at around a water well, I can assure you, Theophilus.

Thomas was much surprised to see his cousin, for Travis was well known to make promises to his friends and family that he would later find a way not to keep. But since Travis had indeed arrived, Thomas felt obligated to introduce him.

There stood Simon, who was also called Peter, and his brother Andrew; John and James the Great, both sons of the fishmonger Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew and Thaddeus and a wily looking tax collector named Matthew; then another James, this one called the lesser despite claiming to be just as great as the other James; then a second Simon, although this one was spared the indignity of being Simon Peter’s lesser; then finally Judas who was called Iscariot, although nobody could say exactly what Iscariot meant or why they called him this.

The men all smiled, eager to meet a member of Thomas’s extended family.

Because of his trade as a merchandiser, Travis was much accustomed to impressing strangers through the force of his winning personality. Unfortunately for Travis, he had drunk a bit too much of the Lord’s free wine the night before. Besides, he feared that he had very little in common with a bunch of fishermen, carpenters and tax collectors. His mind was too slow and his tongue too heavy for flattery, and so he swiftly got to the point.

“Where’s the big guy?” he asked. “No offense, I’m sure you are each individually very interesting. But my heart’s not in it right now to pretend to care.”

Just as the Apostles began to betray no small annoyance with his blunt honesty, Travis saw the door to the house open. And out through the portal came the Son of Man.

If the night before he had been unimpressed, up close Travis found the power of Jesus’s presence overwhelming. He felt a peace calmer than a tranquil sea and a warmth as radiant as the sun. Indeed, the mere sight of him seemed to him as a warm hug wrapping around his shoulders. Although, the heat could well have been the result of his night of drink, for Travis’s face and head were by then dripping much with sweat.

And to Travis’s great surprise and relief, the Lamb of God smelled perfectly fine.

THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION

After introductions and some small talk, Travis asked Jesus, “Teacher, I hear from my cousin that you promise your followers eternal life. Tell me, what do I need to do to attain it?”

He answered Travis, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, “If you wish to enter life, keep the commandments.”

Travis was taken aback by the simplicity of what the Lord had just said. “Great. Easy. Thank you,” he replied, but then he wracked his brain, for the festivities the night before had dulled his mind and hampered his memory. “But, uh, just to be sure, which ones do you mean?”

Simon Peter remarked, “Come now, merchandiser, surely you know the commandments.”

“I know them. Of course I know them,” declared Travis with great indignation. “I know all of the commandments. They’re great. Each one better than the last. I only asked so that I know which ones to emphasize first.”

Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and ‘you shall love your neighbors as yourself.’”

“Perfect! I’m glad I asked,” cried out Travis. “Those are the exact ones that I’m doing. Although, I can’t say my mother honors me back. I think she’s more to blame for that though, to bear truthful witness. After all, I’m not the one who remarried a tax collector. No offense to tax collectors, Matthew. I’m not disparaging the profession. I’m just stating the simple fact that her new husband is a tax collector, and that he’s an irritating little worm of a man. But if that’s everything...”

“If you wish to be perfect,” interrupted the Lord, “then go, sell what you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

At this, Travis grimaced.

“I have a lot of things.”

Judas Iscariot nodded and said, “All the better, for the proceeds of their sale could help many needy people.”

“They’re very nice things,” resumed Travis. “A lot of sentimental value. Some rare items. I don’t know how much help it would be... after all, I worked hard for my things. These are things that I’ve earned. Why should I be forced to give them up for the needy? Perhaps the needy should work as hard as I have if they want such comforts. I’m just saying. They’re very, very nice things.”

NOT A COMB NOR A BRUSH

After the conversation had died down shortly thereafter, Thomas thanked the Lord Jesus for speaking with his cousin, and then led Thomas from the house. When they had walked a little ways off and were out of earshot, Travis turned to his cousin. “You all must be under some sort of spell, I can see.”

“That could have gone better,” remarked Thomas.

“No earthly possessions? Not a single one? This is a bit extreme, is it not? To sell everything you have and to give the proceeds away? It is hard to believe you all did this.”

“We did it, and gladly,” replied Thomas “Truly, I have not missed a single stick. The Lord provides everything we need.”

“Does your mother or your father know you’ve done this? Are they worried sick about you?”

“You have not lived this lifestyle yet and so you do not know and you cannot trust. Believe me, I understand. It was hard for me to give so much of myself at first as well. But I find the righteous life requires less material than you might imagine. Trust in Jesus.”

Travis grunted and scratched his beard. “Not a comb of your own? Or a brush? Honestly? You share hair care items with Thaddeus and Bartholomew? I’ve seen their heads of hair and that’s a sure way to get lice if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Cousin, your desire to become an Apostle is admirable, but please listen to me: this life is not for everyone. It’s okay to be a merchandiser from Tiberias, you know. You heard the Lord when he said to keep the commandments. Do this and you really don’t have to come back here.”

Travis placed his hand upon Thomas’s shoulder to quiet him. While he appreciated his cousin’s kind words, when Travis had a goal in mind he would not be deterred from it.

“I shall see you tomorrow.”

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