Elizabeth Wood
Dear Friends,
On our recent vacation, we took a fishing trip on a small boat. We set off very early, with two guides familiar with the area who knew the best spots. They showed us how to bait the hook, cast into the river, and to recognize when something caught the line.
And then we waited. And waited. It was hot and humid and buggy. Worst of all, we ran out of snacks.
There was a brief moment when it looked as if something might happen, but the fish just came up, took a look, and moved on. More waiting.
As you can guess, it didn’t take long to decide that fishing was not for me. When I expressed disappointment, one of the guides told me; “That happens. That’s why we call it fishing, not catching.”
There are references to fish and fishing throughout the Bible, but I am particularly drawn to events described in the fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel.
Jesus finds fishermen on the shore, washing their nets. They have had a frustrating night—they caught nothing and have given up.
How does Jesus respond? He gets into the boat with them and tells Simon Peter and his crew to go out onto the lake again and to cast their nets in deep water. This time, they catch so many fish that they share the haul.
Two things stand out. Firstly, when Jesus meets the fishermen, he doesn’t point out where they should fish. Rather, he gets into the boat and goes with them.
Secondly, note how the fishermen respond. Jesus is not a fisherman. He doesn’t know the lake and the best places to fish. Why listen to him? He might be a great teacher or prophet, but fishing? Should they swallow their pride, take a leap of faith and listen to this stranger? When they do, they are richly rewarded.
As I encounter challenges in my daily life, it might help me to think about these two things.
Do I let Jesus onto my boat? Or do I hope that I'll receive directions from the shore?
And am I then willing to swallow my pride and recognize that for all my knowledge and experience, I still need to be shown the way?
When we are fishing, but not catching, we need to be humble, trust Jesus, and allow him to be with us.
—Elizabeth