Picture this; Pretty Bay, 2000 (Sorry, I'm addicted to reruns of Golden Girls and Sophia). It was a beautiful weekend that ended in rain last evening. It didn't deter DB and me from enjoying a campfire while we sat protected from the rain under a tree. It's been a wonderful summer of rest and relaxation every weekend in our "dollhouse". I'll be sorry to see it end, although the house here has suffered greatly from our taking off right after work on Fridays and returning for work early Monday mornings. "Fishers of Men"
This is an entry from my paper journal.
Yesterday, I sat on the dock in the early morning haze. The water was exceptionally still and clear. TM was fishing, not far off the dock, sitting quietly, patiently, in his boat. Farther out, a couple more lone fishermen in their boats sat quietly and patiently.
I watch them between Bible readings and began to see some qualities in this scene that might have drawn Jesus to choose fishermen as his first followers. He could have approached carpenters or potters, or any number of occupations, but he chose fishermen.
I know Peter and James were probably seiners rather than rod fishermen, but I know from stories about Grand Manan's fisherfolk, and the men on St. Croix who walked their purse seine out into the chest-high water, that seining also requires quiet patience. And trust in God's help. And doggedness. And a true love for what you are doing.
And immense joy when your net is full, or your rod bends with the weight of a full-sized fish. And I know that rod will bend, and the fish will fight, but the patient man will give a little line, then reel in slowly, surely, until that fish is safely in the boat.
And the seiner pulls up much sea-chaff with his net and has to sort the bad from the good, but when he works quickly, surely, he lands a pile of worthy fish.
And so Jesus saw in these simple men the patience, tenacity, skill, and love for their jobs that they would need to bring people to Him. Sometimes they failed, and they faced terrible hardships, but they kept on and their tenacity and love for Him has reached out over the seas and down through the centuries to snag us with the good news of He who came into the world to save us from our sinful selves.
Thanks be to God. Amen

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