Fishing

 

Fishing

A small creek meandered past the house in which I grew to maturity. It whispered a melody so sweet as it rushed over boulders and tiny waterfalls situated along its path. A quantity of water pooled above every obstruction is encountered. Rock from ages past that floodwaters could not move but hollowed around made a perfect hiding place for aquatic life. Minnows were plentiful and some of the rather large size. Many evenings after chores were completed we community boys would gather in the barn lot and dig "redworms." for bait." proud as a peacock and just about as tall, we strutted to some favorite fishing hole. Equipped with a willow switch rod, heavy sewing thread and homemade hook from a bent in half straight pen and our Prince Albert tobacco can of worms, we perched atop some large bolder and snagged many "Red Horse” minnows. It was 'catch and release' because the hooks had no barbs. About eighteen inches above the water the minnow would do a devil's thrashing and throw the hook. We never stopped trying and if by providence we landed a few, they were gathered together in a glass jug for release back into their pool at the end of the fishing experience.

In today's world fishing seldom becomes an obsession at any age. But it was, for us, one of many self-initiated pastimes. In later life, God called me to be a fisher of men. Boy, that was a different type of fishing.

We are to fish where Jesus sends us: A God sent a special fish. Jesus had no tax money. He said unto Peter: (Matthew 17:27) “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

John 21:9 “6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.”

Mark 1:14 “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,...16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

John 21:1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; (he isttructed them to wait there for his return. Peter became dissatisfied waiting and returned to the old life)

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Often times we men who are fishers of men go off on our own against God’s plan for our fishing place. Failure is guarantee. Let us fish where God tells us to cast our net and we will harvest abundantly. No God, know Peace. Amen. 05/28/21 BLL