The Fisherman

Sunday
August 17, 2008
evening pages

Yesterday, I decided it was time to get some exercise and go for a walk. I walked down and around to a near by park and pond area and ended up at Bass Lake, one of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota. As I walked I came to a bench overlooking the lake where I stopped to sit for awhile. I noticed in front of me on the rocks near the shore a fisherman. I don't really know a lot about fishing but as I watched I saw this young man cast out his line only to reel it back in to see weeds on his hook. He cleaned off his hook and cast his line out a different direction. He watched with a careful eye and as soon as the little red and white ball sank he reeled his line back in once again only to find weeds on his hook. As I sat and watched he did this several times. All the time I watched he did not catch a fish. But as I sat and looked on I was impressed by how patient and persistent this young man had been while fishing. I thought of Jesus calling the disciples and asking them to put down their nets and follow Him. Jesus was teaching us about becoming fishers of men. I began to think about my faithfulness or better yet my lack of faithfulness in "catching fish" ie; praying for those who still do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I was reminded that I have not been patient or persistent as I believe Jesus would want me to be in praying for and reaching out to the lost. As I got up and continued my walk home I pondered on these thoughts and began to pray more and to pray harder for those who do not know Jesus. When I returned home I gathered my Bible, Journal and Pilgrimage of the Heart a Bible Study that I have been working through. My study for the day, you guessed it ... Matthew 4:18-5:1, Matthew 14:22:36 and Matthew 26:6-13. I love how Holy Spirit works through all things, my walk, the fisherman, and the Word.
Finding myself once again In His Arms, B.