Fisherman

I took my little friends (as Mel calls them) to buy fishing poles for the lake. The boys chose transformer poles, and we got Catherine a princess one. Catherine and I had an earlier field trip and the girl stores that we frequented didn't have poles. Blake had not yet gotten tot he lake but Catherine and William could not wait to try these out. So we went our on the dock and started casting. Mind you, I know nothing about fishing and lines and lures and worms and things, but the exercise proved to be quite satisfactory, because as we were casting and waiting, a fishing boat trolled our way. He got closer and closer to us and I thought it strange and began feeling a little discomforted. But as he pulled up to our spot, he began doing sign language. The kids were perfectly still and were watching with all intensity. For his fishing boat alone was worth the look. He looked the part, with his hat and flannel shirt layered over a couple of t shirts, was about 45 years old and kind of scrappy in appearance. There were four fishing poles laid out and a great assortment of lures that were in plain sight, and all the fishing gear that a professional fisherman would have. Then he began to speak in his quiet language of signing. He could not speak and could not hear, but he had come to our spot with a camera. I finally deciphered the message. He wanted me to take a picture of he and a fish that he had caught. I agreed but wondered where the fish was. I took the camera and the fishman proceeded to go to the back of the boat and open a built in compartment and bring out the greatest fish ever. I guessed that it was a bass, because that seems to be what is being caught in this area, and it had to be just a little less that two feet. Oh my! The kids finally moved...only to get a little closer.

He proudly held up the fish and we took several pictures. Then he took the fish, placed him in the water, and moved him around gently for several seconds, until its tail began to move and then he released it. There was a small gasp from one of the kids. And the fish swam away and the fisherman mouthed a thank you and he too trolled on his way. We went our there to try out our lines, oh but the lessons that those two little ones received were monumental, and as you can imagine the questions, after further processing, that began to roll.

There are lyrics to a great country western song by Trace Adkins that "Just Fishin"
I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reel
She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still
Talkin’ ‘bout her ballet shoes and training wheels
And her kittens
And she thinks we’re just fishin’

I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more time
She says, “I know. I think I got a bite.”
And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’ dyin’ here inside’s
What I call, livin’

And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riverside
Throwin’ back what we could fry
Drownin’ worms and killin’ time
Nothin’ too ambitious
She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout
What’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fission’

This memory was a big one. We set out to put their lines in the water, and God set out to show them a title bit of life that they had never seen. The questions were: "Why, can't he talk, how did he catch that fish,' what is on his fishing pole, why did he let it go, how does he make his boat go, etc?" The fisherman, I guess in anticipation of the kids curiosity held up the pole and showed the kids this crazy, what appeared to be giant, purple octopus looking lure and we held it and had to look hard to find the hiding hook, but it was there and it was a big one. Fishing I believe took a second place to him not being able to speak or hear. And when Catherine asked why, I could only reply that God had made him that way, but that he also helped him to be able to talk through his hands, and that is how we knew what he wanted us to help him with.

We never know what and who God will expose us to. But if we just pick up our poles and and go out ready and willing and expectant of his hand to be upon our day, we will be blessed with an interruption that only God could demise. I thought I was just going out to the dock and fishing with the kids, but God had a special lesson for all of us to soak in. God hooked us with a experience that will not be forgotten and a further appreciation that we all are created differently. To me this was one more lesson on humility. Just as that fish was placed back in the water and his tail began to gently flounder back and forth, so are we to embrace experiences such as these and absorb then as we flounder back into the mainstream of the day. For God will stamp this on our hearts and it will be a lesson of appreciation of the gifts that God has given us to speak and hear, and opportunities that are before us to serve him in kindness.

We did not catch anything that day, didn't have a huge purple octopus lure, oh but we did catch a glimpse of God in the works of everyday life.

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Dear Lord, Thank you for opportunities, daily opportunities to show kindness to others and to be blessed with the ability to help others. Please make us not only aware of times that we can serve but give us a willingness to pursue those which you have placed before us. Amen


Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!