As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fisherman. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediatly they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18 NRSV
"Sabbatical Fishing"
This picture is what my eyes saw as I was preparing to do a little bank fishing. The idea actully came from Mary, one of the ladies on retreat with me at Stella Maris, last week. She would take a portion of her free time each day and fish off the bank desiring to catch fish and she did. So I told her that when I got home for this short time, I would throw my pole and tackle box in the trunk. I like to fish and so when the oppertunity came, I told her I was going fishing, becuase I enjoyed the sport.
On this day the chance came, as I was able to get all the needed errands done, my reading mostly up to date and the evening functions were far enough away. Thus I went to catch me some fish. No net like the text, however my fishing pole, decaffinated coffee and lots of hope were at my center. After getting everything ready and the line caste, I sat down. What many fisherperson's know is this is most likly going to be a time of focused waiting. You are watching the line as you have been trained and has been done throughout the centuries.
Yet there is another important piece which happens, as most often you sit alone or in quiet, and I find this a deeply spiritual tme for me. I want to believe those in between times the disicples did too. Your contemplating the struggle and trials along with the beauty and majesty before you. And it was in this spacial moment an ah ha came to me. Jesus came to these men in what I beleive was the most openly spiritual location they would be found, fishing. At their homes, hanging with their friends, even at synagogue would have been noisey or distracting. But here, casting their nest, pondering all of life's possiblities behind them or in front of them was the very location Christ came.
What made all the difference, my friends, was they were open to leave their nests and do somthing new without ever knowig the outcome. This to me continues to be the place we are called to be as our sabbatical goes forth. The Sprirt is inviting us to venture where we have never gone and trust the outcome to the Holy. In my payer time, reading or leisure, I am seeking to be open to the Spirits call during this time, it's my prayer for all.
Side note, I DID NOT CATCH ANY FISH!
Musings from
Pastor Michael
"Sabbatical Fishing"
This picture is what my eyes saw as I was preparing to do a little bank fishing. The idea actully came from Mary, one of the ladies on retreat with me at Stella Maris, last week. She would take a portion of her free time each day and fish off the bank desiring to catch fish and she did. So I told her that when I got home for this short time, I would throw my pole and tackle box in the trunk. I like to fish and so when the oppertunity came, I told her I was going fishing, becuase I enjoyed the sport.
On this day the chance came, as I was able to get all the needed errands done, my reading mostly up to date and the evening functions were far enough away. Thus I went to catch me some fish. No net like the text, however my fishing pole, decaffinated coffee and lots of hope were at my center. After getting everything ready and the line caste, I sat down. What many fisherperson's know is this is most likly going to be a time of focused waiting. You are watching the line as you have been trained and has been done throughout the centuries.
Yet there is another important piece which happens, as most often you sit alone or in quiet, and I find this a deeply spiritual tme for me. I want to believe those in between times the disicples did too. Your contemplating the struggle and trials along with the beauty and majesty before you. And it was in this spacial moment an ah ha came to me. Jesus came to these men in what I beleive was the most openly spiritual location they would be found, fishing. At their homes, hanging with their friends, even at synagogue would have been noisey or distracting. But here, casting their nest, pondering all of life's possiblities behind them or in front of them was the very location Christ came.
What made all the difference, my friends, was they were open to leave their nests and do somthing new without ever knowig the outcome. This to me continues to be the place we are called to be as our sabbatical goes forth. The Sprirt is inviting us to venture where we have never gone and trust the outcome to the Holy. In my payer time, reading or leisure, I am seeking to be open to the Spirits call during this time, it's my prayer for all.
Side note, I DID NOT CATCH ANY FISH!
Musings from
Pastor Michael