Sunday, September 25, 2005
AND THEY CALLED THEMSELVES FISHERMAN
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AND THEY CALLED THEMSELVES FISHERMAN
Author Unknown
Sep 25, 2005
A group existed who called themselves fisherman. There were many fish
in the waters around. In truth, the whole area was surrounded by
streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
It came to pass that week after week, month after month, and year after
year, those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings; they
talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they
might go about fishing. They carefully analyzed what fishing meant,
urged fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to
be a primary task of fisherman.
These same fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local fishing
headquarters. Their plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and
that every fisherman should fish.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out
fisherman to other places where there were many fish. The board was
formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about
fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in
faraway streams and lakes where many fish of different colors swam.
Furthermore, the board hired staff and appointed committees and held
many meetings to issue statements on fishing, to agree on what new
streams should be thought about. Large, elaborate and expensive
training centers were built with the original and primary purpose of
teaching fisherman how to fish.
Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature
of fish, how to recognize different fish, the psychological reactions
of fish, the various backgrounds of fish, and how to approach and feed
fish. Those who taught had doctorates in "fishiology" Further, the
fisherman built large printing houses to publish fishing guides.
Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely
devoted to fishing methods and equipment. Meetings were arranged to
talk about fishing. An expert speaker's bureau was also provided to
schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.
Notwithstanding all this activity, it was noted that fisherman
themselves did not fish: they pleaded for fishing. The boards did not
fish: they planned for fishing. The teachers of fishiology did not
fish.
They explained fishing. The expert speakers did not fish. They preached
about fishing.
However, after one stirring address on "The Necessity of Fishing", one
young man left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported
that he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his
excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to
tell how he had done it. In fact he quit his fishing in order to have
time to tell about the experience to the other fisherman. He was also
placed on the Fisherman's General Board as a person having considerable
experience.
Now many of the fishermen made sacrifices and put up with all kinds of
difficulties. Few were well paid for their service on the boards and
training centers. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead
fish. They received the ridicule of some that made fun of their
fisherman's clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fisherman, yet
never fished. They had doubts about those who felt it was of little use
to attend and talk about fishing. After all, were they not following
the one who said: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
(Matt 4:19)
It came about that one day someone made the outlandish suggestion that
those who did not fish were not actually fishermen - - no matter how
much they claimed to be. Someone actually asked: "Is a person a
fisherman if year after year he never catches (or even tries to catch)
a fish? If he is not fishing, can he be following?" Those who called
themselves fishermen, and their boards and committees and training
centers and speakers, were all very hurt by that question.
What is your excuse for not fishing?
PRAYER
"Lord, you alone can satisfy the deepest longing and hunger in our
hearts. May I always hunger for the imperishable bread, that I may be
satisfied in you alone as the True Bread of Heaven. Nourish and
strengthen me that I may serve you with great joy, generosity, and zeal
all the days of my life".
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