Fly Fishing
It was an adventure for sure. My husband made arrangements for the seven us to go fly-fishing while our adult kids were visiting us in Colorado. I have watched from afar the beauty of a fly fisherman’s graceful approach to casting while standing in waders in a river but I never considered the experience one that I would own.
There were three guides and we split up into two groups, decked out in waders, hats, and sunglasses, all looking forward to the experience that was before us. There is much to be learned of this art and the four hour excursion is only a brief “toe in the water “ live tutorial. It merely skims the surface of what is to be learned about fly-fishing.
Just as many things do, it takes practice, patience and time to develop a true appreciation and love for the art. But in my short time in the river, I came to find three elements of fly-fishing that are relative to our walk with God.
1) First the beauty and sounds of the river flowing and the nature that surrounds it: the rustling waters, the slightly overcast sky, the mountains, the breeze, the birds, tromping through the high grass, the flowers bordering the paths, etc.
2) Second, the casting, putting a line out there and then watching with anticipation the tiny red bobber drifting down the stream
3) Third the catch/reward of actually seeing the results of continued patience, solid footing and hooked rewards.
The Beauty. I am clearly not a fisherman, and this was a new adventure, but just the very beauty of the wilderness and the flowing river with its rolling rapids and the view of the boulders and rock formations beneath the waters presented such a peaceful presence. But I will say it was “alluring” and a little challenging to find a steady balance in the midst of an uneven and often slippery rock bed.
But to me this was an example of everyday life when we are called to navigate unsteady circumstances? Therein lies God in his steady, grounded sovereignty to help us to find solid ground. God is our constant guardian helping us to acknowledge the blessings that surround us, and guide us in whatever activity we have chosen to pursue or whatever adversity that has been allowed before us.
In the bible Jesus talks of fishing for men. And daily we are called to do the very same thing. We are to approach life with a willingness to help others to know what we have been taught of the blessings of knowing Christ and having him as our Savior and guide in life. We are surrounded by a world of uneven rock beds and our true and only security is when we find balance and strong footing in our belief in the Lord.
The Casting. The rod was light and the line even lighter and one cast was hardly ever consistent with another. But there was one thing that did remain the same, it was the little red bobber. Upon every cast, It drifts with the current. When we stay attached to God and learn or drift with his current, he will guide us to the place where he wants us to be and we will be hooked on His will rather than trying to do whatever it is on our own. Just as that little red bobber is used to alert the fisherman to a possible bite, God too, if we watch carefully, will alert us when an opportunity approaches for us to speak gently to someone who may be hurting or in need of knowing our loving savior. For God casts people in our lives every day who we are called to love, encourage teach, and often times learn from.
The Reward: And just as trout swim upstream looking for food, sometimes those who cross our path are going upstream yearning for something that will satisfy their hunger for acceptability, contentment and purpose. If we keep our focus on God and his intentions for us to be Fishers of men, we too we be a glorious part of the reward that follows in helping someone getting to know Him.
There were a bunch of fish caught, not a one by me, but the adventure was thrilling and the true art of the fly fishing experience was brought to light/life as only an experienced guide could display.
May we all be fishers of men, and even when we are inexperienced and inept, if we are willing, God can and will use us for his glory and, in his time to hook others into the beauty of knowing and experiencing God.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. – Matthew 4:18-22
Gone Fishing
by Ryan Duncan
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." – Mark 1:17
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesus promised to make his disciples “Fishers of Men.” Sharing the gospel and fishing have a lot in common. Both require patience, the willingness to invest your time into a single purpose. Both take endurance, the ability to weather the bad days. Both involve strength, so you can fight for your goal when necessary.
But most of all, you can neither fish nor witness without grace. Because when you finally do land The Big One, you need to understand it’s not yours to keep or glory in, and humbly set it free.
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
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