Yesterday was a fishin' day. No fish were caught but it was a day of fishin' none the less. Many baits were cast, much time was spent in the act but no fish were caught. Yesterday was a day spent in the salt air, a day spent listening to the cacophony of seaside sounds. Gulls laughing, waves crashing, the occasional shouts of surfers, the squeals of happy children as they ran from the oncoming waves. It was also a day of wind. Steady wind blowing from the east. Wind that straightened the flags. Wind that blew unceasingly. Wind that blew hard. A hat stealing wind was blowing. There's an old saying, "wind from the east, fishing's least". The saying was proven yesterday. No matter what bait was used, live or artificial, there was no fish caught. The wind brought the waves in quick intervals, cresting and crashing far from the shore. The white caps at the top of the ocean water testified to the steadiness of the east wind. The large contingent of surfers was evidence of the steady wind and waves.
The vastness of the ocean when looking toward the horizon gives one pause to think. While gently retrieving a lure, it is very insignificant in terms of this huge body of water and the number of available feeding opportunities for the fish. Sometimes we use a bobber to suspend our bait and it takes a committed focus to keep it in sight. Yet we continue to catch fish somehow.
How small we are in the scheme of things. Upon seeing the bobbing heads of the surfers, how small they were when scanning the waves and water. No wonder there is difficulty in spotting a lone soul floating in the water when the search and rescue team is about its work. Yet we hear of rescues almost daily.
How tiny we must be in the vast sea of humanity. From God's perspective we must akin to the lost soul floating for days in the sea waiting for someone to spot them, someone to rescue them. The din of cries for help must be deafening but still He hears. Still He comes with open arms to drag us safely to shore. He often saves us from drowning in self-pity and denial. He is always there.
Many of the stories of Jesus relate to the sea and fishing. His disciples are men of the sea and stories of life at sea illustrate His life. He tells the men where to fish to fill their nets to capacity ( Luke 5:1-11) and tells them they will "fish" for men. He calms the storm in Matt 8:23. He teaches his disciples about faith by showing them through their own lives how faith will work for them. Are you a lone soul in a sea of doubt? Are you afraid you'll drown? Seek Him, call out for Him, He will save you!
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