Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

It is one of those missing pieces of my childhood.  While there was a small lake fairly close to our home that encouraged open fishing for children, my brothers never wanted me to go with them.  They said it was because I talked too much and scared all the fish away.  I said that was silly because fish didn’t have ears!  Besides, fish liked deep water, not the shallow stuff where they made me stay!

One day, Dad announced we were going on a family fishing trip.  Diana didn’t want to go.  She said the only thing that stunk worse than fish was the bait.  Mom said maybe all the women should stay home.  But, I wanted to go.  I really wanted to go.  So, despite my brothers’ objections, Dad finally said I could go.  Come on, he said, she can’t be that bad!

It was a great trip!I even caught the first fish!Too bad we had to come home early.  But, hey, it wasn’t my fault Dad had no idea how to calm a child who became hysterical when he killed her fish . . . that she had named “Pete” . . . and was planning on taking home so he could live in the bathtub . . . until she could build him a pool in the backyard, of course.

Shortly after that experience, we went to Marysville for the weekend.  Grandpa suggested that it would be a lot of fun if we all went fishing.  Dad got this strange look on his face and turned a funny color.  Mom finally said:  Don’t worry, Kenneth!  Maybe she won’t catch anything.

Well, I showed them!  I caught a tree, Dad’s shirt, and my finger.  Lucky for us, Dr. Randall was there and got the hook right out.  He said there wouldn’t be any charge because sometimes accidents just happen to little girls.

But no one else in the family must have seen it the same way as Dr. Randall because there were no more family fishing trips . . . at least none that I ever knew about!  But, that’s okay.  We can’t be good at everything and I’m just not good at fishing!  As a matter of fact, whenever there’s not a good enough reason to get out of it, I spend all my time hoping that the “big one” will stay away from my hook and tell all its little friends to do the same!

Yet despite my somewhat limited success and total lack of enthusiasm for this particular sport, I have developed a working knowledge concerning the fine art of fishing.  And, friends, my childhood theories were not totally without merit!

For example, did you know that being quiet has little to do with one’s success, or failure, as a fisherman?  As for all that shallow water, the only fish to survive and thrive in that particular atmosphere are tadpoles and minnows.   The only way to catch a real fish is to move to the deep water. 

That’s probably why I’ve always been fascinated with Luke’s version of Jesus’ calling of the first disciples.  After all, what is one of the first things he tells Simon to do?  Move into the deep water and let down the net.  At this particular point, Simon almost makes a very serious mistake.  He turns to Jesus and says:  We tried that once.  It won’t work. 

It may have been the look Jesus gave him or he may have suddenly realized how idiotic it was to tell the Son of God – the Creator and Sustainer of the universe – that something he said to do won’t work!  As tired and frustrated; as worried and worn out; as idiotic and improbable the request was, Simon relents.   Yes, Lord, if you say so. 

Some say the miracle that occurred that day was the miraculous catch of fish.  And while it was indeed spectacular, I disagree.    The real miracle was that Simon decided that God was indeed, God, and that from that moment he would follow wherever and whenever God called.

That is exactly what miracles are meant to do.  We find them where we need them the most.  The moment we respond – the moment the miracle becomes ours – we are called to move from being recipients to being participants.  For it is within the miracle that we find the call to share the bounty of God’s love and healing with a bruised and hurting world.

Simon answered the call in his day.  As improbable and unlikely as it was, he cast his net into the deep waters and his life was changed forever.  Now, it is our turn to answer.  Where is the deep water we need to put our nets into?  Where in our lives are we being called to see beyond what we know, beyond our familiar limits, in order to bring up the abundance God has in store for us?  And what is it we need to leave behind in order to follow?  Is it the pain of unresolved grief or anger?  Is it pride, stubbornness, or blind ambition?  Maybe it is a nagging sense of inferiority or the hurt of disappointing those we love.  Then again, could it be that we are simply afraid that what we are being called to do might actually work?