Gone Fishing

I was never a fan of fishing. I wanted to rename the sport “Waiting.” That is how I remember it as a child on my Uncle Ed’s boat, waiting for fish to bite. My Uncle Ed liked company on his boat, during the summer. I don’t really know why. We didn’t talk. We had to maintain silence. At the time, I thought that was so the fish did not hear our conversations. We would do this all day, with only a break for a baloney sandwich. We were “gone fishing.”

I learned only after my son, Holland, was in his mid-twenties that he was disappointed because I never took him fishing as a child. Of course, I told him that there was an important reason for this. I hated fishing and didn’t want to impose on him the same torture that I endured growing up. I have since prayed that I would be given the opportunity to redeem myself in his eyes.

A House On the Ocean

Recently, I got this chance and my fondness of fishing changed. My daughter and son-in-law rented a house on an inlet to the ocean. I traveled there to mostly help her watch her boys, but while I was there I decided to buy my grandsons fishing poles and tackle. I made them walk with me the two-mile trip to the bait store and we purchased live shrimp. At first, I had to do everything, tie the tackle, bait the hooks, cast the rods … everything.

I was busy, but the first day turned incredible when they started reeling in fish, lots of fish. Having grown up fishing on fresh water lakes, I quickly discovered a greater variety of fish than I had seen before. At one point, my grandson pulled up a large fish that looked to me like a baby shark. It had big teeth, so I cut the line and threw it back in. Only after he reeled in the second one, I Googled it and found it to be a Spanish Mackerel.

A Large Bucket Of Fish

On the fourth day, when Lizzy, my son, and son-in-law joined us, the action was the best yet. Everyone caught fish. By then the grands were casting their reels like pros. I got to fish with Holland and he even reeled in the largest Spanish Mackerel of the trip. That evening I filleted the fish and Holland cooked them on the grill. It was amazing.

A Bad Impression Of God

My purpose is not to convince anyone to become a fishermen. Some of you, however, may have a wrong impression of God, made from a bad experience, or from watching someone you thought was “supposed” to be a messenger from God. Perhaps, your impression of God is just as jaded as was my impression of fishing.

Today, if given an invitation to go fishing, I would gladly put out a sign that says, “gone fishing.” I now understand how much fun this can really be. Don’t become jaded! Jesus does not call you into a relationship of obligation and dread, but of peace and joy.

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also see, Do Not Fear, God Is On Your Side.