Paddle Boat Fishing
by Kathy Brown on July 2nd, 2009 | 0 comments
We have a small paddleboat that is perfect for fishing. It makes no noise, you can’t run out of gas and the line won’t get tangled up in the prop. ( My son can testify I’m an expert at this last maneuver; he is a patient young man.) Whenever I set off with my fishing pole and carton of wiggly worms, I have high hopes. It’s never very deep where I go, since pedaling isn’t my forte. Often, I can see the sunfish and perch admiring my bait; they go back and forth while I stare at my bobber. As the Bible instructs, to pray about all things, I dutifully come expectantly to the Father with my request for more than a nibble. I remember Jesus had a lot to say about fishermen, and I assume, fisherwomen. Watching and waiting seems to nourish my imagination. Maybe a huge musky will think my night crawler is the appetizer for a flavorful meal, or perhaps a blind northern pike might find the dangling delectable tempting. Reeling in mostly reveals my rubbery morsel has been taken. As time passes, my mind wanders. I reflect on a passage in Matthew 17. Jesus told Peter to go to the lake and throw out the line, take the first fish caught; open its mouth and find a coin. Take it and pay your taxes. What a fantastic idea! Nothing is impossible with God. My enthusiasm for catch and release turns to a desire to find bills in the gills and assist my husband in addressing the never-ending burden of the government confiscating his income. A good ending to the story would be that I yanked up a walleye, took my pliers and pulled out a krugerrand. That’s not what happened. But, the Lord didn’t leave me empty-handed. He reminded me of something I need to remember: His Kingdom is not the world’s government. Sometimes, the kingdom lines become blurred, and I momentarily rationalize (rather than criticize) our "statist" offering. But ultimately it becomes clear: yes, give to government what is demanded, but don’t confuse it with the work that is only accomplished through the Name of Jesus. Coming in with nothing to show for the casting isn’t so bad. Cleaning fish and picking through the bones isn’t all that great anyway. Tucked on my stringer is an invisible, but precious gem. It’s the kind of Truth “keeper” that lasts, which only whets my appetite for another big day in my boat.
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