How to Catch a Fish

 A couple of weeks ago, my husband went fly fishing with his uncle and the kids begged to be taken along.  Unfortunately fly fishing is not easy to do with little kids underfoot, so they had to stay home with mom.  I promised them I would take them down to the dam and try to catch some fish down there (I would?).    That was a huge promise, since I’ve been fishing less times in my life than any of them had!

We grabbed the bucket of worms and a fishing pole and headed down the road to the little creek that goes through our village.   I’m glad no one else was there to see me fumbling with the fishing pole and grossing out over those worms.  They try to get away when you want to put them on the hook!  Ewww!  With my 3 year old boy’s help, I got the bait on and cast out the line into the murky water.  In no time at all, I had a fish on the line, reeled it in and realized I didn’t know how to get the fish OFF the hook.

I was pretty pathetic.  But the kids got a kick out of mom catching two fish even though she didn’t have a clue how to do it.   And I discovered that fishing is actually pretty fun.

Last week, I sat on the edge of the creek and watched my husband work his magic on the fish. 

 

We both caught fish, but I soon saw that fishing wasn’t just about the end result.  I was throwing in a worm and hoping for a bite. 

He was romancing the fish, luring them in by the beauty of his invisible line swooshing through the air, making the fly dance above the water.  He used skill and patience, wisdom and knowledge to know where the fish were, what they were biting, and how to catch them.

The float line whirred over his head, back and forth making a humming noise and when it landed softly on the top of the water, a trout jumped out of the water to feed on that fly.  I never knew fishing could be so beautiful or romantic.

Colossians Colossians 4: 5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

We ought to speak about Jesus with romance in our voice.  We use skill (training), wisdom and patience in sharing our faith with others.  There’s a difference between throwing something out there, hoping someone will take a bite, and carefully choosing words, at the right moment, that will entice our listeners. 

Add a little romance to your faith today.  It is a beautiful thing to be caught by Jesus!

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8 thoughts on “How to Catch a Fish

  1. LynnLynn

    Wow Heather,

    This post is eloquent and filled with passion and beauty. I am on vacation and staying with family who need our Savior. I am praying for the words that will romance them to Jesus. They need Him desperately.

    Love you girl. Hugs!

  2. eph2810

    What a beautiful post, Heather. I so love what you said about putting romance into our faith – Amen to that. I don’t think we have to yell “end-times” into to the faces of people, but we can put romance into our faith by telling others what He has done for us!

    Thank you so much for sharing your fishing experience with us – put a smile on my face. Believe or not, but this old gal has never, ever fished 🙂

  3. Toia

    Great post. Love the pic of the cliff…Colossians 4:5-6 is one of my favorite scriptures. Will visit again!!

  4. Laurel

    Beautiful, especially since I just got back from a fishing vacation. I don’t put the worm on my hook, this is why I have three boys, hehhe.