Perhaps you can explain it to me.
Last Saturday was the opening day of trout season. I drove to the park to walk the dogs along the creek, but it was so crowded, I couldn’t find a place to park. Another location closer to home was still crowded but at least I could park in my own driveway. I have to admit it looked fun: grilling breakfast (no fish yet, since the magic hour hadn’t struck), lawn chairs and blankets, children and grandparents and everyone in between. It was a festive fishing reunion.
Today, a week later, the weather is chilly but gorgeous, yet the creek bank is empty. Where are the fishermen that waited hours, some overnight, to start fishing at the opening minute? Surely the fish are still swimming, plenty of those big ones that got away last week. But no one is there to cast. No families are gathered to teach the young folks. No hot coffee being shared. The path is silent except for cardinals and woodpeckers; the water gurgles softly. The newly greening trees have the place to themselves.
We humans like our entertainment and hooplah, the crowd and the celebration. But day to day ordinariness, solitary patience that is non-glamorous, a dedication for the slow process of casting and reeling in and deciding on the fly (is that the proper terminology?) of the day, well, the restraint required of a true fisherman must be more rare to us. Thus the creek on the week after opening day is stripped bare of humanity.
Come to think of it, following Jesus is not so different. Like opening day, the crowds pour into churches for Easter or special events or for a charismatic personality. But what about the faithful, persistent discipleship that keeps on serving quietly when others have long gone? I suspect the risen Christ is better known in those out of the way places rather than the center of busy crowds. Followers of Jesus are in it, not because of the excitement of the crowds, but because they love the ordinary day to day of following their Lord…even if they only number a few on the riverbank.
Perhaps you can try to explain that to me too.
Joseph says
“Day to Day” is the key phrase here. The more you put into something, such as putting more time into raising a child (or your labrador), the better the child turns out. The more you practice a sport the better you get.
Thus, the more we walk with Him (read, study the Word & Prayer), the more of God’s peace we experience, the better we are able to deal with life’s circumstances on a day to day basis.
Elaine Dent says
Good point…beginning with reading, conversation and praying tonight. We’re going fishing.