GONE FISHING

GONE FISHING

“…when the cat’s away, the mice will play…” is an old adage concerning what psychologists call external restraint (vs. internal restraint).  Another axiom is “real character is revealed when alone” (or, at least when one thinks he is hidden?!).  How does one live during the long stretches, during the lonely times, during the lulls, during the losses?  Does one exult on the mountain, or hide in the cave, like the prophet?  (Actually, Elijah did both; and James says we are not so different.)

Character is formed and revealed in a long series of life circumstances and choices.  One must ask, “do I routinely turn to the ‘dark side’ or rather to the ‘Light’ when confronted with difficulties and decisions?”  When one is down, does he wallow in the mud?  When vileness has been expelled, does one walk away disgusted, or like the proverbial pooch, return to the puke?!

I gently counseled a work buddy to think on his freshly restarted dipping and smoking.  His family life has “gone to Hell” and he seems to be returning to old haunts for the comfort he will find only in his Father, not his old failures.  When I kindly confronted him, he quickly, and aptly, replied, “you remember where Peter went right after his denial and His death?”  Peter, the Galilean fisherman, had gone fishing.  It’s not that fishing is sinful, it is just wrong – wrong for the man who “left his nets” to become a “fisher of men”!!  In other words, let’s not “put our hand to the plow, and then look back.”  And, let’s not “become entangled with civilian affairs.”

Being “gone fishing” can take on many forms.  It is likely different for each struggler.  We can lose ourselves in many different vain pursuits.  And, at the same time, these pursuits can be deeply meaningful in the Master’s scheme of things.  The difference seems to be in the purpose – losing ourselves, or finding ourselves.  Likely, some things will always be nothing but some fruitless escapism; but, many things can be redeemed for His purposes.

And, in Him, one finds true purpose, power, pleasure, peace.  The fleeting pleasures of sin are at best a mirage and at worst a quagmire.  The Liar is deceptive.  And too often, we enjoy his lies all the while suspecting them for just that?  We go to what is “seen” and “felt” instead of the unseen and spiritual.

Mixing the metaphors, let’s “swim upstream”.  Continuing the animal theme – choose:  hog to the mud, or dog to the puke, or soaring with the eagles?!  And, yet, have you ever watched an eagle fish?!  Gone fishing?  Think about it!