Letting Down the Net

In Luke 5, we find the story of what in Spanish Bibles is sub-titled: "La Pesca Milagrosa" (The Miraculous Catch). There is even a Spanish Christian hymn that goes something like: "It's the miraculous catch of God's handy work; throw your nets for there are so many souls walking without salvation..." As I was reading, Peter's words in verse 5 got my attention, "...nevertheless, at YOUR word I will let down the net." We all have heard this preached in sermons or taught at a Bible class, at least I have many times. But because the Word of God is living and powerful (Heb. 4:12) a Scripture you are very familiar with all of a sudden has a special meaning to you. At that moment it speaks to your heart. The story goes on that the catch was so big, so out of what they had seen before as fishermen - and considering this is what they have done all their lives it was REALLY big - that Peter fell down at Jesus' knees and said, "Depart from me, for I'm a sinful man, Oh Lord." (vs 8). All the men present had witnessed a miracle and they were all thinking, "who is this man?" I like to think that I too have answered the call and have been willing to continue in obedience to HIS voice without questioning HIS orders. But I don't. At some instances I have done so: "at YOUR word, I quit my job" and HE has been providing; "at YOUR word, we sold the house" and we have a roof over our heads. But when it has come to accept some women to mentor and/or to give them shelter at the transitional house, it has been more like, "Really, Lord? Look at this one so messed up, such a huge criminal record; really?" But it was "at HIS word" that I accepted two very different ladies, one introduced to me by the other. Though I've been warned by other volunteers and I myself did not like the idea of one coming due to her very visible stubbornness and 'know it all' attitude, "at YOUR word Lord", I said, "I do it trusting you". And whether or not I see my 'miraculous catch' here on earth, I will obey. Both ladies have turned their backs on me and the volunteers trying to reach out to them. However, I felt this great peace, that I obeyed and HE taught me one more time where my trust is. Many times after struggling about sending that letter of acceptance to an inmate, they turn the offer down and I realized that it was all a test... for me. When you step out of your comfort zone to obey, exercising your faith there are no guarantees things are going to go great. But you have to trust that no matter the outcome, HIS blessings are upon you. The Bible shows us that our faith will be put to a test, again and again. Will I trust HIM as I tell others to trust HIM? Will I reached out and sacrificed my "Isaac" like Abraham was willing to? I find each time, I have a long way to go but if I want to have my miraculous catch, I have to keep throwing the net at HIS word.

We Can Never Recover Yesterday....

In a day when one year ends and another starts, it is customary (normal? expected?) to look back and see how many resolutions were kept; how many never even got started; how many lasted the first three weeks, or for those more persistent, three months. I have always said I don’t do resolutions and that’s one reason why; I don’t have to look back and see what I did not accomplish; I don’t have to live with regrets about yesterday. I have other reasons but this is one of them. As we know, we cannot make up for lost time. We can never recover yesterday. There is no point in sleeping one day more than other to make up for a sleepless nights as you wake up with your body aching or fall behind schedule. There is no point in reading two books in a couple of days to make up for those we said we would read but did not. You won't learn or remember much about what you read. It doesn’t matter how much we visit and try to catch up with family and friends, nothing can replace the missing birthdays, anniversaries, and moments of laughter and moments of need. I was thinking that trying to relive or recover yesterday is like that sweater or pair of pants you put in a trunk and forgot. One day cleaning, you dig in that trunk and find the sweater (or the pants) and think (like I have) “I forgot I have this”; and then think about wearing it again. But… it doesn’t fit or even if it does fit, you have aged and the style is no longer appropriate. Even if it is a weight problem, it will take too long to get back to that size and wear it again. By that time you already forgot you own it… again. So, what do you do? You finally have to accept you can’t have it. The time is past for using it so you put it in a bag to donate it. There is that comforting thought that someone will be able to use it. I was thinking that’s pretty much what happens with the day gone, the opportunity lost, the yesterday we can’t recover. There is a lesson learned; maybe some wisdom as simple as “don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today” but definitely a lesson that, just as the sweater that won’t be yours to wear again, someone else will benefit as you shared your lesson with someone who then won’t miss on yesterday. See, today will be yesterday pretty soon. You won’t have another today. So what it is you want to do or think you should do in order to live better, love more, laugh louder and don’t regret the today that will be come your yesterday? Don’t go doing resolutions and putting demands on yourself that you know you won’t keep. Live each day to the fullest, today, and you won’t have to waste time thinking on how to recover yesterday because you won't.