Fish for Dinner

We are in a raft, on the river on a glorious warm afternoon. We have been fishing for a couple hours now and have caught nothing. The ranger warned Darren beforehand the most people don't catch anything on average. Jimmy, our "wise" 10-year old, has given up on fishing with statements as, "I'll never catch anything!"...."I will never fish again"......"This stinks!"..."I've been out here all day and haven't gotten a thing!"

Darren and I explained to him that when we fish, it is not a guarranteed activity. In fact, you don't choose the fish, the fish chooses you! You just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Jimmy didn't seem to receive this well.

We were almost to the dock, ready to get in the van empty-handed when a tug pulled Jimmy's pole into the water. Out he reeled a 16-inch pike, teeth and all! Jimmy was so excited. As we took the fish off the line, put him on a string, Jimmy's pole dipped into the water again. I grabbed it and started fighting with something on the other end. The line snapped and it was gone. We figure that another pike went for the grub, got snagged and cut the line with his sharp teeth. So, only 1 minute after ultimate defeat, we had a tasty fish for dinner.

I think the disciples had a night like that once out on the boat.....Jesus told them to throw their nets on the other side.."AWE, we've been fishing all night and haven't caught a thing! Lord, don't make us keep doing this! Fishing stinks!" Yet, one more throw of the net, and BINGO.