Are You Going to Complain or Fish

I recall a familiar story about a game warden that received a shocking lesson on fishing.

It seems he noticed how this one particular fellow named Sam consistently caught more fish than anyone else. Whereas the other guys would only catch three or four a day, Sam would come in off the lake with a boat full. Stringer after stringer was always packed with freshly caught trout. The warden, curious, asked Sam his secret. The successful fisherman invited the game warden to accompany him and observe. So the next morning the two met at the dock and took off in Sam’s boat
.
When they got to the middle of the lake, they stopped the boat and the warden sat back to see how it was done.

Sam’s approach was simple. He took out a stick of dynamite, lit it, and threw it in the air. The explosion rocked the lake with such a force that dead fish immediately began to surface. Sam took out a net and started scooping them up.
Well, you can imagine the reaction of the game warden. When he recovered from the shock of it all, he began yelling at Sam. “You can’t do this! I’ll put you in jail buddy! You will be paying every fine there is in the book!” Sam, meanwhile, set his net down and took out another stick of dynamite. He lit it and tossed it in the lap of the game warden with these words, “Are you going to sit there all day complaining or are you going to fish?”

The poor warden was left with a fast decision to make. He was yanked, in one second, from an observer to a participant. A dynamite of a choice had to be made and be made quickly!

Life can be like that at times. We are thrown into a situation where we have to make a decision and we have to make it now. Before things blow up in our laps. In business it could be the ability to make some extra cash by bending the rules a bit further then they should be bent. At home you are faced with a decision your spouse made and you don’t agree with it; so you lose your temper in a fit of frustration. At an office party you are caught in a group that is talking about the boss…in a not so good way. Do you join in or walk away? You’re in a business meeting that affords a great opportunity, but the people you will be partnering with conducts their business in a way that you don’t agree with…but the opportunity is huge. What do you do?

We are faced with decisions every day of our life. Decisions that often are unexpected and unplanned…yet they require an answer immediately. Putting off a decision is an answer of its own. No matter what you do you are giving an answer. How do you handle that? How do you prepare ahead of time for such situations.

The disciples found themselves in such a situation. They had gone to pray with Jesus. Jesus was facing his destiny. The culmination of his purpose was here…and it wasn’t going to be pretty or easy. He was preparing spiritually and mentally for what he was going to face. A few times he had gone back to check on his disciples, only to find them fast asleep. The last time they were awakened it wasn’t by the gentle nudge on the shoulder from Jesus it was from unfamiliar voices…well, except for the voice of the one who gave Jesus a kiss.

They had found Jesus. His moment had arrived. The disciples, with sleep still in their eyes had to make a choice. Peter made his quickly. He drew his sword, he took a swing…and a miss…he only got the ear. Jesus rebuked Peter for his actions. Now what does he do?

The others all fled.

This was an incredibly tough situation that required an immediate decision. How do we prepare for such events? What can we do to better ready ourselves to make the right decision in potentially explosive situations?

Jesus had some advice for the disciples just prior to these events.

Mark 14:38 – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.”

Jesus, who was talking to Peter here, knew the situation that Peter would face. He knew that the loyalty Peter had pledged would be challenged and Jesus was telling him to watch and pray so that he would not fall into that temptation.

We all need to watch our situations. We know our weak points. We know what areas are vulnerable. Jesus tells us to watch these situations.

Also, we need to pray. Keep the dialogue going between God and us. Let him know our struggles. Tell him what is bothering you. And go forward with the realization that he has already blessed you with the ability to make it through…victoriously!

Watch and pray. Let’s do it!

Have a blessed day,

RodZ


© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved