Fishing with David and Goliath

   For the past couple of weeks, I have had the honor and privilege of preaching at First Baptist Church here in Holiday Island. It has been enjoyable and rewarding.

     Yesterday, the sermon was about David and Goliath, from 1 Samuel 17. You know the story well. It was probably one of the very first Bible stories you learned.

     Here's a very short summation. There are four main characters in the story. Yes, four. There is Saul who lacks enough faith to act. There is Goliath who rests solely upon himself for victory. And there is David; completely unqualified for the task but with enough faith to recognize the fourth character: God.

     You see the opportunity Saul missed. You see how Goliath's egocentric self-reliance caused him to lose his head. You see how God used David to solve the problem. But do you see the message God was trying to teach Israel? And us?

     OK, since this is a blog about the spiritual nature of fishing, let me see if I can tie it all together.

     Whenever I go fishing, there are always four elements present. First there is the fish. They represent the target of my quest. The second element is the fly/lure. It must be chosen carefully and presented well in order to tempt the fish. 

     Then there's me. If I am arrogant enough to assume that whatever I toss at the fish will be good enough to catch one, then I am about to learn a lesson in humility. Hopefully, not one that costs me my head! I must consider the fish. It's species, it's nature, it's food of choice, it's habitat. 

     Then I must choose which lure/fly will most closely represent the fish's interest. Sometimes that may not be something to eat but something to trigger the predator nature of the fish. 

     The fourth element? God, of course.

     It is by the grace of God that there are places to fish; that I can exercise the freedom to fish; that I am physically able to fish.

     What is the correct response to that? I wish I could say that I lift a prayer of gratitude each time I fish. I am guilty of taking it for granted too often. I do think about God's bounty when I catch a nice fish. And almost all the time I return that fish unharmed back to the water.

     Sometimes, it is just good for us to pause and reflect. There is never a moment in which God is not with us. God is always providing for us; often in unexpected - and perhaps unrecognized - ways. I am going to try my best to be more aware of God's presence and to offer a prayer of gratitude.

     Even if the fish aren't biting.

     May God bless us all,

     Doug