a plea for Fishing

A PLEA FOR FISHING

Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches any fish?
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fisherman.
And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around.
In fact the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with
fish. And the fish were very hungry.

Week after week, month after month,
and year after year these men who called themselves fishermen,
met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish,
and how they might go about fishing.

Year after year they carefully defined what fishing meant,
defended fishing as an occupation, and declareds that fishing is always the
primary task of fishemen.

BETTER METHODS

continually they searched for new and better methods of fishing
and for new and better definitions of fishing.
Further the fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning."
They loved slogans such as " Fishing is the task of every fisherman,"
Every Fisherman is a fisher," and " A fisherman put posts for every fisherman's club."
They sponsored speacial meetings called "Fisherman's Campaigns." and "The month of the
fishermen to fish." They sponsoredcostly nationwide
and world-wide congresses to discuss fishing and promote fishing and hear about all the
ways of fishing, such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls and
whether any new bait was discovered.
These fishermen built large and beautiful buildings called "Fishing headquarters."
The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish.
One thing they didn't do, however, they didn't fish.

In addition to meeting regularly, they organised a Board to send out
fishermen to other places where there were many fish. All the fisherman
seemed to agree that what was needed was a board, which would
challenge fishermen to be faithful in fishing. The board was formed by
those whohad a great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing,
and to promote the idea of fishing in farway
streams and lakes where many other fish of different colours lived.

Also the board hired staffs and appointed committees and help meetings
to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams
should be thought about. But the staff and committee members di not fish.

TRAINING CENTRES

Large eloborate, and expensive training centres were built whose original
and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to
fish over the years courses were offered on the needs o
fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates
in fishology, But teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing.
year after year, after tedious training.Many were graduated and were given
fishing liscenses.
They were sent to do full time fishing, some to distant waters
which were filled with fish Some spent much study and travel to
learn the history of fishing and tosee faraway places where the founding
fathers did great fishing in centuries past. They lauded the faithful
fishermen of years before who handed down the idea of fishing.

PRINTING HOUSES
Further, The fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides.
presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods,
equipment, and programs to arrange and to encourage meeting fishing.
A speaker's bureau was also provided to schedule speakers on the subject of fishing.

Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded. They were
commissioned and sent to fish. But like the fishermen back home they
never fished, Like the fishermen back home they engaged in all kinds of
other occupations. They built power plants to pump water for the fish
and tractors to plough new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel
here and there to look for fish hatcheries.
Some also said they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called
to furnishing equipment. Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in
a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad
fishermen. Others felt that simply letting the fish know they were
nice kind-loving neighbours, and how loving and kind they were, was
enough.

After one stirring meeting on "The necessity of fishing",
one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing.
The next day he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish.
He was honoured for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible
to tell how he did it. So he quit fishing in order to have time to tell
about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the
fishermen's General Board as a person having considerable experience.


TALKING ABOUT FISHING

Now it is true that many fishermen sacrifice themselves and put up with all kinds
of difficulties.
Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day/
They received the ridicule
or some who made fun of their fishermen's clubs and the fact that the claimed to be fisherman,
yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use
to attend weekly meetings to talk about fishing.
After all, were they not following the master who said "Follow me" and I
will make you fishers of men?"( mark 1:17)

Imagin how hurt some were when one day a person suggested
that those who don't catch fish were really not fishermen,
no matter how much they claimed to be! yet it did sound correct.
Is a person a fishermen if year after year he never catches a fish?
Is one following if he isn't fishing?
Think about it! are you fishing?
THINK ABOUT IT are you fishing?

Article from " Free To Live" Magazine July 2000
issue:copyrighted.