The Fishing Report
“The Fishing Report” is an article that big AL wrote for Tha Message Magazine
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ALL FISHERS OF MEN
It’s 3 am on an early February morning. The alarm sounds. The anticipation of what could happen today on the lake causes a nervous-excitement to overtake the angler. He dresses in layers because the temperature is 48° F and will increase to 70°F before the close of the fishing tournament. The angler gathers his tackle, meets his fishing partner, and heads for the lake where opportunity looms. The expectation of the anglers is not just to catch a nice quantity of fish, but to amass a quality stringer of fish to weigh-in. Upon arrival at the area of the lake where the pair will start their fishing day, the anglers give a silent nod to each other, and then say “let’s go fishing”.
What most may not know is that the anglers in the above stated paragraph are me and my dad. Yes, it’s true! I am an avid bass fisherman, which is probably one more thing that I can add to my list of things that HHH/CHH/R&P artists don’t typically do…along with being an AP Calculus teacher in a local high school. I absolutely love to fish, and even more so, with my dad. This is the true story of a fishing trip from a short time ago. Honestly, I must admit that my dad caught a greater number and quality of fish than I did that day. The irony is that we used the same bait, used the same tackle, dressed in similar attire, fished for the same group of fish, fished in the same area, and we didn’t catch the same amount or weight. I caught one fish that weighed one pound, and my dad caught 5 fish that weighed more than 10 pounds. How could this be? How could he catch more fish than me? This is when he made a profound statement that changed my view of life and ministry. He said, “They just aren’t feeling your presentation today”.
Wow! What a word! This fishing excursion became an eye-opening experience for me. I have shared the stage with many artists, and it’s amazing how we often validate our calling and/or effectiveness in ministry by the reaction of the souls {fish} that we are trying to win {catch}. I know that most of us are running with the call from the Lord that says “come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men” [Mark 1:17], but we find ourselves internally and externally competing to catch more than our partner {fellow laborers}. We put unnecessary stress and pressure on ourselves because we want the “big” numbers, but we have to remember that on any given day, in any given place to witness, our presentation may not be what the majority of that group of fish is feeling. It can happen to the best of anglers on any day. So, there should be no room for comparison or competition, the important thing is that we all fish!
In closing, here is the beauty of the fishing trip. Although, my dad caught five fish, the one I caught, really helped to take us over the hump. You see, the one that I caught, still served to be very important and necessary for our stringer. The truth of the matter is that “…all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents…” [Luke 15:7]. Therefore, I don’t have time to worry about how many fish you’re catching and how many I’m not. I just decided that because we are fisherman for the Lord, ‘LET’S GO FISHING!’
