Fishing with Jesus

In this Sunday’s lectionary, Jesus’ disciples go fishing. You can imagine the expectations they must have had getting into the boat and hoping to catch fish.

It would be similar to you or I going fishing—or better yet, taking a child fishing. There is great excitement about getting on the water and catching a fine meal.

You have the preparation of the right equipment—in the disciples' case nets, in ours a rod and reel. Then there is the waiting. The waiting can be short or, as with the disciples, it can last all night.

For a child, waiting a couple of minutes for the bobber to go under the water can seem like an eternity. Waiting, waiting, for that magical moment when the bobber starts dipping, dip ... dip, dip, dip.

Of course, the disciples ended up coming onto shore empty-handed. Jesus then guided them to a better spot to fish just as you would guide your child to a likelier location for success.

That is when the magic happens. In the disciples’ case their nets were full of fish. With your child the bobber finally does its underwater dance and a fish is pulled in.

In this moment the magic isn’t in the fish but in the smile on the child’s face. Take a child fishing.



This week's front page features:

Adopting across cultures: Such adoptions can enrich family life, parents say. (Photo at right.)

"A rainbow family": International adoption seemed obvious.

Gift got his goat: Actually, the gift was his goat. But he never got it.

Preventing identity theft at colleges and universities.

Also: It wasn't exactly a wedding....

Also: Amazing look back—to 1807.

Also: Fear gives way.

Read these articles at our front page > > >

Discuss transracial adoption with Diane H. Pederson (right), pastor and adoptive mother of two children from Korea.

Join Pederson to discuss your experiences with adoption across cultures.

Consider reading "Adopting across cultures" and "A rainbow family" before joining in.

Join the discussion > > >

Andrea Pohlmann writes about the Virginia Tech massacre.

Amber Leberman blogs about synod assembly season.

Kathleen Kastilahn (right) asks: "Are you stressed out?"

Sonia Solomonson writes about "catching" exuberance.

Check out our blog > > >

We at The Lutheran think it’s important to nurture the faith of the little ones in our midst. We developed The Little Lutheran for toddlers age 6 and younger to help them learn about God’s love for them and the world in which they live. We want them to know Jesus as friend and savior too.

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