Cork or Lure

This past weekend I was able to do something I haven't done in a while. I went fishing with my daddy, stepmom, little brother, and granddaddy. When I was younger, this was something we did regularly. Now that my brother and I are older and kind of have our own things going on, we don't get as many chances to go fishing as a family. Many memories have been made with lines cast, sitting around water. Most involve slimy worms, pliers, and the occasional "SET THE HOOK!". When I was younger I didn't realize it, but these times are some that I will hold close to my heart forever.

I remember being young and baiting my own hook (sometimes even baiting my brothers, shhh! Don't tell him I told you that) with a worm or minnow. Back then, and even recently, I would fish using a cork. It's the way I grew up fishing! It can be pretty boring at times. You bait the hook, cast the line, and .... sit.... and sit..... and sit... and you watch the cork as it sits on top of the water, bait dangling below. I remember feeling like I was staring a hole through my cork; thinking if I didn't take my eyes off of it, then a fish would be more likely to come by and grab onto my hook! This kind of fishing involves a lot of sitting and waiting, hence the reason we have so many funny memories. When you're sitting around waiting for a bite, you get pretty bored staring at a cork that isn't moving and you find ways to enterain yourselves and make each other laugh. So you continue to laugh, or stare at the water until you see a little bobble and feel a little tug. You give it just a second, and then you do what I believe is one of the most important steps in fishing- Daddy likes to refer to this snatching of the line up and back as "setting the hook". And when he yells "set the hook!" he doesn't mean just a tug back, he means... well I won't give out the secret to his technique... So, you've finally got one! You reel it in, cup your hand around the fishy's head, slide your hands back so those fins don't get you, then wiggle the hook free. (You can get your older sister to do this part for you as well)

This past Saturday, we pull up to our secret spot. Daddy hands me a pole with just a lure. He tells me to go ahead and throw a couple casts while he gets my pole (with a cork) ready. I don't normally fish this way. I've done it a few times, but I'm more comfortable with a bright colored ball floating on top of the water, sitting in a chair eating sunflower seeds, and just chillin! So anyways, this pole he hands me has a lure on the end. The lure doesn't float. You can't see it while it's in the water. The trick is, once your cast it out, you have to reel it back in. If you leave it out there, it doesn't do a good job of attracting fish and you'll probably be sitting all day. If you don't snag one, you throw the line back out and reel it in again. Eventually, you will catch one (maybe even the first one of the day... just saying...) I don't think I had ever caught a fish using this method before, but Saturday I did (rather quickly, actually) so I continued to use it for the rest of the afternoon. Will and I got into a small boat, paddled out and around and just hung out. We talked, laughed, and of course caught some fish! I was stunned that I was catching fish this way--I think it's my new favorite way to fish!

It must have been Monday when I was thinking back on my weekend when a thought struck me. Okay, stay with me. Some of you know I'm a girl of analogies.

I was thinking about this season of life and how I'm growing and changing in many different areas. Spiritually, emotionally, the way I relate to others, and my general outlook on life. Today I am a much more assertive person than I was 5 years ago, even 5 months ago. I am actively living life, not just sitting back watching it fly by. I am actively seeking God in my life, not just waiting for Him to drop things in my lap. I am more outgoing (well try to be) in my relationships. I try to be the person who initiates conversations or asks about other people, not just wait for them to come talk to me or ask how I am. God has changed me in many ways and continues to do so each day.

I find it fitting that I now prefer to fish with a lure (without a cork, whatever the professional terminology is). I like to think I'm more like a lure than a cork. You see, when you fish with a lure, you have to put forth effort. You throw out the line, reel it in, and repeat. It takes some work. You don't just sit staring at a cork on top of the water. You are out looking for those fish, not just waiting for them to come to you. You're taking an active role in trying to catch them. You are giving yourself better chances of catching something by covering more area. If you cast in one direction a couple times with no bite, then you simply try another direction. Rather than sitting in one spot and not moving, you are constantly bringing your line back in and throwing it out again.

So as silly as it may be, I'm thankful God uses small things to teach me big lessons. It may not mean much to you, but it meant a lot to me (to realize these things in my life). Right now, in life, you're one of the two. The cork- sitting around, just waiting for things to come to you, and missing out on so much that God has planned for you, or the lure-on the move, constantly seeking out your purpose in life and how to accomplish it. I'm sorry, but I've been the cork. It's pretty lame and boring. I don't ever want to go back to just sitting and waiting on things to happen in my life. Actively seeking out God is much more exciting and rewarding! Knowing him more and becoming more like him can only happen when you play an active role in your relationship with him. The more you seek him, the more you will find him and see him working in your life. The more time you spend with him, the more he changes your heart and makes you more like him. Maybe you don't have a relationship with Christ. Talk to someone you think may be able to help you figure those things out. Come visit us at Church Central. We meet every Sunday and we'd love to have you! Maybe you do have a relationship with Christ, but you've just been sitting on the sidelines. Wake up, get back in the game. Now is the time. Life is too short to sit around and miss out on what God is doing in your life and the ways he could be using you.

Until my next post...