Saying yes when many say no.

Luke 5:4-11

         I love that when you listen to God, even though it may seem the most impractical thing, you are rewarded leaps and bounds, far more than you can possibly imagine.

         Jesus the carpenter telling the seasoned fishermen to lower their nets when they have worked all night with nothing to show for it. And what is Simon's reward? The mere thought that Simon (Peter) would actually listen is amazing. 

          I am sure there are many things we think of doing and consider it crazy talk and do not do it. I wonder what good things we may have missed out on as a result? And then perhaps you can think of  something you felt you were called to do, did it and your life changed forwever with immeasurable rewards.

           Answereing a call to go the Dominican Republic comes to mind for me.  I do not speak any Spanish at all and had no experience in foreign travel and yet was asked to go. Many of my fellow Seminarians did not go and I wonder do they know what they missed? Whatever the reason, many said no. I said yes and I was rewarded with so many life altering experiences most of which were unplanned and unforeseeable.

             In a completely different vein, what did I do when I began to realize I was gay at the age of 50? It troubled me incredibly. This could not be happening to me. What was I supposed to do? My family? my ministry? But yet with the grace of God and the help of several incredibly good and gifted people, I came to say "Yes, I am a gay man". Life altering? Yes. The answer that most would have said to do, suppress, deny or even live a double life all came to mind. All those solutions were suggested by one or another, explicitly or implicitly. What did God want me to do? The guide would be acceptance of who you are, loved by God as you were created and to forge forward to make yourself as whole a person as you can. Avoid hurting others? Absolutely, as best I could without harming myself, without disrespecting myself and helping others to move forward as well. The gifts of my decision to say yes to who I am has been enormously wonderful. The gift of my husband primary among them. No small mention goes to the joy of being who I am and that God loves me as he made me.

              What have you been called to do that may not have seemed practical? Perhaps something that put you at odds with others or those that seek only the practical answers to life's questions?

              Answering a call from God to be who you are or to work on his behalf is always rewarding and a joyous experience.  What is God saying to you? It is perhaps fitting that Florence Nightingale is commemorated today. She answered a very impractical call. Here's to Florence, here's to all nurses, here's to anyone that lowers their nets when God asks them to.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.