Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. 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 hungry. Year
after year these 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.
Continually they searched for new and better definitions of fishing. They
sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing and to
promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing.
These fishermen built large, 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.
They organized a board to send out fishermen to where there were many fish. The
board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about
fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in far-away
streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived.
Also the board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to
define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be
thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish. Expensive
training centers were built to teach fishermen how to fish. Those who taught had
doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only taught
fishing. Year after year, graduates were sent to do full-time fishing, some to
distant waters filled with fish.
Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. A
speaker's bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject
of fishing.
Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded, and were sent to fish. But
like the fishermen back home, they never fished.
Some also said they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called
to furnish fishing 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.
After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity for Fishing," a young fellow left
the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two
outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit
all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it.
So he quit his 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. Now it's true that many of the fishermen
sacrificed 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 of some
who made fun of their fishermen's clubs and the fact that they claimed to be
fishermen yet never fished.
They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the 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?
Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who didn't
catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet
it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never
catches a fish or (even worse) never goes fishing?
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to the Story of Encouragement
PBN@pbnradio.com
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