yesterday’s discouragement diminishes in God’s presence. We returned this morning to our simple little church full of really wonderful people who love God and who love us. For lots of reasons – some good, some not – we haven’t been in church much lately. This morning though Kim and I return like the bewildered pilgrims we are – or at least that I am. And though there are times during the service and the sermon when I wonder whether it was worth the trek, that indescribable place inside knows that it was.

Then our pastor’s easy words about the calling of the first disciples from Luke 5:

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

How crazy. The guys are washing their nets. They’ve given up for the day. It is all over. But then Jesus comes along with a crazy proposal – let’s go fishing again. Let’s actually go to deep water. There, with Jesus, there are fish.

Have you, the pastor asked, started washing your nets? Have you given up on whatever it is that presses you?

No, not me. I bring those nets in from time to time and I hang them up and I get out the soap and brush but I haven’t started washing them quite yet. But even if I do, Jesus can still lead me out into deep water where the fish live. I just have to listen and be willing to go.