What's in Your Net

 

⁹ When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn.  John 21:9-11

 

One hundred fifty-three fish, that is a lot of fish.  I picture fish of every shape, size, shade, and species.  A vast variety, a delightful diversity, and an astounding assortment.  Step into this scene with me.  See Peter’s muscles strain and sweat on his forehead as he hauls the net ashore.  See Peter, who was already soaking wet from his morning swim, trying to do it all by himself.  Did you catch that in the story above?  Oh, that one might connect with all my Type-A over-functioning tendencies.  Witness the holy mystery of a moment that Peter had done countless times in his life as a fisherman.  Remember, fishing for many of the disciples was not a vacation, but a vocation.  They had hauled in nets so many times, they could do it in their sleep.

 

But this was different.

 

When the holy shows up in the ordinary.  When God moves amid a moment we are going through the motions.  That can happen in our lives each week and we miss it.

 

As I step into the scene, I also see the humor and joy of it all.  I wonder, why did Peter put on clothes before diving into the water?  But then I wonder why I do the strange and silly things I do.  I wonder, who counted the fish?  Seriously, did Peter go over, haul in the net, then start counting?  Did everyone have to wait for him to finish before they had breakfast?  How long did that take?   

 

But the question that sits on my soul is, what is in the net of your life this week?  You can answer this with the events on the calendar or go deeper with what is on the shelves of your soul.  You can answer that question emotionally or physically or spiritually or relationally.

 

What is in your net?  The vast variety of moments that we both plan and those that show up unannounced on your doorstep.  Remember, we don’t do this alone.  Jesus is already cooking up a sacred presence to feed us as we move about our day.  Or as I said yesterday, Jesus prepares and we participate.  That is a mantra for every day.  This mantra builds on the Easter-ing mystery.  Life doesn’t just happen to us, we show up, open up, and participate.  We get to co-author the story we tell ourselves.  It is collaborative and cooperative with the Creator. 

 

What is in your net as you start this week?  Name and notice, bring to your awareness to what you carry.  As you move about the week, continue to see what gets caught in your life amid the sea where you find yourself.  I pray, deep in my heart, you have more than 153 experiences and encounters with God’s grace and love this week and this makes all the difference.  Amen.