The Lure of Fishing

By Bush Chaplain Rev Noel Williams

Deep in the subconscious DNA workings of being human is the lure of fishing:

• of catching a big one (whatever the ‘big one’ might be).

• of winning a fight or battle with a sneaky, cunning, evasive, but valuable prize.

• of the mental challenge of using adrenaline powered, intuitive strategies designed to capture the elusive goal.

• of the ever-present wishful thinking, hopeful hope, the thrill of working the odds.

• of endless stories of the one that got away!

• of the lure of the big win on lotto, the horses or some hair-brained scam that is a cinch!

The lure of fishing is not always about those scaly monsters of the deep.

Marketing and advertising strategies utilise this powerful, innate drive to capture unsuspecting people’s attention: promising them riches, long life, fame, fortune, fornication or a better life beyond the dull and boring routines of daily life.

For me, I am a hopeless enthusiast of ‘reel’ fishing! I love the challenge.

I love the way that my brain engages with the challenge of getting a good catch.

I love it! … I am willing to be patient and to try different ways of doing things.

I am willing to spend my time, talents and treasure in things that might enhance my chances of success.

I will even watch endless YouTube fishing videos in the hope of becoming!

I also am willing to put up with short-term disappointments of failing in my fishing endeavours in the hope that someday my resilient efforts will be rewarded by God or the almighty Cod!

The reality of life is that this innate tendency to fish can be a positive thing for all of us.

It can motivate us to change things that are not working; to fix our eyes on achieving a prized outcome; to adapt, to persevere, to enjoy and take delight in the process as well as the goal as well as to tell our stories of the ‘big ones’ that were within our grasp! Hope that is more than wishful thinking!

Jesus said to first century fishermen, Peter and Andrew, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’.

Maybe the missional Church of today needs to seriously look at updating our fishing gear, our practices, our stuck in the mud theologies, our community engagement strategies, and to join like-minded, friendly, Christian enthusiasts in the pursuit of joy, significance and hopefulness in loving God together.

PS: Don’t ever forget what the good book says, ‘Good things come to those who bait!

Blessings to you and yours!