The Vanishing Point

I went trout fishing this past Sunday evening. All by myself. I hadn't gone fishing for a long, long time. Since my dad and I went fishing years ago I think. He's been gone a few years now. I miss fishing with my dad.

There is a really nice trout stream a few miles from my house. A really nice fishing hole too. The river makes a turn to the right at a large boulder. The current has cut a deep hole there where the trout seek refuge from the hot summer sun. That's where I found myself Sunday night.

As I cast my fly I noticed how my fly line, so distinct and obvious when it is near to me, disappeared, vanishing into the depths of the river. I began to think how that disappearing line is like so many of our relationships. Not only our earthly relationships but our relationship with God as well.

Have you lost relationships over the years? Why is that? I think it's because not enough effort is placed in maintaining those relationships, either by one party or the other . . . or both.

How quickly relationships and memories can fade with time. My return to the trout stream that day was a purposeful act, that of a son desiring to go fishing one more time with his father. But more than that, it was an earthly son longing for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with his heavenly father. I think all those things were accomplished that day.

After Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, He returned to be with His disciples several times. Why? I think it was to keep their relationship alive, to teach them a few things but mainly to encourage them and simply to love them. So it should be with ALL of our relationships.

We can't allow our most treasured relationships get to the vanishing point. We need to nurture them like Jesus did. We should show and tell others we love them while we have the chance. We can do so simply by being with them and loving them right where they are. As a father teaches his son to fish, so we must tend to our relationships. In doing so, we will find our relationship with our Heavenly Father will grow as well.

"4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out 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, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead." - John 21:4-14

Particularly Good To Me - A River Runs Through It