3 Levels of Fishing

When my son Garrett and I go fishing, we always call our activity by the generic title, fishing . . . at least at the beginning of the day.  After a few hours, however, the terminology changes.  At the end of the day, we have three different levels of reporting, based on our results:

Level 1: Casting

This is when we spend (usually no more than) a couple of hours practicing casting, removing lures, tying lures, and trying new lures -- only to come up empty.  These are the days that we determine that "there are NO fish in this ENTIRE pond."  (Because if there were, of course we would have caught some of them.)

Level 1 days are also the days that we have the greatest opportunity to default to conversations of frustrations over the fishing.  Simultaneously, these are the days when we have the greatest opportunities to talk about other things that matter a lot more than fishing.

Some days, the beauty of the lake belies the scarcity of fish in the lake.

All it took was finding the right lure!

Level 2: Fishing

Garrett and I call the second level of fishing . . . well, fishing.  These are the days when we get a few bites and maybe even catch a few fish.  The lure (pun intended) of catching fish usually keeps us on the pond an extra hour, at least.  The right lure, the right spot, the right flick of the wrist, make this a different day and take us to the next level.

These are the days when -- in the poetic words of Ernest Lawerence Thayer -- "hope springs eternal."  There are many transferable principles there, principles to be taught and of which to be reminded, on level 2 days.

And then, there's . . .

Level 3: Catching

Every once and a while, we have those days when we catch fish after fish, including some big ones.  There was the time when Garrett and I went with my dad to a pond near his house and caught 27 big bass within a couple of hours.  We may have caught more, but we spent some of that time taking photos of the ones we did reel in.

The level 3 days are the days that keep us going back.  Every time we go fishing, we make our predictions of how many fish we will catch.  Typically, we are optimistic that it will be at least a level 2, perhaps even a level 3 day.

Always a good sign to start catching fish before the sun is up good.

Good morning, beautiful!

My favorite fishing photo -- definitely a level 3 day!

 

A Word of Encouragement

The whole point of this blog is not simply to share my fishing experiences.  The point is this: If you are influencing people at any level, there are various seasons of results.  There are seasons of casting, when our best efforts just don't seem to produce any results.  There are season of fishing, when we see enough results to encourage us to keep going.  And there are seasons of catching, when the results of our impact on others is so great that it can barely be captured.

Whether you are a pastor, a teacher, a mom, a student, an orphan care advocate-- no matter where your place of influence is, be encouraged that there are relationships that are enhanced at all three levels -- casting, fishing, and catching -- if you are intentional about using your influence.  Keep investing.  Keep influencing.  Keep encouraging.  Let God bring the results in His timing.

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their 
father and followed him.  (Matthew 4:18-22)

Thanks for reading.  Fish for people today.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Haiti 2013: The Highlights

CHC 4theVoiceless 2013 Haiti Mission Trip

After a week in Haiti and a couple of weeks of blogging about our team's experiences, I have tried to encapsulate our trip in about four minutes in a photo slideshow set to Kristian Stanfill's "Children of Light."  Trying to capture a week's worth of memories in four minutes is incredibly difficult, but I hope that it moves you to move toward children at risk.

Haiti is the poorest country in the world, and we saw and often smelled this poverty firsthand.  However, you will find little, if any, evidence of this in the video.  Why?  I wrote about this topic last November in a post called "What You Choose to Remember."  I encourage you to read it before you watch the video.  The answer is compelling. 

Poverty may define Haiti to the rest of the world, but poverty doesn't define Haiti.  There is hope in Haiti and for Haiti.  That hope is in Jesus Christ, the same as it is here in the United States, the wealthiest nation in the world. That hope is evident at the House of Abraham in Jacmel, Haiti.

Enjoy the pictures of hope from Haiti. . .

I have enjoyed bringing you stories from our mission trip from my admittedly limited perspective.  Other members of the team could add much, much more.  As always, thanks for reading!

Day 1: The Team's Unexpected Challenge
Day 2: Boaz, Super Ninja. Who Knew?
Day 3: Accomplishment! (and the Return of Josh's Man Card)
Day 4: A Hurtling Batter, Barbie, & Team Determination
Day 5: Puddles, Suncatchers, & Ethan Befriends a Goat
Day 6, Part 1: Pillowcases Without Pillow, a Sliced Arm, & Lobster
Day 6, Part 2: Mwen Fou Pou Ou & a Rah-Rah

4theVoiceless,
Al

P.S.: I think I'll celebrate the completion of the video (which kept me up well into the night last night) with an Orphan Run Mississippi prep run.  The run for orphans is 2 weeks from tomorrow in Hernando, MS.  Hope to see you there!

Stuck on a Cruise Ship: First and Third World Problems

Is your biggest gripe a legitimate life issue or a first world problem?  There are a number of Twitter accounts dedicated to bringing first world problems to light, problems such as:

• I need to go to the bathroom, but I cant find my phone. (from @F1rstWrldPrblms)
• There are so many remixes of the song I want that I can't find the original on YouTube. (from @FiWoProblems)
• It was 30 degrees on Monday, 60 today. my sinuses do not appreciate this change in the weather. (from @frstworldprobs)
• Had trouble finding a parking spot at McDonald's this morning.  Too many people parking outside and using the free wifi.  (from . . . well, that's not important).

The recent Carnival Triumph power failure and resulting deplorable conditions has gotten much press in recent days.  I can only imagine the treasure trove of #firstworldprobs flying around that ship!  Having been on a cruise myself and also having at least seen third world living conditions up close, I wonder how I would have responded if I had been on that ship. 

I have a bottom-line reaction to what happened to all the first-worlders on that cruise, but I'll save it for later in the conversation.  I would like to know how you think you would have responded.  That conversation is taking place here.  Join in!


Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Check out posts from the last week or so on what seems to be a continuing trend on hope and hopelessness.

Hope Is Work; Hope Is Real

Hope is such a powerful word.  

hope

[hohp]  noun

1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

2. a particular instance of this feeling: the hope of winning.

3. grounds for this feeling in a particular instance: There is little or no hope of his recovery.

4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered: The medicine was her last hope.

5. something that is hoped for: Her forgiveness is my constant hope.

 

The dictionary definition of hope comes across somewhat bland in light of its potential.  It's one of those words whose use in the common vernacular has watered down its more potent meaning.  (Compare to awesome and epic in the world of sports.)  The Bible offers in Romans 5:1-5 a stronger context of what hope is and how it is obtained:

 

¹ Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, ⁴ endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts 
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Romans 5:1-5 (HCSB)

That sounds like a more difficult hope than "I hope we're having spaghetti for dinner tonight" or "I hope the Cardinals win the World Series this year" or "I hope I get the job."  It actually sounds like work!  We associate endurance with work over time; we associate proven character with consistency over time.  True hope is on the other side of endurance and proven character, not just some feel-good emotion.

Hope Is Not a Given

Having been to Haiti last fall and counting down the days (38) until my return there, I have been looking for books to educate myself on Haiti's history.  Unfortunately, our local libraries are woefully short on resources about Haiti.  Amazon offers more hope, and I have been researching books in which to invest.

I came across author Amy Wilentz, whose relationship with Haiti goes back more than 25 years.  She has published two books on Haiti, The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier and her latest, Farewell, Fred Voodoo.  I have not yet read these books, and, therefore, I cannot yet endorse them, but I did run across an interesting review of Farewell, Fred Voodoo that ties in to the topic of today's blog.

In "A World of Its Own," New York Times book reviewer Ben Fountain makes this statement near the end of his review of Fred Voodoo:  "Hope’s not a given, not in a place as hard as Haiti.  Hope is a grind.  Hope is a work in progress, emphasis on work.  For hope to be real, for it to be more than a feel-good cliché, it has to be earned."

Hope in Haiti is indeed hard work.  Too many shortcuts by people in power have kept opportunities out of reach of most of the populace.  Neither does hope seem to be within reach of the majority of Haiti's people. 

Lasting hope -- whether in Haiti, the world's poorest nation, or in the wealthiest nations in the world -- is not found in political or business systems but in Jesus Christ, the hope of glory.  Hope is work.  Sharing that hope is work. It takes endurance.  It takes proven character.  The difficulty of the work required for hope is nothing in comparison to the work of Christ on the cross, however. 

Hope is work.  But hope is real.  Even in Haiti.

Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al