Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my personal view; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.
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Last week my family had a chance to enjoy a good family time just before our kids’ high school starts. We stopped by a local pond to have a maiden voyage for our brand new inflatable canoe. Initially, my wife and kids are skeptical about its stability. After tried it out, they are all very pleased – it is stable and tracks well even with its lightweight. My wife and I thought this would be a good means for us to enjoy the Fall foliage later, in the lakes of course. In my mind, I think it would be a great aid to my fishing hobby too.
I started the hobby of fishing about three years ago and I am always a shore-bounded fishing guy since then. I feel at ease and “safe” from the shore bank to cast it away, when I am fishing at local rivers and creeks. The drawback is when the fishing season starts; oftentimes it is hard to find a good spot at the shore bank to stand on where there are many people already around. This situation becomes even worse at ponds or lakes where they are more suitable for canoes and kayaks. Even though I still could try to cast out from the bank, I couldn’t move too far because of limited available spots. Eventually, I was tired of it and told myself that some day I should get a boat or something to go out there and fishing. This is a dream that I have: to go “beyond the shore”.
In view of my experience in fishing, I find it is interesting to reflect on my journey of faith too. There are two stages that I could remember: the fist stage is called “truth-seeking” stage and the second stage called “Sanctification” stage. I spent about 3 years in seeking, learning and experiencing the truth of Christianity before I accepted our Lord as my personal savior. In the fist stage, I learned that my sinful nature would under the wrath of God and I need the salvation from Him through our Lord.
In a similar fashion, in the 1st stage of fishing, I have to learn how to set up a fishing pole and what kind of lures and baits to use for different species of fish. Then, I tried all kinds of fishing gears and baits and lures to see what is working and what is not. Even though I am still learning but I have learned that in different locations and situations I need to use different baits and fishing gears for different species. This is the knowledge in the 1st stage of fishing that I have learned before it becomes one of my hobbies, which is the 2nd stage.
There is, however, a very important distinction between fishing and faith journey. The transition force between stages is quite different even though all of them “may” progress from the 1st stage to the 2nd stage. In the faith journey, it is the work of the Holy Spirit and grace of God that enable us to receive His son, Jesus Christ, as our personal savior and then become His children. However, it is based on personal excitement and enjoyment to keep the hobby of fishing.
Nevertheless, there are many people would decide to stay at the 1st stage without moving into the 2nd stage for both fishing and faith journey. I called them “shore-bounded” (using the terminology of fishing) because he / she don’t want to step out his / her comfort zone to experience a new life. This limits them to go beyond the shore and sees a very different picture of life. I still remember the verse from the very first Bible that I received as a gift. It is from the Gospel of John – Jesus indicates that, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 我來了，是要叫羊﹝或作人﹞得生命，並且得的更豐盛‧ (John 10:10b)” Years later, I find that the verse is very true and I do hope that many of you could experience its fullness in the Lord.
My friends, are you still “shore-bounded” in your journey of faith? Then you should set up a goal to go beyond the shore quickly. Based on my own experience, I am sure that you will experience a life that is beyond your imagination. May God grant your wish!