Fishers of Men and Accepting Others

For my birthday (waaaaay back in October), my dad used his persuasive salesman super powers over me, and he convinced me into off shore fishing for my bday.  Yep. Me. His daughter that doesn't care for  fishing.  Red Fish fishing. In the ocean.


Anyhoo, so we set off at some ungodly hour a-headed to ole Galveston, Texas.  The only good thing about being already on the water by like 7 or whatever the time was seeing the sunset on the ocean...



please ignore my dad...



First, we started closer to shore, within the Houston Channel.  We could still see shore and there were lights and huge ships all around us.  This is where we caught what we were fishing for: Redfish.

The process was long and hard. (And gross. I didn't touch it.)  Anyhoo, it took forever to reel in.  In fact, the boat next to us (its guide was the son-in-law of our guide) full of obnoxious guys kept cat-calling and making fun of me.  They called over that I was struggling pulling in a little Rainbow Trout. HA! I showed them! It was, indeed, a perfect Redfish. 



reeling the sucker in



now ain't she a beauty?

 But this was the only one we caught...

We waited and waited, but nothing bit.  So we headed out to the jetties! 

Jetties are long, huge, ginormo rock structures that protect the ship channel (Houston is a port) from the killer ocean waves.  The South jetty is 2-3 miles while the North jetty is 4-5.  They are similar to the small jetties along Galveston beach that prevent erosion except on steriods.

  

Well, part of fishing is knowing where to look for the little guys.  Fish love to hang around structures, so we knew where to find.  We were actively engaged in seeking them.  Out by the jetties, we caught three small sharks and a sting ray.  We brought them into the boat to take out the hook. And for the sake of this super extended metaphor, let's pretend we kept the sharks. :)

upper left: shark; lower left: jellyfish; upper right: a very spastic, blurry stingray; lower left: a bonnet shark

We are taught in the New Testament (Matt 4:19) to be "fishers of men." Well, it's easy to say there are hundreds of thousands, no millions of fresh and salt water creatures out that to be "caught."  An extremely small percentage could be a "fish" that's exactly like you, but still not really.  Just as all of those creatures are extremely different, we as God's children, are all different.  As we are all different, we must be willing to invite people of all kinds into our "boat."  Just look at mormon.org to see all the different people just within our one faith.  Think of all the the people in this world still waiting for us to "catch 'em all!" (sorry, couldn't resist. I am from that generation after all. though I totally made fun of those people. oops.)  We must make that effort. 

When we went fishing, we wanted Redfish.  For October is the perfect time to catch in Galveston, because they are schooling there.  (they're all on scholarship. Bah! I just crack myself up...) So, we were expecting to catch 3 or 4.  We were out on the water from about 6:30 to 11:30am and caught one Redfish. One. 

We caught the one and only where we expected to, but we had to head out to a different location searching for more.  In our hunt, we had to search for fish who would bite.  We had to change to become more inviting.  Just like we all need to work to become better examples and spokespersons for our faith.  Of course, we are not perfect, but we are still to adhere to our standards. 

Furthermore, we actively participating in the hunt.  Very rarely do investigators approach us.  We must actively seek out in our missionary work.  Also, we must be accepting and tolerant of the differences of those around us.  Every person, every child of God, deserves the chance to accept the Gospel.  It is an amzing process to see a peson alter their lifestyle to fully live the Gospel.

But as missionaries, we mmust be willing to sacrifice and step out of our comfort zones.  Being actively engaged again comes to mind.  Defend our faith, develop your testimony, reach out to others.  Not everyone will accept the Gospel, but we can still set good examples and plant that seed of truth in their hearts.  Allow them to learn a truth and change their lives for the better.  We caught a little sting ray.  They are completely harmless unless they feel threatened.  And they feel threatened while sporting a hook lip ring. haha. Anyhoo, their barb thingies are very poisonous.  Before our guide even attempted to unhook the sucker, he cut the barb off.  (Now don't worry, it grows back.  It just won't killing any fishmen for a while.)  So the beast came into our boat and left for the better as a beast that is nicer and not so hurtful.  As we invite our fellow children into our lives, into the Gospel, they mat not all "stay in the boat," but we can still change their lives with little seeds of truth.  That "sting ray" is now a better "sea creature" for following that invitation into the Gospel.

As we work to spread the Gospel, we must be fully engaged and aware, as well as sincere.  As we accept all sorts of people into our faith, we must truly learn to love and care for them.  The church is based on the smallest family unit, then expands to include larger family units, such as wards and branches.  How are to fully function as wards and branches, if we do not exercise charity and compassion?

As we include others into our fellowship, and truly care for them, we strengthen each other.  First, accept who they are, learn to love, and then see them for who they truly without judgement.

I would like to end with an awesome quote by the big boss:

President Thomas S. Monson shared thoughts about how expressions of charity strengthen the ties of sisterhood in Relief Society:

“I consider charity—or ‘the pure love of Christ’—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

“I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

“There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

“Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. …

“Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.

“Charity, that pure love of Christ, is manifest when a group of young women from a singles ward travels hundreds of miles to attend the funeral services for the mother of one of their Relief Society sisters. Charity is shown when devoted visiting teachers return month after month, year after year to the same uninterested, somewhat critical sister. It is evident when an elderly widow is remembered and taken to ward functions and to Relief Society activities. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation, ‘Come—sit by us.’

“In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.

“Charity has been defined as ‘the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love,’ the ‘pure love of Christ … ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with [her].’

“‘Charity never faileth.’ May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very souls and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.”²⁵

Peace out.