Going Home

Gone fishin'

For the past several weeks, there has been a lot of talk about fishing in my close circle of family and friends.

It started shortly before the Holy Name Neighborhood Reunion. The running joke among some of the reunion committee members was that after the event ended, it was time to pull a Simon Peter, who during a weak moment after Jesus’ death talked about leaving his apostle gig to go back to sea and his simple life as a fisherman.

Hey, we were tired. The lead up to the reunion was pretty grueling, especially when one considers that the reunion planning was done in our “spare time.”

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Lately, the fishing banter has been literal. At some point during the next few weeks, a group of us will be going fishing. Shield of Faith minister Imogene Johnson has issued a challenge, claims she will land the biggest fish during our little expedition. I don’t think so. Imogene is an East Coast lady; Lake St. Clair is my home field.

On Saturday, during an ordination ceremony at Shield of Faith for minister Wesley Johnson, Imogene’s husband, and four others, including SOF music director Marcus Jennings, one of the presiding pastors brought up the subject of fishing. He pointed out that 2/3 of Jesus’ apostles were fisherman, who continued to fish – for followers – in their new calling.

When I heard this piece of his sermon, I immediately smiled. I had never thought about the apostles’ work that way before, but it makes perfect sense.

It also fits what we’ve been trying to do here and partly explains why I have enjoyed this endeavor so much.

An avid fisherman since childhood, I always find myself at peace with a rod and reel in my hands. I love the anticipation, using a bobber and watching it ride the waves until it dives below the surface when something strikes the bait and gets hooked. I find absolute joy in reeling in my catch and bringing it ashore, especially when it’s bigger than a foot, then setting it free again.

As the old saying goes: “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.”

For nearly a year now, I have been fishing for change. This blog has been my hook; the childhood memories and promises for a better future in the old neighborhood are my bait.

Before each of our major events, the anticipation before the catch was immense: Would anybody come to the Sept. 8, 2007 celebration at Fletcher Field? Could we sell even 200 tickets to a Holy Name reunion dinner? Was a packed church a feasible goal for our interfaith service at Shield of Faith?

In each instance, we landed a keeper: first a tuna, then a shark, then a whale.

If the fishing stays this good, then change is coming fast; Fletcher Field is just the beginning.

Incidentally, what’s bigger than a whale?

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: wick [Member]

Michael Please don't tell me you are going to start walking on water!

Permalink 05/07/08 @ 12:34

Comment from: Michael Happy [Member]

Wick:

Certainly not me. Perhaps Kustarz. :0)

Permalink 05/07/08 @ 13:06

Comment from: jim morey (kustarz) [Member]

wick he wont walk on water,hes afraid he will get sea sick

Permalink 05/07/08 @ 23:48

Comment from: wick [Member]

Miek & Jim for the record the Wick has and can and has walked on water! Granted it may have been lake ST.Clair in January? But for the record I have done it! Now as far as Jimmy goes nothing would surprise me. If Old Man Ripley wants to add him to Ripley's believe it or nots.

Permalink 05/14/08 @ 12:41