Addicted

The leader of leaders said, “Come, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Interesting thing about fishing, it gets addictive. My wife and my son are now battling their own addictions with it.

Cheryl and I were fly-fishing recently and she was having a good day. Using a side cast, her left hand technique was perfectly dropping an egg pattern under the boughs of a low hanging pine. Time and time again she coaxed a trout out from its hiding place, enticed by the potential of a tasty morsel. For the first time, my wife was in a double digit tally count. I knew that she was addicted. It was apparent when late in the day as it approached the time to leave after catching and releasing another fish, she said to me, “I guess once you get started you keep wanting to catch just one more.”

Addicted.

Followers of the Forgiver are meant to be addicted. Once we discover the satisfaction of catching men, leading individuals into the journey with the Forgiver, we find ourselves compelled to continue casting, working the streams of life, yearning for yet another one to catch-one who is enticed by what we share, and picks up the offering, not to be caught but ultimately set free.

How’s your addiction? He will make us addicted to fishing for men.

What happened?

Gas hit $4 a gallon for the first time this last month. I’ve noticed a number of things.

When gas hit $3 a gallon, people complained and griped a lot! But they drove. They searched for cheaper gas stations and saved up their fuel perks. They may have combined a few more errands in one trip, but they drove.

When it hit $4, people complained but other things began to happen.

 I saw people walking home with grocery bags.
 Bikes are everywhere.
 I saw a middle-aged woman riding her bike in the rain.
 Motor scooters are in vogue.
 People are staying home.

What happened? The price of gas got high enough that we knew we had to make changes.

Sometimes as leaders we approach challenges the same way.

First, we complain about the problem. We acknowledge it, we talk about it, but often that is all we do.

Then when the situation is finally tough enough, critical enough, we figure out a way to address the problem.

Once the issues create the challenges in your life, your calling, your ministry, how long will you wait until you address them?