Casting My Net to the Other Side

Several years ago, while sitting at my desk at work early one morning, I received a text message from my brother which contained a scripture that had reminded him of me during his personal study.  You see, I had just had a heart-wrenching breakup. The worst of a string of several. I was unhappy with my job, I was homesick, and a physical ache had developed in the pit of my chest which had become my new constant companion.  Disappointed, confused and emotionally drained, I read these familiar verses with a different perspective:

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Luke 5:4-6

"...he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake."

(emphasis added... obviously)

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For the first time, I felt an exhaustion in Simon Peter's voice. How frustrating it must have been to have worked all night to no avail, only to be asked to try once more. How much easier it would have seemed to go back to shore. But what great blessings he would have missed out on if he had.

Soon after that morning, I saw a painting above my grandparents' mantle (which I later bought for myself) by Simon Dewey titled "Men of Galilee." It reminded me (and still does) of the thoughts I'd had about Peter, which had become so important and comforting to me.  

My situation did not immediately improve, but I knew that my seemingly empty net would not always be so.  I never really talked to my brother about what he had meant by sending me the scriptures, but I know what it came to mean to me. 

Keep trying. Keep toiling. Keep hoping. 

Because the Lord's promised blessings will come. 

Even now, life does not always seem as fishful as I might like it to be and is certainly not toil-free. But just this morning as I sat listening to the rain, a gentle breeze blowing through the open windows of my peaceful home while my two greatest loves quietly napped in the other room... 

I felt my net break just a little bit.