This post is the author’s personal opinion.

I met Ray and Harry when we stopped for a coffee on our recent holiday trip.

As we talked, I discovered that Harry had a few days off school due to a health issue, with the school’s blessing.

So Ray – Grandpa – was teaching Harry how to fish.

Even before chatting with them, I could see a friendship and understanding between grandfather and grandson.

The art of casting was explained and demonstrated.

A tangled line was untangled, without incrimination but with encouragement.

Harry would become a fisherman like his grandpa through demonstration, instruction, acceptance, and love.

Ray and Harry reminded me of my favourite painting, by Richard Hook, of Jesus and his disciples going fishing.

Jesus has his arms over the shoulders of two disciples, others carry nets, and there is much laughter and camaraderie. 

Jesus would tell his followers, his friends, “come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people”.

He was saying, “I will show you, teach you, how to help people to know the love of a loving and forgiving God in their lives” (Matthew 4:19).

So what did Jesus do?

Jesus listened to people, he talked with them, he felt what they were feeling, he hurt with them, he laughed and celebrated with them, he told them about his forgiving father – and they followed him to meet, through his love, his loving father in heaven.

The same heavenly father’s true wish is that everyone, including you, no matter who you are or what you have done, would meet him and know his life-changing love.

Oh, if you already know your father in heaven, don’t be afraid to be a fisher of men, women and children.

Learn from Jesus: listen, share, feel.

It doesn’t have to be as hard as we might think.

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