home > Pastor’s Desk > 2023 > February 10th > This Might Be A Really Good day

Last Saturday wasn’t quite what you might expect for a summer’s day. It was around 11 degrees at 10:00 in the morning. It was grey and cold. It was raining, but not in a pleasant, warm, summery sort of way. I found myself wishing I had a jacket and not just the raincoat I had packed. It was a day of the week though, so perfect for fishing. While I couldn’t see into the water to spot fish clearly, I watched my line unroll as I cast into a likely flow, the fly landed pleasantly on the surface, and I thought “that cast deserves a fish to eat it.” A fish didn’t eat it though.

I fish for trout often. Well, as often as I can. I enjoy the process. It takes me to wonderful locations, provides a glimpse of exercise and opportunities for me to develop skills, knowledge, and even social connections. I tend to be spontaneous with my opportunities. I rarely fish places I haven’t been before, but every now and then, I’ll spend time plotting, planning, gazing at physical and electronic maps and trying to not overinflate my expectations of perfect conditions and large numbers of large, dim fish. I’ll tie the flies I will need, covering a lot more options than I’ll use. I’ll decide what size rod I’ll need and prepare the appropriate reel and line. I’ll plan what food I’ll need before and during the trip, and the method of carrying everything I’ll have everything packed into.

My experiences over the years indicate that sometimes, despite this process and intent, I will still return home with a photo of a sunrise or an intriguing looking tree. Perhaps of the frost covered track or a slowly panned video of the fishiest looking run of water that holds, apparently, no fish.

As children, we were told to work hard, be diligent and things that you hope for and expect will be achievable. Seemingly eons ago when I went to school, I was required to make choices of subjects with the intent of forming a clear pathway to a fruitful career when I could barely navigate my thought processes beyond what I wanted to eat for lunch.

In reflecting, I considered how often the things we hope for and expect to eventuate occur the way we had envisioned. Life can tend to throw the odd curve ball.
Abraham experienced a successful life, despite not having children. Then he has a child, then another. It would seem the expected future he had planned since God’s promises to him in Genesis 15.

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great”
.
Genesis 15:1

And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:5-6

Life for Abraham had a few wrinkles, and then we read in Genesis 22.

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Genesis 22:1-2

This didn’t seem to be the same plan God shared in chapter 15. It really wasn’t likely to be the conversation Abraham expected to have that day. He had been obedient and faithful. Not always, but enough for him to be recognized by God as such.

For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
Romans 4:3

How hard would this have been for Abraham to hear? What would’ve been the emotions, the thoughts, the pain that would have raced through his mind and heart?

 – There may have been denial.
 – There may have been anger.
 – There may have been confusion.
 – There may have been angst.

While we could project and assume how we may have felt or acted, the following verses in Genesis 22 tell us Abraham’s actual response.

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:3

For three days they ventured to the place God had led them. Each day, each hour, Abraham made choices. He trusted in God. And of course, we know how it all ended.

I know I’ve faced challenges that have not aligned with how I expected life to turn out. I know in some of those times I have made choices that haven’t been great. Sometimes, things still seem to work out. Sometimes, they don’t. From my perspective anyway.

My prayer, although not as regular as it should, is that I may see beyond those immediate circumstances. That I may see what God sees. And that even if I don’t, that I will have a portion of the faith of Abraham and rise early, saddle my donkey and follow the path God had led me along.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

The friend and I fished further along the stream, turning a bend. The water looked similar. The temperature was definitely the same. Perhaps the rain was falling a tad harder now. We used the same flies and followed the same basic stream craft tactics. His fly disappeared and he tightened his rod and line into a remarkably coloured, brown trout. Four paces further along and three casts later, my fly experienced the same fate. Maybe it wasn’t quite as cold as I thought. Despite appearances, this might be a really good day.

Amen.

Elder,

Stephen

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