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I went fishing on the first day of a camping trip in Wisconsin this summer.   The lake had shallow shores with weed beds, so it was very difficult to cast far enough to reach the deeper water where the fish were.   No motorized boats were allowed, and we had no raft or canoe.   So, I started wading out into the lake…..more out of a desire to catch fish than a sense of adventure or demonstration of courage.   The experience was not bad at first, but then the mucky muddy bottom got really yucky (there’s a combination of words for you).   I sank, knee deep in the muck, water about chest high.   That was as far as I could go, and it was really hard to pull my feet out to take another step.   I found myself nearly stuck, and I couldn’t stand in one spot too long or I kept sinking into the mire, air bubbles rising to tickle my thighs.    I kept imagining what might be hiding in the weeds and mud around my legs.   Snapping turtles? Leaches? Biting bugs yet to be discovered?    Would I keep sinking and slowly disappear with no trace except a floating remnant, like my hat?

From this nasty half submerged position, however, I caught a nice bass.   I had to get into the muck and get uncomfortable to catch the bigger fish.

Much like fishing for men, I suppose. When Jesus said, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men”----He didn’t describe that as being an easy skim along the surface from the safety of a boat task.   I guess sometimes we need to get out in the deeper water and wade through the crud to reach the fish that are hungry and ready to bite into the gospel.

And so I hope that you are having opportunity to share your faith, with shoes of readiness for whatever mud surrounds you.

Mark 1:17-18
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Luke 5:4-7
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.