Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
Week after week and month after month and year after year, these, who called themselves fishermen, met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish and how they might go fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
Continually they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further they said "The fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning." They loved slogans such as "Fishing is the task of every fishermen." and "Every fishermen is a fisher," and "A fisherman's outpost for every fisherman's club." They sponsored special meetings called "Fisherman's Campaigns" and "The Month for Fishermen to Fish." They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and to hear about all the ways of fishing such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and wether any new bait was discovered.
These fishermen built large beautiful buildings called "Fishing Headquarters." The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fishermen should fish.
One thing they didn't do however; they didn't fish. In addition to meeting regularly they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish . All the fishermen seemed to agree that what is needed is a board that could challenge fishermen to be faithful to fishing. The board was formed by those who had a great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing and promote the idea of fishing in far away streams and lakes where many fish of different colors lived.
Also the Board hired staffs and appointed commitees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing and to decide what new streams should be thought about.
But the staff and committee members did not fish.Large, elaborate, and expensive training centers were built who original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the phsycological reactions of fish and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology. But the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing.
Year after year after tedious training, many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters which were filled with fish.
Some spent much study and travel to learn the history of fishing and to see far away places were the founding fathers did great fishing in centuries past. They lauded the faithful fishermen of years before who handed down the idea of fishing.
Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment, programs to arrange and to encourage meetings to talk about fishing. A speakers' bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.
Many who felt the call to be fisherman responded. They were comissioned and sent to fish. But like the fishermaen back home they engaged in all kinds of other occupations. They built power plants to pump water for fish, and tractors to plow new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel here and there to look at fish hatcheries, fish slaughterhouses and fishing boats. Some also said that they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment.
Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fishwould know the difference between good and bad fishermen.
Others simply felt that letting the fish know they were nice, land-loving neighbors and how loving and kind they were was enough. A few felt what was needed was swimming lessons for the fish and better fish food so the fish would grow bigger. Some spoke of of methods of purifying the water for the fish or moving fish to other waters or getting rid of the natural enemies fish have.
After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity for Fishing" one young fellow left the mieeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen's General Board as a person with considerable experience.
As for the rest, it could hardly be expected that those sent out would do much fishing because those who made up the Board which sent them didn't catch fish. Those on the Board to promote fishing didn't catch a fish a year. Those who trained persons to find fish, to define fishing, to doctor fish and teach fish how to swim didn't fish themselves.
And almost no one in the meeting held weekly to talk about fishing, ever fished. So those who were sent out to fish did exactly as those who sent them did. They formed groups and special meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to declare how important fishing was. They talked about the great need for fishing. They prayed much about the great need for fishing. They prayed much that many fish might be caught. They analyzed the fish and discussed what is necessary in order to catch fish. They waxed eloquent on how others fished wrongly and bemoaned the fact that fish were not processed properly when they wer caught.
But one thing they did not do...they did not fish.However they were still called fishermen by those that sent them. The senders affirmed everywhere it was appropriate that they were indeed fishermen. And fish were in abundance all around. They wrote back to the board, and home fishing clubs which met each week, glowing letters about all the fishing
potential. A little criticism came sometimes that no fish were caught. But since those who criticized didn't catch fish either, the criticism was not taken so seriously.
Now it's true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They recieved the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen's clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen and yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After al, were they not following the Master who said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"?
Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that persons who don't catch fish were really not fishermen no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fishermen if year after year after year he never catches fish?
Is one following if one is not fishing?Some food for thought........................
Francesca Nadine Gjerstad was born June 15th weighing 7 lbs 14oz.! We are in love with her. Jakin says in trying to pronounce her name to me "Mom, I have to take something in before calling that name!" We tried over and over to work on the pronounciation, finally we gave up. He can say "Frankie."
