During session, I frequently reach for my Davy Crockett cup which states, "You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas."
But not this morning. This morning I reached for the cup that says:
Good morning, this is God! I will be handling all your problems today. I
will not need your help- so, have a good day. I love you!
It is based on the scripture 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for He cares for you.
Do you cast all your cares on Jesus? The thought made me remember my experiences as a kid in learning to cast a fishing rod. While I was growing up my grandparents had a fishing camp on the bay in the lovely metropolis of Smith Point, Texas. The area consisted of a few year 'round residents, a couple of fishing boats, a convenience store and mostly seasonal beach houses for the fisherman who wanted to get away. That was where, with my siblings and cousins, I learned how to hotwire a boat, that three determined youngsters with a fishing net could catch an armadillo, and how to fish.
Before continuing, I want to mention that I do not like to eat fish. I do not like to smell fish. Don't try to help me by telling me to try the fish you have because it doesn't taste fishy or it tastes like chicken. I'm not all that fond of chicken, either. And, besides, I like not liking fish. So there.
But, I did enjoy fishing as a kid.
Several times each summer, my dad would pack us all up and take us fishing. When we were younger, he would take us out in the boat, give us each a cane pole with a line on it and we would throw it over the side. We gradually graduated to a rod and reel with Dad casting for us and handing us the rod to reel it in. With three kids, by the time he got all the rods casted, kid number one was ready for another throw.
Then came the summer where we were each given our own rod and reel and instructed to go to the pier and fish from there. It necessitated our learning to cast by ourselves. I can remember like it was yesterday the first day out with our new found freedom. Carefully baiting my own hook, I pulled the rod back, made my best imitation of flicking my wrist as my dad had done so many times and watched as my bait went flying through the air to thunk in the water while the hook and sinker wrapped themselves around the end of my rod. Note to self: take the brake off before you cast the reel.
Once again, I baited the hook, made sure the brake was off, pulled back my arm, flicked my wrist and heard the satisfying whir of the line feeding out. Progress had been made. Of course, I had the snarliest backlash you have ever seen. Unraveling it was rather time intensive, so I sat down on the pier to start the process. Now, while I was doing all this, my brother was having problems of his own. Not knowing that I was now in the path of his cast, he flung his line out to sea. Looking up, I saw the lead sinker and the slimy-baited hook on course to hit me in the head. As I reached up my hand to protect my face, my brother was rewarded with the first catch of the day - the palm of my hand.
My fishing trip was over. But, I learned a lot of valuable life lessons out there. First, life isn't as easy as it looks. Second, sometimes we become victims of other people's casting.
Think about that in light of the scripture to cast our burdens on the Lord. Really, Lord I try to do that, but, sometimes I forget to take the brake off and the problem just wraps around me. Other times, I end up with a snarly backlash. While I am trying to unravel it, somebody else's casting of burdens seems to whack me upside the head.
Like fishing, with time and practice, casting your cares on the Lord gets easier. He doesn't care if you are not accomplished at casting. You can always return to basics. Just take the cane pole, drop it over the side and let gravity do the rest.
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