Me, A Fisherwoman?

Alissa Perry –

I recently went fly fishing for the first time. Since I had never done it before and am not particularly outdoorsy, I had no expectations of catching anything. But as the morning warmed up, I found I really enjoyed the process—the quiet, the scenery, the feel of the water against my waders, the sail of the line, and the warm Utah sun. 

As the day wore on and I finally got a feel for the rhythm of casting, I began to want to catch something. And then it happened. 

In the final hour of our time, I caught my first fish. Once I caught one, I knew I could catch another. All it took was that first catch to give me the confidence I needed. 

My friend John once said that if we follow Jesus, we will always fish for people (Matthew 4:19). But unlike fishing, where you catch live fish to make them dead, we get to fish for dead men and women and offer them life. (He said it much more eloquently, but this is what stuck.) 

Back in the waters of Utah, I couldn't dictate what the fish did with what I offered, but I could dictate what I put on the line and what I did once they were hooked. The same is true for people. You are not responsible for what they do with the truth of the gospel, but you are responsible for offering it and encouraging them toward the boat when they bite. 

Unlike fishing, the line of friendship you cast is incredibly attractive to a hurting world. And the message you offer is always what everyone needs. That means that at least some will want to get caught by Jesus. And once you see that happen, you'll want to cast your line again and again. 

Alissa Perry is the Area Director of Search Columbia (Tennessee). She is a wife and mother who loves going to the beach, eating good food (that she doesn't cook), reading, organizing, playing board or card games with friends, and pretending to be a gardener.