Fish!

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
~ Matthew 4:18-22 (NRSVUE)

I wonder how many of you wake up in the morning thinking, “Oh my goodness, today is going to be the best day ever!” As you throw off your covers and jump out of bed! I know, probably not many of us, because most of us, after hitting the snooze button once or twice or three times, drag ourselves out of bed, make a pit stop at the bathroom, and head straight to the kitchen to make some high-test coffee. Right? But the truth is, the way we react, even to the first moments of the day, is our choice. We can choose to jump out of bed all excited about the possibilities ahead, or we can sigh, drag ourselves out of bed, and dread what comes next.

I have to say, for the past three months, I have gotten up every morning and headed down to the beach to see the sunrise. Every day except for Sundays, that is, because I am here. Now, I didn’t used to be an early riser. I was one of those people who dragged myself out of bed at 7 am after hitting the snooze button several times. But now my internal clock has shifted, and I wake up excited to get to the beach on time, rain or shine, to receive whatever gift the sunrise might have for me.

Well, this week, each day, I walked along the beach, listening to the waves crashing around me and the seagulls crying as they flew overhead. I took some time to think about those fishermen that we heard about in today’s scripture. Can you imagine? Peter and Andrew were just in their boats casting their nets, and James and John were in the boat with their father learning the trade when suddenly, Jesus walked down the beach and called to them saying, “Follow Me, and I will make you fish for people!”

The choice in that instant was theirs. They could have stayed on their boats and continued to do what they were being taught to do, or they could grab hold of this new and exciting invitation to follow Jesus. Now, there must have been something about Jesus that caught their attention, something that made them think that life would be better if they followed him. Because, as scripture tells us, they dropped their nets, left their boats and their families, and followed him.

Now, James and John, at least, were young. They were apprentices, probably fourteen or fifteen years old, and they were just being taught to fish. But there was something about Jesus that caught their eye, and they knew they had to follow him.

Now do you think when the disciples woke up that morning, they jumped out of bed thinking this is going to be the best day ever! Or do you think they dragged themselves down to the seashore because they knew they had a long day of hard work ahead of them? If they were like most people waking up and heading to work, they were probably more like that later.

John Maxwell, an American author and inspirational speaker, once said that “more is caught in life than taught.” Have you ever heard that before? Well, what it means is that people learn more by the behaviors of those around them–you know, by what they do and how they do it–than by what they say.

Now, Jesus invited the disciples to follow him, promising them that he would make them fish for people. And I’m sure they didn’t really understand what Jesus was talking about, but for a Rabbi or a teacher to invite students or disciples to follow him was a really big deal. And because they were working as fishermen, that means that they had been turned down by other rabbis or teachers in the past.

As followers of Jesus, it was their job to learn from Jesus and to devote their lives to being like Him so they, too, could go out to be living examples of kindness, humility, and compassion for others. When Jesus called to Peter, Andrew, James, and John that day, he said, “I’ll make you fish for people.” Sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? But what he was really talking about was showing them a new way of living that would encourage others to live lives of hope, love, justice, and peace.

Now, when I was younger, I used to think that when Jesus said, “Follow me, and I’ll teach you to fish for people,” that meant that he was going to teach the disciples about evangelism and how to catch people and make them into Christians. But, to be honest, it was never Jesus’ plan to start a church. It was never Jesus’ plan to start a religion, and Christianity had never been heard of at the time. Jesus was just trying to give people hope and teach them to be kind, living lives of justice, peace, and mercy, to make the world a better place.

A few months ago, Kris Collins introduced me to a book titled Fish! Fish! is a motivational story that helps people look at work and life in a new and exciting way. To be honest, I think it’s one that Jesus would agree with because it’s a story about rediscovering the amazing power that is inside each of us to make a positive difference in the world wherever we are in life. And if we can just get past thinking that Jesus was calling the disciples to convert everyone to Christianity, then I think we might better understand that this Fish Philosophy might be what Jesus was teaching the disciples to do, too!

The story begins with a visit to Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. Now, Pike Place is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmer’s markets in the United States. If you have ever seen videos of Pike Place Fish Market, it’s quite amazing! The fish market is known around the world for its energetic and engaging fishmongers–or fish sellers–who create a lively and fun atmosphere for customers and employees alike. Despite the physically demanding and repetitive nature of their work, the fishmongers wake up every morning excited for the day, knowing that they are going to make a difference in the world. At Pike Place Market, they stand out for their passion, their enthusiasm, and their dedication to providing exceptional customer service.

Okay, so how do they do it, you might be wondering? Well, they follow four easy steps. Not just sometimes, but always!

Step 1 is Choose Your Attitude: Despite the challenges of their job, the fishmongers at the market have chosen to have a positive attitude. That means no complaining, no gossiping, and no talking behind anyone’s back. Through their actions, they show that one’s attitude is a choice and that maintaining a positive outlook can significantly impact the world around you. Step one is so important that if one of the fish market employees doesn’t have a positive attitude when they wake up, they stay home.

Step 2 is Play: The fishmongers infuse their work with a sense of playfulness and creativity. They engage in playful banter, they toss fish across the market to each other, and they involve customers in the fun. This playful approach not only makes work enjoyable but also attracts and entertains customers, too.

Step 3 is Make Their Day: The fishmongers go out of their way to make customers’ experiences memorable. They remember regular customers’ names and preferences. They engage in conversations, and they make visits to the market a positive and personal experience.

Step 4 is Be There: The fishmongers are fully present and engaged in every customer interaction. They actively listen, show empathy, and give their undivided attention to ensure that each and every customer feels valued and heard.

Now, those four steps may not sound life-changing, but they truly can be because when you mix a positive attitude with hospitality, excitement, inclusion, empathy, and care, you can’t help but have an amazing outcome. And the Fish Philosophy doesn’t only work at the fish market. It can be used at work, at home, at school, at church, or anywhere human beings gather.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, as you go out into your busy week ahead, do you want to make a difference and feel good yourself? Do you want to bring positive energy to the world around you? Do you want to follow Jesus and fish for people, showing them a new and exciting way to live? Then, practice these four steps. Choose your attitude: when you wake up, know that it’s going to be the best day ever! Play: go with the flow and have fun. Be There: listening, creating memories, and engaging others. And, Make Their Day by doing something kind or special to let someone know that you care. Because friends, if you learn to live by these four simple rules: Choose your attitude, Play, Be There, and Make Their Day, you’ll be shining a light that people can’t help but want to be near. You’ll set an amazing example for others, and through your actions, you’ll truly make the world a better place.

My friends, may it be so. Thanks be to God, Amen!