Back to the Old Ways
If you’ve ever watched the Doctor Phil show on TV you’ve seen that after listening to people go on and on about their problems and how they are dealing with them, he often asks this very poignant question:
“How’s that working for you?”
His question is an invitation to examine what they are doing and how their actions are serving them. In real life we all tend to go back to patterns and habits that we know. When things get tough it’s natural to reach for what worked before even if it is not working now.
One of my favorite New Testament stories illustrates this pattern perfectly.
The story is found in John 21.
Jesus had been tortured, crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. His disciples who had staked everything they owned, all their energies, and three years of their lives felt let down, abandoned, depressed, ashamed and afraid. They had not seen the Kingdom Jesus had promised materialize. Jesus’ message and miracles had been life-changing for thousands of people. But in the end the collaboration of church and state had joined forces to silence and kill Him. These disciples who gave everything to Him had fallen asleep when He asked them to stay awake and pray. They had fled the scene when the crowds, like howling jackals, had demanded His death. Peter, his most devout follower actually denied Him three times on the eve of his crucifixion.
So they were disappointed in themselves, disillusioned with Jesus, confused as to what it all meant, and afraid for their lives.
They had seen the resurrected Jesus two previous times, but He appeared and disappeared like a magician offering no direction for their lives.
Just imagine them sitting around going over and over the events in their hearts and heads. Should they continue to believe and hope? Were they crazy to have ever bought into such a wild tale? Now what should they do with their lives?
So, Peter, the decisive impetuous one stood up and declared,
“I’m going fishing”. Frustrated, the others stood with him and declared they were going too. It appeared that there was nothing to do now but to go back to what they did before.… back to the familiar.
So, they went fishing. All night long they worked hard throwing heavy wet nets out into the sea. They were experienced. They knew what they were doing. But time, after time, after time, their nets came up empty.
Who among us has not felt this kind of desperation? Our dreams have been dashed. Our labor has been fruitless. So we go back to our old habits, our old ways, our old friends, our old thoughts. Maybe making more money, or having one more exciting experience, one more drink, or one more relationship will bring us the peace we long for. But try as we may, we remain confused, alone, and empty. It didn’t work then and it’s not working now.
When morning came and the sun was rising they saw a figure at a distance on the beach. It was Jesus, and with kindness He simply said, “Good morning, did you guys catch anything?”
I’ve heard that same voice of God in my own heart and mind. “Good morning, Kass. How’s what you’re doing working out for you? Is it achieving the peace and rest you are hoping for?”
The disciples gave a one word answer, “No”.
No, we have not caught a single fish. No, we have not found any fulfillment doing what we always did.
At this, Jesus told them to throw the net off the right side of the boat. Now I have to tell you that I’m sure they had been throwing those nets off both sides of the boat all night to no avail. How is throwing it one more time in the morning going to change things? There is no sense to this command. But by now they had recognized this was the voice of Jesus. So they did what He told them to do. And you probably know the outcome. Their nets were suddenly so full the disciples were not strong enough to haul the net into the boat. So they rowed to shore pulling the net behind them. Someone took the time to count the fish…153 big fish.
Jesus did not greet them with;
“I told you so.”
Or, “What is wrong with you guys? Can’t you figure this out yet?”
Or, “I’m giving up on you all. You’re absolutely hopeless!”
Instead, He invited them to bring some of the fish to the fire He had built. Bowed before them He assumed the posture of a servant, and He prepared a meal for men who were starving for much more than a good meal. He tore off chunks of bread and served them a meal that did not just fill their stomachs but their hearts as well. He met them with grace, on top of grace, on top of grace.
Jesus stands on the shore of all our shattered dreams, disillusionments, failures, and discouragement. From that place we are seen. We are loved. And we are invited.
We are invited to come into His loving presence and listen deeply in our hearts. I would have loved to have heard the conversation around that breakfast fire that morning. Did the disciples pour out their hearts to Jesus? Did they tell him of their shame, of their fear, and of their hopelessness? I have to assume they did. How much relief there is in just pouring out our hearts to a God who loves us and “gets” us.
God is a God of hospitality. He is a God who meets us right where we are in our messes. He is a God that hears us and then without blame, fills our hearts with the generous outpouring of His love. His love is not earned. It is not given because we finally got it right. God’s grace is given because God is who He is….not because of who we are.
On the shore of our tattered, strenuous, intense, worry-filled, busy lives Jesus stands quietly inviting us to another way. If we stop long enough to be still and hear the voice of God, we will hear a message of his presence, of His life-filling love, and of His never ending grace.