April 5 2018 – Click here to listen
Yesterday I went sword fishing 28 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Initially we saw a few thundershowers and storms popping up around us to include two waterspouts; however, the seas in the Gulf Stream didn’t get too angry and after the storms moved on towards the Bahamas the waves and wind calmed down to a pleasant state.
My buddy and I were fishing on the bottom for swordfish 1800 feet deep. It is amazing how long it takes just for the ten-pound weight to reach bottom. To detect a bite at that depth is difficult to say the least. It is a subtle change in the rod tip and one must remain vigilante. When one is hooked up the battle is long and tedious.
Nonetheless on the first drift we caught and landed one and then over the next few hours got two more bites but could not manage another clean hookup. The fish we landed was too small to be legal and we had to get him on the boat, (no easy task with that big bill thrashing around), to remove the hook before releasing him so the little guy could grow up and be caught again someday.
Finally, we headed home enjoying the stunning view and the pleasant ride. When I got back to cell phone range I looked and had fifty some voicemails, text messages, and e-mails. It was interesting to read of all the problems and urgent requests that I had received. I had been oblivious to all of it and had been having more fun than a litter of young pups all day.
I think it might be good for many of the folks in America and perhaps to some of you tuning in to this post to get away and have some fun now and then. I’m not saying that we should all quit our jobs and go fishing, or to the beach and sit and stare; I am saying that according to the wisest man in the world, King Solomon, there is a time for everything in life.
So many are so filled with hate, anger, bitterness, stress, anxiety, and fear that they sometimes forget that God created this earth for us to enjoy. Check out the smile on my face in this photo Al insert photo here and think about how long it has been since you smiled like that.
Has it been too long?
Then change that today! Remember there is a time for everything; yes even to have some fun . . .
Eccl. 3:1
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.