Scouting the Deep Water -- FPC sermon excerpt-
The sun had just risen when we began our trek up Baldy Mountain. We were a crew of eight Boy Scouts and two adults, a group including Jay Ashe, my son Sam, Jim Ashe, and myself.
At more than 12,000 feet, Baldy is the highest peak in the Philmont Scout Ranch, a high adventure backpacking camp run by the Boy Scouts of America. From the summit, hikers can enjoy spectacular views of the mountains, forests, and lakes of northern New Mexico.
But the summit was still a dream when we started out, hiking through a dense pine forest in the early morning light. Reaching a gorgeous, gurgling mountain stream, we took a right turn and headed down a wide and comfortable trail for about a mile.
Turned out to be the wrong trail.
Realizing our mistake, we turned around and hiked back. This detour added an extra two miles to our trip, and you might think that we would be discouraged by it. But the extra distance had a surprising benefit. One Scout who had been struggling at the start of the hike gained confidence through the detour, and when we got back on track he felt strong enough to hike to the summit.
His success required venturing out, beyond his comfort zone. And, when you think about it, our success requires the very same thing.
The Boy Scouts of America have been challenging boys to push their limits for a century now. In fact, February the 8th was their 100th anniversary. On this particular Boy Scout Sunday, we stop and recognize the impact of this youth organization, one that has involved more than 110 million Americans over the past hundred years.
The appeal of Scouting is that it challenges boys to explore a wide range of outdoor activities, and make surprising discoveries about themselves and the world around them. They find that the comfort of staying home is no match for the amazing things that happen when they venture out.
I think that Jesus would agree.
In the 5th chapter of Luke, Jesus is standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd is pressing in on him to hear the word of God. He sees two boats at the shore, empty because the fishermen had left to wash their nets. Jesus gets into the boat belonging to Simon, and moves away from the shore, so that he will have some distance from the crowd, and will be able to teach them. When Jesus finishes his speech, he decides to extend his lesson with a dramatic illustration. He challenges Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch” (5:1-4).
Put out into the deep water, says Jesus. That’s venturing out, taking a chance, being active and adventurous. Jesus wants Simon to act like a Boy Scout.
“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing,” laments Simon. He sounds like he wants to stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, since his time on the water has not yielded any fish. “Yet if you say so,” says Simon, “I will let down the nets.” And he does (v. 5).
The result? Simon and his fellow fishermen catch so many fish that their nets are beginning to break. They call for their partners in the other boat to come and help, and they end up filling both boats to the point that they are beginning to sink (vv. 6-7).
They wind up with an unexpected, amazing, and overwhelmingly abundant catch. All because they are willing to follow the words of Jesus, and scout the deep water.
That’s the challenge for us today, right here at FPC: To venture beyond our comfort zones, and put out into the deep water in lives of Christian discipleship. Too often we stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, when Jesus is calling us to be active, adventurous, and willing to explore new territory. That’s where the fish are. That’s where the growth happens. That’s where we can make surprising discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
Just ask any Boy Scout.
At more than 12,000 feet, Baldy is the highest peak in the Philmont Scout Ranch, a high adventure backpacking camp run by the Boy Scouts of America. From the summit, hikers can enjoy spectacular views of the mountains, forests, and lakes of northern New Mexico.
But the summit was still a dream when we started out, hiking through a dense pine forest in the early morning light. Reaching a gorgeous, gurgling mountain stream, we took a right turn and headed down a wide and comfortable trail for about a mile.
Turned out to be the wrong trail.
Realizing our mistake, we turned around and hiked back. This detour added an extra two miles to our trip, and you might think that we would be discouraged by it. But the extra distance had a surprising benefit. One Scout who had been struggling at the start of the hike gained confidence through the detour, and when we got back on track he felt strong enough to hike to the summit.
His success required venturing out, beyond his comfort zone. And, when you think about it, our success requires the very same thing.
The Boy Scouts of America have been challenging boys to push their limits for a century now. In fact, February the 8th was their 100th anniversary. On this particular Boy Scout Sunday, we stop and recognize the impact of this youth organization, one that has involved more than 110 million Americans over the past hundred years.
The appeal of Scouting is that it challenges boys to explore a wide range of outdoor activities, and make surprising discoveries about themselves and the world around them. They find that the comfort of staying home is no match for the amazing things that happen when they venture out.
I think that Jesus would agree.
In the 5th chapter of Luke, Jesus is standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd is pressing in on him to hear the word of God. He sees two boats at the shore, empty because the fishermen had left to wash their nets. Jesus gets into the boat belonging to Simon, and moves away from the shore, so that he will have some distance from the crowd, and will be able to teach them. When Jesus finishes his speech, he decides to extend his lesson with a dramatic illustration. He challenges Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch” (5:1-4).
Put out into the deep water, says Jesus. That’s venturing out, taking a chance, being active and adventurous. Jesus wants Simon to act like a Boy Scout.
“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing,” laments Simon. He sounds like he wants to stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, since his time on the water has not yielded any fish. “Yet if you say so,” says Simon, “I will let down the nets.” And he does (v. 5).
The result? Simon and his fellow fishermen catch so many fish that their nets are beginning to break. They call for their partners in the other boat to come and help, and they end up filling both boats to the point that they are beginning to sink (vv. 6-7).
They wind up with an unexpected, amazing, and overwhelmingly abundant catch. All because they are willing to follow the words of Jesus, and scout the deep water.
That’s the challenge for us today, right here at FPC: To venture beyond our comfort zones, and put out into the deep water in lives of Christian discipleship. Too often we stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, when Jesus is calling us to be active, adventurous, and willing to explore new territory. That’s where the fish are. That’s where the growth happens. That’s where we can make surprising discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
Just ask any Boy Scout.
posted by Henry Brinton | 10:44 AM
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