Lessons from Brett the shark

I love to spearfish. Some great guys in our church have taught us how to look for the elusive "hogfish" and we have learned better spearing techniques. We are always pretty stoked when we have hogs to bring home. It sure beats getting "skunked" out on the water. Few fishermen enjoy that...fewer still would admit it ever happens.

There are only a few things that actually "shake" me. I don't think I'll ever forget the first time I saw a shark while spearfishing. To be honest, I'm probably a bit too interested in sharks. I watch the Discovery Channel specials, "I shouldn't be alive", etc. I don't know why, but it's so interesting. (I'd like to consider it research to being more wise on the water, but whatever) TV is one thing, 3 feet away just over a reef is something else entirely. I can't lie. I still get shook. Stingrays, eels, even the sight of Pastor Jorge in shorts doesn't scare me...but a shark always does. (ok. not nurse sharks. i'm not that big of a wuss.)

Case in point: we see a shark almost every time we spearfish at one of our spots. It's close to deep water and it makes sense. After seeing a shark literally 5 times in a row at the same spot, we named him "Brett" after one of our fishing buds that just moved to Orlando. (the truth is, it could have been 5 different sharks, but when your eyes are popping out of your head, they all look the same: hungry)

Last week I saw Brett again. He looked a little more "lively" this time. (some would translate that as aggressive, hungry, whatever) I didn't think I would see him in 7 feet of water, it surprised me. It got my attention. It shook me.

The boat seemed to be an eternity away...just like those old school Jaws movies where the kid never gets there...he just swims and swims. At the risk of sounding dramatic, it felt like forever. I was "motivated" to leave the water for the day. I got out, then got back in a bit later when some hogfish appeared.

I have learned many lessons while on the water. In fact, I learn something almost every time we go out. Brett has taught me some lessons as well. Sometimes we can miss out on great opportunities because of our fears. Too often our fears dicate our direction...it's easier to give in to our fears than it is to face them and move forward. I wonder what we miss when we are too busy nursing our fears...it's sobering to consider. I shutter to think what great things we "could have" accomplished but those things were sold cheap to our fears.

I love what Paul says in Romans 8, "because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

It's nice when Dad is nearby. We were never given the spirit of fear. It's a trick. And it's painful. As God's children we have the confidence that He will lead us. Our motivation should be to move from fear to faith.

Let's rock it. Grab your gun, get out of the boat and bring something home worth talking about.