Written by Karlin Bilcher, Emergency Homeless Services Manager
“After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas call the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “we will go with you”. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” John 21: 1-3.
This conversation in the gospel of John takes place a few days after the events of Easter. Jesus has been raised from the dead and is unexpectedly showing up in all kinds of places. Much like the first disciples of Jesus, a few days after Easter of 2007, a few of us decided to go fishing.
April 14th marked the beginning of trout season and keeping with tradition I invited a few friends to join my wife and me on the banks of North Park Lake to try our luck. This year, we were fortunate to spend the day with Chris and Jack, both residents of EECM’s Safe Haven program and Edmond, a former participant in the EECM Bridge Housing program. In February the state of Pennsylvania put around six thousand trout
into the lake. Despite our valiant efforts however, most of us caught nothing. But that does not mean that Jesus did not show up, because He did in some unexpected ways. Like when Edmond put down his own fishing rod to offer his assistance to an obviously inexperienced father and son team. Or when Chris offered his sympathy to the lone trout caught that morning. Or when, during the ride home as we were discussing the events of the morning, Jack shared that despite growing up fishing, he had not been out since his father passed away in 2001.
Sure, there have been trips where I caught more trout but I cannot recall a fishing trip that included more appreciative, joyful participants. Perhaps in the remaining weeks of the fishing season we will get another chance to go again. Thanks be to God.
“After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas call the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “we will go with you”. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” John 21: 1-3.
This conversation in the gospel of John takes place a few days after the events of Easter. Jesus has been raised from the dead and is unexpectedly showing up in all kinds of places. Much like the first disciples of Jesus, a few days after Easter of 2007, a few of us decided to go fishing.
April 14th marked the beginning of trout season and keeping with tradition I invited a few friends to join my wife and me on the banks of North Park Lake to try our luck. This year, we were fortunate to spend the day with Chris and Jack, both residents of EECM’s Safe Haven program and Edmond, a former participant in the EECM Bridge Housing program. In February the state of Pennsylvania put around six thousand trout
into the lake. Despite our valiant efforts however, most of us caught nothing. But that does not mean that Jesus did not show up, because He did in some unexpected ways. Like when Edmond put down his own fishing rod to offer his assistance to an obviously inexperienced father and son team. Or when Chris offered his sympathy to the lone trout caught that morning. Or when, during the ride home as we were discussing the events of the morning, Jack shared that despite growing up fishing, he had not been out since his father passed away in 2001.Sure, there have been trips where I caught more trout but I cannot recall a fishing trip that included more appreciative, joyful participants. Perhaps in the remaining weeks of the fishing season we will get another chance to go again. Thanks be to God.
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