The Rev. Carol S. Wedell

Prior to moving to Pepper Pike nearly 10 years ago, our family lived in Mentor.  I was not working outside of the home at that time and family pool passes were inexpensive.  So most sunny summer afternoons, the kids and I would pack up the car with towels, snacks, juice boxes and sunscreen and join our neighbors at the local public swimming pool. 

I remember quite clearly being in the parent/child swim class with our eldest child, Scott.  As much as he liked playing in the water, he wasn't about to put his head under. No way! No amount of coaxing could convince him that this was a good idea.  When he finally managed to take the plunge, he found out it wasn't so bad! 

But he still preferred the safety of the shallow end, where his feet could touch the bottom, and I would stand nearby.  It wasn't until he saw all the fun two of his friends were having swimming under the water and jumping off of the diving board, that he decided to really learn to swim. All of a sudden, keeping track of him was much more difficult!  Before long, the child who had been anxiously hanging on to me was now diving into the deep end, or speeding down the large water slide. He let go and found out that it was much more exciting in the deep end. This is the same son, who has taught young children to swim for the past four years!

Both of our readings this morning are about folks who took the plunge, as well.  They were invited to the deep end, and decided to test out the water.  Isaiah was called as a prophet to urge the people to be faithful in faithless times.  Simon, James and John were called by Jesus to follow him.  All of them were called to let go of the security of the life they knew and venture into new, deeper water.  They were called to something exciting - but also frightening.

Each one of them was called by God, as are each of us here today.  Isaiah was worshiping at the Temple.  He had a mystical experience, a vision of God's holiness. Simon Peter, James and John were at work, simply going about the routine of their day.  The three men were sitting on the beach, clearly frustrated.  Fishing was their livelihood and today had not been a great day.  In fact, they had been out on the water all night and had come up empty.  All that work - and for what?  Nothing to show for their efforts except exhaustion.  Ever have a day like that?

As they are sitting there, Jesus came along, bringing a huge crowd behind him.  After stepping into Simon's boat, Jesus asks him to head out a little ways from the shore.  It was a perfect place for speaking to the crowd, when you think about it. The magnifying effect of the water would have enabled even those who were some distance away to hear what Jesus had to say. 

We don't know what Jesus said to those who had gathered around.  We are told simply, that when he was done speaking Jesus told Simon to head for the deep water and put his nets down. 

Now I am not a fishing expert, but everything about Jesus' request was counter-intuitive.  It went against all common sense. These three men were professionals.  Fishing was what they did for a living - every day of their lives.  Presumably, they knew where the fish were to be found!  It was also broad daylight.  Even I know that you'll be more likely to be successful fishing in the early morning or early evening. Having worked all night for nothing, the last thing they would be inclined to do would be to start out again in the light of day. I've also read that the kind of fishing they were doing - with nets - was best done near to the shore, not in deeper water.

You can almost hear the hesitation in Simon's response.  "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing."   What was left unspoken, was surely thought, "Don't you think we know anything?  There just aren't any fish today!  Are you nuts?"  But something about Jesus nudged Simon on.  Jesus encouraged him toward the deeper water.  And so Simon Peter answered, "Well if you say so, I will let down the nets."

Low and behold, in no time at all they catch more than their boat will hold!  There are so many fish that they have to signal for back up help.  With Jesus along they move from scarcity to overabundance.  The result is overwhelming -- as overwhelming as Isaiah's mystical vision in the Temple. 

And Isaiah and Simon respond in the same way.  Confronted with the awesome power and glory of God, they fall on their knees.  Brought close to God's presence, they realize how insignificant they are in comparison.  Looking in the face of absolute Love and infinite Grace, they admit that they aren't worthy to be in God's presence.   As Eugene Peterson paraphrases it, "Master, leave.  I'm a sinner and can't handle this holiness.  Leave me to myself."  Both Isaiah and Simon Peter in the face of the holy, felt utterly exposed, withnowhere to hide!

Which is exactly the experience of being in over our heads - of being in deep water. It's scary.  We can't manage the deep water like we try and manage everything else.  We can't control the situation.  If we let go, we don't know what will happen!  Our boat may be overloaded with fish! Which is why, when brought close to God, fear is almost always the human response. We don't have a lot of practice in the deep end - of trusting God, instead of our own abilities. We can do it on our own, thank you very much!

Jesus responds both to what Simon says, as well as to what he leaves unsaid, "Don't be afraid."  I've read that those words appear 365 times in the Bible.  I've never counted - but the large number of times that short phrase appears, underscores the fear that is so familiar to us. And there is comfort for every day of the year. 

The reassurance of Jesus' presence is enough.  The three men pull their boats to shore, leave everything behind, and follow Jesus.  They let go of the lives they have always known, let go of their attachment to what's familiar and comfortable and head out into other deep waters, letting others in on this great news:  God Is here, now, for you!

Where's the deep water for you?  For us?   Both of our lessons this morning suggest that God is not interested in keeping us in our comfort zones, but calls us to let go of our need to be in control of everything.  You have to learn new skills in deep water - things you may not have known before.  But if you are still hanging on to the side of the pool, or perhaps even standing on the diving board, making up your mind, you'll never know how refreshing the water can be.

Letting go can be tough.  It's a lot safer to hang on to "the way we've always done things."  It's a lot less work to simply keep up the same routine.  But as a poster I remember from high school said, "A ship in harbor is safe.  But that's not what ships are built for."  We have to let go of the fear if we are going to answer God's call.

A cartoon in a New Yorker magazine with the following caption put it well: "This morning opportunity knocked at my door, but by the time I pushed back the bolt, turned the two locks, unlatched the chain, and shut off the alarm system it was gone."

The good news is that God is more persistent than the cartoon suggests opportunity is.  God is more like the loving parent, who continues to lure the child toward the deep end, showing us all the fun and excitement of that uncharted territory, and promising to be with us after we let go of the side.  God's voice is right there with us:  "Don't be afraid."

What's true for us individualy is also true for us as a church.  Together, I believe we are called to let go of the fear that convinces us that we need the comfort of what we already know. Can we let go and learn something new?  Can we listen to someone whose viewpoint may differ from ours and maybe, just maybe, hear God's voice in a new way?  Can we set our nets out one more time - even when we've failed before?  Can we let things be done differently - even if it's not how we would do it?  Can we let go of a discipleship that is relegated to the times and places where it's convenient for us and take the plunge to follow Jesus in every moment of our lives?  Are we willing to let our dreams be as big as God's are? 

Many centuries ago, Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Disturb us Lord when
We are too well pleased with ourselves
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to shore.

God is calling us this day - to a life deep with meaning, purpose and joy.  But we'll have to let go and take the plunge.  Can we, with Isaiah, Simon, James and John say,
"here I am, Lord - send me?"