Fishing and Football

by Donna Polverari
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​Luke 5: Now, go out a little deeper and let your nets down to catch some fish.
 
     Do you ever feel like your efforts are failing no matter how hard you try, and it is not looking like there is any fruit or success on the horizon? In this scene, Peter is feeling defeated because he is a skilled fisherman, yet he can’t catch one lousy fish. Jesus tells him to go out deeper.  He listened and the blessing for provision came.  Jesus was showing him how much he needed his Lord and doing things his way in his own strength would not work. When Jesus said go out deeper, he wanted Peter’s full trust in their relationship. He would need to trust completely with his whole heart and be willing to change because the work would be done God’s way—not his. God had bigger, greater plans for Peter as a leader, and he would have to open his eyes to what was not working for him. It was all about complete surrender.
    God also encouraged me with another man’s story that needed to trust God and had the odds against him. Bo Eason, was a former NFL football player that played safety for the Houston Oilers. The eight-year boy had a dream to play in the NFL, and it was a nearly impossible dream. 

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​At his first tryout, Bo came up short, literally short. His problem—he was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. His coach concluded that Bo had no business playing football.  Naturally, he was discouraged until his father gave him a story that changed his mind, his life, and his identity. He asked him a question” did they measure your heart”?  He went on to explain to him that when a ranch dog has puppies the rancher identifies the smallest puppy—the runt of the liter by tying yarn around its neck. The rancher gives all the other puppies away and he keeps the runt.  The runt always has to work harder to survive against his bigger brothers and sisters—always. The runt becomes the smartest, fastest, and the most determined.  Of all the puppies, the runt’s heart is the biggest. The rancher stakes his whole livelihood on that fact. 
     That day Bo took on the challenge. He would indeed get into the NFL and he would reach his goal. How did he do it? He kept the dream in his head and got busy and did what he could. He was the first one on the field and the last one off.  He engaged with his teammates any way he could, but most of all he believed God to get him in uniform and in his position as safety.  He did his part and God did the rest. He said “he made that dog story his story and told it to himself day after day. “God didn’t make him taller, bigger, and more skilled. He refined what he had and challenged him to use what was inside of him—what God had already given. God pushed him beyond his comfort zone to get it out of him and to do what he was called to do.  He had to change his routine, his mind, and his ways. The rest is history.
     As I struggled with changing some habits, and mindsets to go after my own dreams, God encouraged my heart.  God is teaching us all we can accomplish our God sized goals through trusting Jesus, changing what isn’t working, and doing things his way. Do you ever feel like the little runt?  God’s message to us is that whether we are fishing or playing football it is possible for our dreams to come true, and we too can be confident our nets will be full! We have an awesome God.
 
Father, thank you for your word that teaches us that nothing is impossible with you. Open our eyes to see that our heart, our faith, and willingness to do things your way will make our dreams come true and provide for our needs. We love you in Jesus name I pray.