It was still about thirty minutes before the 7:00 a.m. start to the fishing day at Bennett Springs State Park. I sat down on the shore soaking in the cool air and fog rising from the water. A few fishermen had begun to arrive. 

One gentleman came walking slowly along the shore, fly rod in tow, fishing vest loaded with what he needed. After chatting with me a bit, he slowly waded out into the water. 

With the starting siren sounding came his first cast. In two of his first three casts he caught a fish. Hooked six more in the first ten minutes, releasing all but one he thought was a real “keeper.” He walked onshore, smiled, and said “It’s a really good day!” 

A couple of days later at the same time in the same place came the same guy with the same routine. I leaned forward to watch the entertainment about to begin. Cast after cast glided across the water without as much as a nibble. Others nearby were landing fish, but not my guy. After twenty minutes or so he got a strike. Not a real keeper. The fish was released. He walked onshore, smiled, and said “It’s a really good day!” 

His joy wasn’t in the number of fish caught.  No, the joy came in consistently being there, showing up in that time and place, intentionally doing what was cherished… spending the first part of the day fishing. 

It’s the same with God. The joy isn’t in the frequency of “God moments,” number of spiritual mountain tops, or how many answers to prayer come our way.  No, the joy comes in consistently being there, showing up, and intentionally carving out time and space for God. 

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, NIV). That’s a really good day! 

Your partner on the journey,

Pastor Steve