I went fishing yesterday. It was "Dumping Day," the start of the lobster fishing season here in southwestern Nova Scotia. The day couldn't have been better. It was warm with no wind. For the end of November this is amazing. I've gone out at other times and been freezing. When its windy and sloppy, it also gets dangerous. Boats are loaded down with traps, adding tons of weight above the water line. Thankfully we didn't have any of that to deal with. We just had the normal sorts of problems expected when little things get forgotten and plans don't go quite as planned. A rope forgotten on the wharf meant a 40 minute diversion. Even still, we were in by supper. We heard about one poor guy who lost a cooling hose and filled the boat with water. Fortunately they made it back in and repaired it.

Those who remember that I have been quite seasick in the past will be glad to know that yesterday I didn't feed the fish at all.

The trap limit here is 250 traps. That means we repeated, 250 times, the setting of each trap. In case you're not familiar with it, here's how it goes. We pulled each trap from the pile, opened its door, took out the rope and buoy, closed the door, set the rope (right-side up) on the trap, and put the buoy on top. Then we took it to the man at the washboard, who tossed the buoy, let the line run out, and waited for the captain to yell, "Yup," whereupon he tossed the trap into the water.

Each step of the process involves a few mini-steps. Timing the roll of the deck to avoid pulling or lifting against the motion of the boat. Not turning the coils of rope so that it won't snarl as it runs out. Pulling the bunjee hooks tight so the door won't open when the trap is pulled later. Keeping track of the different traps and their rope lengths. Marking the beginning and end of lines of traps called strings. Watching for the men around us to avoid hitting them with the sharp corner of a 50lb trap. Avoiding rope around the feet.

It sounds like a lot, but this part of lobster fishing is not particularly difficult to learn. Each captain has his own way of doing things, and it is strenuous, but most people catch on quickly. Repetition is a good teacher. It becomes like clockwork, as they say. Each one does his part and we do it over and over again, 250 times.

As we repeated the steps, it occurred to me that the Christian life is a little like lobster fishing. We do a lot of little steps over and over again. Most are not particularly difficult to learn. But they are all important, and it takes all of them.

Sometimes we forget steps, however. A few years ago I was feeling tired and my mind drifted. When I missed a step in the setting process, the man beside me commented, "Its the same thing every time." It boggles my mind that something so routine can take concentration and effort to keep it going.

There are times when I catch myself doing or thinking something I thought I had conquered before. I left out a step, and it caused a snarl in the rope of my life.

I once asked a successful fisherman what it took to be a good fisherman. His reply was not what I expected. It wasn't about the amount of time he put in, or the gear, the boat, bait or crew. He said, "Its not one thing, its taking care of a lot of little things."

That was years ago, but his words have stuck with me. What was true in fishing is also true in the Christian life. What does it take to "make it" as a Christian? Its doing the little things, and being faithful to them over and over.

I want to encourage you to be faithful to the little thing, for we have a Captain who takes care of His crew. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)

I hope this helps. Be OnFire,

Troy

Nov. 28, 2006.