For sure, Washington needs to be captured by the gospel. So does Wellington, so does Sydney, so do dozens more. But I wonder if we’ve forgotten something important? I wonder if we’ve focussed too intently on special people for special places? I wonder if the slow moving rivers of this world, and the people who live there, are waiting in quiet desperation for simple fisherman to come sit with them a while?

As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” (Mark 1:16–17, CSB)

You would have been living under a rock to have missed the news of recent riots and insurrection. Newsfeeds world-wide switched to the never-ending barrage of bizarrely dressed men yelling pseudo-Christian war-cries as they marched on the Capital. It wouldn’t have mattered if you were living in Washington or Wellington, it struck a chord around the globe. It seems everyone knew about it.

Except me. I was sitting on the sandy bank of a slow moving river with my two nephews, my son, and four year old daughter. We’d gone fishing.

While the rest of the world hurtled forward with alarming pace, my world crawled to an amble. The only fish caught was a lousy catfish, but that didn’t seem to matter. The sky seemed more expansive as I listened to the excited cries of the children as they battled imaginary monsters lurking in the depths. Non-existent creatures pulled on their lines every 30 seconds or so, which of course, required us to retrieve our baits to ensure they were still there. They always were. We sat in damp sand with bare feet cooling in the water. We watched dragonflies dance a tireless pattern of courtship over their own reflections. We listened intently to the silence—a silence that was louder than we first thought. Eastern Water Dragons stalked dainty Lady Bugs in the reeds, while Long Necked Turtles popped their heads above water like neighbourhood busy-bodies who can’t stand not knowing what’s going on. The four children and I laughed together, explored God’s good creation together, and gave thanks for the gracious gift of life.

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