When I was younger I had no career map, no life plan, no goals and objectives.  I had, and have, no university degree.  I had, and have, little in the way of vocational qualifications.  I used to talk about having attended the University of Life.  But that assumes some qualification in knowing how to live properly – and I have yet to determine what “properly” means.

Not having a life-plan was frowned upon.  It still is, I think.  There is a common perception that to be a success you need a plan.  So not having a plan means two things: I have no way of measuring success – and I probably never will be successful.

It took me many years to move past a feeling of slight inadequacy.  To reach a place where “success” was not even relevant to living and loving.  And – if there is successful living – for me it is that: to live unshackled from what society says I should be.  To be unshackled and free to be who I am.

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea–for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.“ Mark 1:14-20

I will make you fish for people.

When I was growing up the version taught used “fishers of men”.  But I think this version is more honest.  I will make you being an external intervention.  I will “be made” – I will become something I wasn’t and – perhaps – never would be.  Fish for people is a real and “in the present” activity.  Something I will do and am doing and did do.  And how do I “fish”?

Looking around there is commercial/industrial fishing.  There is offshore, inshore, net, line, net, rod, long-line, professional and hobby fishing.  Which one do I do – and how do I measure my success in the doing?

And immediately we are back to life-plans, goals and objectives and the measure of success we impose on so much of our living: numbers.  How many, and over what time period?  What frequency over what time period?  Is the trend up or down?  And what qualifies as a “catch” as opposed to “the one that got away”?

Imagery.

”I will change your life and your perception of success, I will invite you to live a life where so much of what you have been taught I will unteach.  I invite you to follow me without having a clue what that entails, what recompense you will receive, or through which way-points you will journey.  I invite you to see people for what they are, who they were and who they can become.  I invite you to follow me and allow yourself to become something you never thought you could ever be.  I will make you find the elusive “fish” of your own soul deep within.  I will make you become the person you never thought you could be.”

What more can I give than me?

Or is “success” how many souls I “save”?  What more precious gift can I offer than everything I am?  Or is it more “precious” to “give” everything I have … but not everything I could do …?  Is it more precious to target everyone I can net and save … to work tirelessly … to measure how much and how often … but not to give “me” … to not give everything I Am?

I will make you fish for the person you could become if …  the person you would love to be if … the person you never knew was possible unless … I can make all of this real if … you allow.

Why do we make it all about you when it is really all about me?

You are my “success” –

I Am the greatest gift.

🙂

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