Scouting the Deep Water -- Feb. 7, 2010
SCOUTING THE DEEP WATER
Luke 5:1-11
The sun had just risen when the scouts began their trek up Baldy Mountain. At 12,441 feet, Baldy is the highest peak in the Philmont Scout Ranch, a high-adventure backpacking camp run by the Boy Scouts of America. From the summit, hikers enjoy spectacular views of the mountains, forests, and lakes of northern New Mexico.
But the summit was still a dream when the crew of eight scouts and two adults started out, hiking through a dense pine forest in the early morning light. Reaching a gorgeous, gurgling mountain stream, they took a turn and headed down a wide and comfortable trail for about a mile.
But it turned out to be the wrong trail. Realizing their mistake, they turned around and hiked back. This detour added an extra two miles to their trip, and you might think they would be discouraged by it. But the extra distance had a surprising benefit. One scout who had been struggling at the start of the hike gained confidence throughout the detour, and when the group got back on track, he felt strong enough to hike to the summit.
His success required venturing out, beyond his comfort zone. And so does ours.
The Boy Scouts of America have been challenging boys to push their limits for a century now. In fact, tomorrow – February 8, 2010 – is the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the organization. On this particular Boy Scout Sunday, we recognize the impact of this organization, one that has involved more than 110 million Americans during the past century.
The great appeal of scouting is that it challenges boys to explore a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs, and to make surprising discoveries about themselves and the world around them. They find that the comfort of staying home is really no match for the amazing things that happen when they venture out.
Jesus would agree. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd is pressing in on him to hear the word of God. At the shore of the lake, he sees two boats – empty because the fishermen have left them to wash their nets. Jesus gets into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asks him to push the boat away from the shore. There Jesus keeps a safe distance from the smothering press of the crowd and is able to teach them.
When Jesus finishes his speech, he decides to extend his lesson with a dramatic illustration. He challenges Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Put out into the deep water, says Jesus. He’s saying that the real possibilities exist where life gets deep and risky. He invites Simon to venture out, take a chance, be active and adventurous. Jesus wants Simon to act like a Boy Scout.
“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing,” laments Simon. He sounds like he wants to stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, because his time on the water hasn’t yielded any fish. “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets,” he offers. And he does.
The result is that Simon and his fellow fishermen catch so many fish that their nets are beginning to break. They call for their partners in the other boat to come and help, and they end up filling both boats to the point that they’re beginning to sink.
It’s an unexpected, amazing and overwhelmingly abundant catch. And it’s all because they’re willing to follow Jesus’ words and scout the deep water.
That’s the challenge for us today: to venture beyond our comfort zones and put out into the deep water in lives of Christian discipleship. Too often we stay close to shore, safe and comfortable, when Jesus is calling us to be active, adventurous, and willing to explore new territory. That’s where the fish are. That’s where the growth happens. That’s where we can make surprising discoveries about our selves and the world around us. Just ask any Boy Scout.
We scout the deep water when we venture out to share our faith with our neighbors. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people,” and this challenges us to reach out to our friends and neighbors with the gospel message.
We scout the deep water when we welcome others into our congregation, when we forego the pleasure of talking with our friends to introduce ourselves to a visitor, when we take time to learn enough about this stranger to make a friend.
We scout the deep water when we embark on short-term mission trips to repair damage done by natural disasters, when we commit to tutoring low-income children who are struggling in school, when we create alternative worship services to reach the unchurched of our community.
All of these require an active and adventurous spirit, plus a willingness to explore new territory. The important thing is to venture out, beyond our comfort zone. We don’t achieve the abundant life that Christ desires for us by playing it safe. No, if we’re going to experience growth in Christian faith and understanding, we have to venture out and take some chances. And we will make surprising discoveries, if we scout the deep water.