Who am I?  My Transformation From “Fisherman” to “Fisher of Men”

Growing up in the heart of the Colorado Rockies I was exposed to the splendor of His creation.  Only now can I truly appreciate where I have come from.  Life has never been easy, and I have been blessed.  I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given each day while I have been here on this earth, and I know now that I am not here just for “me” because there is a greater calling on my life.  Although I can tell you where I have been, I’m still not certain where He is taking me.  I do know, however, that I am in good company.

Life is a process… more of a metamorphosis if anything.  During our pursuit (of dreams, ambitions…) one thing is certain – we will encounter change.  But, change is a good thing.  In everything we face, we should give thanks!  Change is critical because it builds character and it is a process which brings richness to our lives.  Yvon Chouinard said it best;

Taking a trip for six months you get into the rythm of it…it feels like you could just go on forever doing that.  Climbing Everest is the ultimate and opposite of that because you get all these high powered plastic surgeons and CEO’s.  They pay $80,000 to have Sherpa’s who put all the ladders in place and 8,000 feet of fixed ropes.  You get to camp and you don’t even have to lay out your sleeping bag.  It’s already laid out with a little chocolate mint on top.  And the whole purpose of climbing something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain, but if you compromise the process, you’re an asshole going in, and you’re an asshole when you get back.  – Yvon Chouinard – Founder of Patagonia – In 180degrees South.

"I am a skier" - Chugach Mountains, Alaska

What’s the point of achieving something great if you are not TRANSFORMED?!!!  It is the purpose of life!  I was a ski racer.  That was my identity. I was an outdoorsman – a backpacker, a fly fisherman, one who’s identity was defined by what I was capable of doing.  I excelled in everything I did, and I’m not sure if it was because I had a natural gift for it, or because I was terrified of losing my identity.  My heart is experiencing a renewal and I am changing.  That doesn’t mean that I no longer have a passion for outdoor activities…I do!…it’s just that I’m not afraid of losing that name tag anymore.  It’s a breath of fresh air!

When I as 17 year old, I drove to Denver with several of my friends and came home with a tattoo.  I was a fly fisherman and so I got a tattoo of a Cutthroat Trout on my ankle.  This was my name tag.  I’m sure many of you wear something similar.  Today I look at it and I still love it, but I don’t see it like a used to.  It was my name tag and it read “fisherman”!  Today that tattoo means something different.  God allowed me to get that tattoo so that I could be transformed by His story.  He wants me to remember my transformation more so than my name tag.  He has put it on my heart, and he has written it on my ankle so that I will not forget.

You were once a “Fisherman” and now I call you a “Fisher of Men”.

I have been called to follow Jesus and it is not something to be taken lightly.  When your heart is called out to do something, it becomes impossible to ignore.  I’m not certain where I am going, but by his grace He is leading me there.  This passage embraces my heart while I listen for, and pursue his plan.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  –  Ephesians 4:11-13

We have all been extended His love and grace, and hopefully everyone will have the opportunity to see see it.  Hopefully, everyone will have the courage to respond to it!  I know that I am challenged everyday.  “God change me…my perspectives, my heart, and give me courage to endure”.  Amen.