“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken… Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:8-11 NIV).
I never cared much for fishing. Too much sitting and waiting. But my uncle Basil liked to fish and I loved being with him. So, we often went fishing.
My father died when I was eight, so as a boy I was always looking for a father figure to fill that vacuum. My mother’s younger brother was one of those men. He would show up at my house driving his Olds 442 and invite me to go for a ride.
“Let’s go fishing!” My uncle Basil would say as we got in his car.
“Sure!” I’d exclaim. I didn’t care what we did as long as we were together.
As we pulled away, he’d say, “Hey, grab second for me.” while pointing at his chrome, four-in-the-floor, Hurst shifter.
I’d grab the shifter with both hands and pull back, watching his clutch foot for the next gear changes. Uncle Basil always needed my help for gear changes. I never knew how he managed without me.
If I got a little loose with one of the changes, he’d smile and say, “If you can’t find ’em, grind ’em.”
“Now, look in the the glove box and pull out that new Doc Watson 8-track and pop it in. You’re going to love this guy. He can really pick.” He’d say when we got the car up to cruising speed. Uncle Basil always had music he wanted me to listen to with him. He loved the blues. Even though I was more of a rock and roll guy, I learned to love the blues too.
Sometimes we’d take our guitars when we went fishing. While sitting on an old boat dock at the lake with our lines in the water, we’d talk and pick. He taught me my first song on the guitar, “The Wildwood Flower.”
I loved my uncle Basil and he loved hunting, fishing, telling stories, listening to music, playing guitar and driving Oldsmobiles. Being with him I learned to love those things too.
I doubt that Simon Peter cared much for the sinners that Jesus loved. He was a fisherman. He loved the sea and catching fish. It was his life. Then Jesus got in his boat. Peter recognized his own sin and Jesus loved him anyway. He invited Peter to a new kind of fishing, fishing for men. I’m sure Peter had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he knew one thing, he wanted to be with Jesus. So, he left everything and followed him. Peter learned to love what Jesus loved.
I must confess that I find the “lost” hard to love. They are sinners after all. They’re not very lovable, but Jesus loves them. I don’t know why, but when I was a sinner, He loved me too.
It’s funny how when you love being with someone, when you start loving them, you start loving what they love.
Jesus loves sinners and now He is making me love them too…
…especially if they love fishing, Doc Watson, and an Olds 442.
This nine pound hammer, is a little too heavy, for my size, honey, for my size.
Roll on buddy, don’t you roll so slow, Baby how can I roll when the wheels won’t go…. It was the Grandfather Mountain Fiddlers Convention back in ’75. Doc Watson opened and said, “Here’s an old Bill Monroe number”. I didn’t like to fish either, unless they were bitin’. And my choice ride was a Lancia Beta Coupe. Not your average muscle car, I went for the exotic Italian look. It made me feel special; my friends rented a 24′ Ryder truck to camp out at the concert and I would taxi them back and forth to Boone or maybe Johnson City. It was 22 years later when Jesus climbed into my boat and really taught me how to fish…. Sinners? I knew them too well. After all, I was a pro.
This is such a wonderful message. I wish I had been given the opportunity to have been with Basil longer, but God saw fit to take him home. I loved him so much. He was a very humble person and he made me realize just how much love God has to offer. Basil was given to me for a real purpose in life. I wish I had also been able to have known Granny & Papaw. Thank you.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, Jo Ann! It was good to hear from you. Blessings!
Sunday, April 10, 2011, it will be 6 years since Basil passed from this life. So much has taken place since then. It has taken me a long time to accept his death, I missed him almost unbearably, and still miss him. I truly believe God had a plan for us, I hope I gave him the happiness he deserved. I know he gave me so much happiness and taught me how to love and so much about God’s love. I believe when that was accomplished, the job was complete so God took him home. I also believe God had another plan for me after Basil because he placed in my life a person who has helped me adjust so much. Now I am faced with another job,taking care of my current husband, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma, a form of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. He is currently undergoing chemo at Vanderbilt University. We were just discussing how we both feel God had plans for all of us. He understands so much about how I felt when I lost Basil. It is so good to have someone with whom you can talk with, about God, family, what all of Basil’s family meant to me. I miss everyone so much. We often wonder why things have to change, but that is part of life. My youngest granddaughter is 9 and was diagnosed with juvinile diabetes a year and half ago. I just listened to Wilda singing Amazing Grace. Life as we see and live it may go through many changes but we have our memories forever. OH SUCH SWEET MEMORIES. Please remember me and my family in prayer. Pray for continued healing. Thinkgs are looking good. Thank you.