Savoring Specks

I had never eaten one until two weeks ago.

Specks.  Also known as “Crappie.”  Small, delicate fish caught in freshwater lakes. And beautiful, too!

Two weeks ago, we had a feast!  An old-fashioned fish fry, thanks to the fishing prowess of our neighbor and friend.  I had never tasted anything like those specks.  So delicious, I savored every bite!

I had never caught a speck until yesterday.  And I didn’t catch just one… I caught two!  They weren’t like other fish that slam the bait and fight.  They just seemed to gently take hold of the hook and, suddenly, they were there.

Delicious — worthy to be savored — all the same!   🙂

Thank You, Lord, for sharing Your bounty with us!  And from the very lake where we live! The lake we see and enjoy every day!

“The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of His servant.  My tongue will proclaim Your righteousness, Your praises all day long.”  (Psalm 35:27b-28)

But there are other specks to be savored, too… aren’t there, Lord?

The “specks” in the eye of another person.

This “savoring,” though, is all about opportunity… the opportunity to help.

Because sometimes they can’t see the “speck” that is irritating their eye.  It is a problem.  It needs to come out.  And they need help.  But “savoring” that “speck” requires us to “catch” a much bigger “fish” first.

The “whale” in our own eye.

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  (Matthew 6:5)

Trouble is, we all-too-often spend far-too-much time looking for “specks.”  And sharpening the “hook” we use to catch them.

“… no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  (James 3:8)

Except for You, Lord… the real Captain of our boat.  The One who lovingly and graciously teaches and mentors us to become the fishermen You have called us to be…

… even when Your lessons feel more like a hook in the eye than a kick in the pants.   🙂

You are the same Captain who then provides a bounty of “specks.”

A catch for us — and You — to savor.

“‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will teach you to become fishers of men.'”  (Matthew 4:19)

Looking deeply into Your mirror, Lord…

So I can see — and savor — more of that feast…

Abba’s Girl

 

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