Fishers of Men

It’s been two weeks since returning from our vacation. A special time of memories with our two families and our niece and nephews. Moments that will last forever. Our lively relatives wanted to go deep-sea fishing off the coast of Florida, so we joined them for the adventure.

Unfortunately, my wife fell ill after being tossed and turned for hours by the endless waves. Later, she slept while I stayed at her side as we rocked to and fro along the swells. Beyond the creaks and groans of a weathered hull, and through the misted windows, I could see the children at the rails trying to catch their evening meals. Poles extended, they struggled with glee to stay upright against the rolling sea. We ended the next day with a beachside bonfire that illuminated the night as the music playing conjured unwelcome feelings from my distant past. The monotone beat and the rhythms, along with the lyrics and the tones, worked in concert to carry me off to a broken era I’d left far behind. Now, weeks later, those rhythms and beats still come to my mind, like an occasional chorus or a returning tide. My will alone cannot occlude its flow. I’ve been mesmerized by the power of music on the mind.

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.” Ezekiel 28:13.

But like a revelation from above, I’ve realized that the remedy for this insidious enchantment is beautiful and uplifting music to replace the dross between my ears. Music that exemplifies the glory of God and His Son, rather than the inward natures of the human heart. Music about love and praise, selflessness and generosity, loyalty and life. Music that radiates the gospel in all directions and calms the inner soul. 

It seems to me that while music has the unique ability to transcend boundaries and connect folks from all walks of life, it can also be used for the opposite effect. It’s a gift that has the innate power to evoke deep emotions from joy to sorrow and can serve as a universal language that speaks to every heart and soul. But like any gift, it can be used in many ways. Whether through the soothing rhythm of a lullaby or the inspiring words of a gospel melody, it influences our moods and shapes our lives forever. Sometimes, like a friend, it brings comfort in times of need, and at other times, encouragement during moments of doubt. It is like a universal dialect all its own. A language that need not be taught in order to be understood. It resonates in the heart at a frequency we can all feel from our birth, and has the capacity to express what words often cannot. This attribute makes it a wonderful part of our life experience. But when created by a maligned heart, it also has the power to steal souls.

Our children are the most precious and vulnerable. Their minds are like a sponge, both impressionable and lasting. I have no doubt that our childhood experiences form a large part of who we are. I still recall the little things as a child that to this day affect me and have branded my character as an adult. 

So, to the sick and weary, the waves seemed endless that day, but to the steward, they emphasized a few salient thoughts. They were there to be ridden. Crests and troughs to be managed and not feared. Yet, as diligent fishers of men, we must also remain wary of the distant melodies that can soothe these waves or make them stir again. 

“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Matthew 4:19.