Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.” vs. 20
Mark 1:19-20
We can’t help but smile a bit as we imagine the scene on the beach outside of Capernaum that day. Zebedee stands with a couple of hired men in the boat, and his boys, the core of the family business, wander off down the beach in pursuit of an itinerant preacher. It’s not a pretty picture! And that’s how it is sometimes when we make the big changes on life’s journey. We don’t always have our family’s permission when we head in a new direction. The text implies that this was a snap decision for James and John, and some of us know what that’s like too. We might deliberate mightily over small matters, but when it comes to the really big things we act on impulse. That’s not always a good choice, but when the gospel calls, getting out of the boat is exactly what we need to do. We might not need to change our jobs or occupations–sometimes it’s a life-style or an attitude adjustment that is called for. Our families won’t always understand (the scripture tells us that the mother of James and John completely missed the point), but what really counts is the new relationship that we have with our Lord. And when that’s what’s at stake, what’s the point of waiting? There’s a new life out there–let’s get on with it!
Thought for the Day: My best impulsive decision!
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