Grace meets impulsiveness

John 21 : 1 - 14

It is easy to feel with Peter his disappointment. Who hasn't hoped for things to turn out a certain way and then have to face the reality that they are going to be somewhat different? The spiritual life when we live it long enough is full of surprises.....though I do not mean this in a negative sense.

Back to fishing....back to the security of something he remembered doing well. As a fisherman he thought that was the place he could regain some control of his life that seemed to have gone terribly wrong. I can connect with that. I would seek the security of familiar territory when I am at a loss or fearful about things. Even though prayer would be important, I would seek out familiar people, books, familiar things to occupy myself with.......it would be much harder to 'wait prayerfully' for God's clarification, for his consolation graces to come after the desolation and discouragement. Peter - impatient, impulsive....aren't we often like that too?

I am at a 'slowing down' period in my life. Though the slow-ness is probably not that slow - but slow relative to way I, with good organizational skills, was able to tackle many things in the past (multi-tasking!). It is enjoyable to live the day with awareness rather than rush through the hours to accomplish much that I think is important - that may not be what God thinks :)

But grace met Peter's impulsiveness! Grace met him where he was, in a boat out at sea, with empty nets. A gracious catch was provided, and grace invited him and his friends for breakfast on shore. Grace has met me too, even those times when I decide that I can 'help' God out by taking control of things. Impulsive, impatient.....those are the shadow sides of many organized and efficient people. But we are met by grace, by the One whom we will 'know' in our deepest hearts "is the Lord", even when we have no other words for it. A God of surprises. Maranatha!