The video is of a poem Edwin wrote inspired by the fishermen in our ministry. The footage was taken the day that they set sail with them to experience life in their realm. Below is the transcript of the poem. To download the full video file, click here.
I set off on a journey to discover the treasures beheld by men…fishermen of the deep
I sought the secret to contentment, to simplicity, to purpose
But most importantly, I longed to unite those truths for ministry
How better to serve and to love than to understand?
What more exquisite display of power than to traverse the deep ocean in search…
…of food, of livelihood, subsistence, fulfilling the role of provider
To burn and sweat shoulder to shoulder with men you love and seek
And hope to earn the right to preach the truth of Christ’s everlasting love
In my quest to obey as a bondservant willing to go great lengths for the message
I forgot that I was a disciple still…always learning at the feet of my rabbi
Constantly postured, a student receiving grace, learning to follow ever more faithfully
That the men I hoped to disciple would teach me yet.
God spoke to Elijah and…said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him…
As did the gentle whisper come to me, not in wrestling the jagged beasts of the sea
Nor the feats of strength upon diving free, one breath into the dark blue
And coming up for air, having bested the sinewy fishermen in competing for pride
But in the still flowing ocean water and sea breeze void of our own friendly dialogue
That’s when God spoke to me.
And that’s when I learned to listen and understand that it was indeed important to get away
In this vast ocean with these men, I recalled Holy Scripture…God’s Word
And responded in humility, compelled to obey the commands of my King.
God listens and speaks to those whose ears are open, whose hearts are bowed
His love and forgiveness extends even to the worker too busy to just be
Our Father in Heaven will use those still outside the fold to sharpen
The iron being forged as a blade, an instrument of war to bring down enemy gates.
This is the treasure I discovered as I set off with the fishermen of the deep.