casting nets

One year, as I prayed for a topic to study to continue my spiritual growth, the phrase that came to me was 'cast your net'. It just so happened that was the year that I considered being part of the this new world wide thing called the internet. I had made the commitment to devote full time to the practice of Christian Science healing and to be available to take calls from the public 24/7/365. It was a time to open my thought and my heart to the world. Mrs. Eddy wrote of this over 100 years ago: "Millions of unpre-judiced minds - simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert - are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences." (S&H 570)

So I spent that year studying and praying and listening for wisdom and guidance about 'casting' my net . Every day I began with another sentence she wrote: "Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practice Christian healing". I won't attempt to put all I learned that year into one blog but I can say that I was very grateful to have this sentence appear in this week's Bible lesson on Truth. It brought back so much of the sweet study.

Are you willing to leave your net? Are you willing to abandon old ways of thinking and acting in your search for answers and healing? It takes courage to do that. It takes faith. Your net is what you have relied on for supply. It is your means of communicating with others. It is your circle of contacts. It is also a limited way of thinking about your life, as if you had no other choices. The disciples had spent three years traveling with Christ Jesus, watching him interact with crowds, hearing him teach in their synogogues and gathering places, learning how to think about God and their relationship to Him. He was their teacher, teaching them how to do what he was doing and commanding them to take this freely shared teaching to the world. When they thought he was gone they did not do that, they went back to their old life. They went fishing for fish. They went back to their old belief about nets.

Early in his ministry he called out to them one day, as they were trying for a catch and not finding any fish. He told them to cast the net on the right side. It was now daytime, when the net is visible and the fish could just swim away, but Peter, willing to obey his teacher, agreed to let down the nets one more time. And now they could hardly pull them in, they were so filled with fish. Three years later, as they once again tried unsuccessfully to fish, the Master appears on the shore and gives them the same instructions, cast your net on the right side. Once again, it is filled with fish where it had been empty before.

As you learn to turn to God, good, for your daily needs, do not be afraid to place your full reliance on Him. He loves you. You are His image and likeness. He is your beloved Father Mother. In divine Mind you are a complete and cherished idea, fully supported with all your needs met. If your need is to see a change in your life, what Mrs. Eddy calls 'a wider sphere of thought and action', a building of your business, or a strengthening of a relationship, or a physical healing...don't be afraid to cast your net, knowing His strong arm is helping you. If what you have been doing seems unsuccessful, be willing to listen for His guidance and cast that net in a new way...with the confidence of divine Love's complete intention to bless your life.

Don't be surprised if you are suddenly dealing with a huge catch!