subject: Live Fish in a Dead Sea [print this page] Live Fish in a Dead Sea Live Fish in a Dead Sea
It seemed like the easiest thing in the world to do. My neighbor, whom I didn't know very well but spoke to consistently, was going out of town. Would I be willing to watch her goldfish, Goldie, while she was gone? Sure I would! My sons, then ages 5 and 2 would love to have a rented pet for the weekend. The weekend! Just the weekend! How hard could it be?
Goldie's arrival met with two little boys who were overjoyed to have him (or was it her?) there. My instructions were clear: one fish food flake per day, and that's all. Simple right? Well, I thought so!
The boys loved to watch Goldie swim and then stop every so often to blow bubbles and swish his tail. All was going well until I decided to "help" my neighbor. I would wash Goldie, bowl and all and return a clean fish to its owner. Brimming with pride,I gathered my necessary tools - a Cool Whip bowl, a scouring pad, a gallon jug of bleach, Windex and plenty of paper towels. Clearly I had no idea what I was doing!
I first got Goldie out of the bowl and tenderly rinsed him off with lots and lots of water. Then I placed him in the Cool Whip bowl filled with waterso he would have a place to relax until I completed housecleaning! I emptied the fishbowl, thenused bleach water anda scouring pad to thoroughly clean it. Once it was completely dried I used Windex to make that bowl sparkle. When all was done, I lovingly placed a cleaned-up Goldie in a cleaned-up fishbowl. Little did I realize that I had placed a live fish in a dead sea. I suppose I should have stopped and thought and read a book about goldfish before I proceeded. Most importantly, I should have simply listened to the instructions given me by Goldie's owner.
Proud of myself, I went on about my other chores and didn't think about Goldie anymore until my younger son said, "Mommie, Goldie knows how to float!" Sure enough, Goldie was dead. Although my intentions were good, my attempts had caused Goldie's demise. Needless to say, neighbor relations were tense after that!
It reminds me of how we treat new believers when they come into the church. We spend our time and energy trying to get "Goldie New Christian" out of the comfort of his own fishbowl by trying to clean him up with our damaging methods.We use harsh cleansers and rough scouring and think that we have the perfect solution to their "problem." We place live fish in a dead sea. Our good intentions cause the spiritual demise of many.
Wemust stop, think, then read The Book and prayerfully listen to the instructions of God the Creator. Otherwise, we will find that thoseplaced in our care have died spiritually.As someone so eloquently put it, we are to be fishers of men; not keepers of the aquarium. That's God's job. Not ours.
For all the "Goldies" out there, my prayer is that you find a safe place to worship that allows you to grow and thrive. And for those of you who have ever tried to clean up another fish, pleaseremember my story and have a change of heart.
