The word “casting” seems to be in front of me a lot in the last couple of weeks. Casting a fishing line, cast guilt or blame, casting for a movie or production, an incredibly unexpected cast on my leg!
My mind immediately went back to when I was little, and my Grandpa taught me how to fish. I particularly liked the part of going out early in the morning, especially after a rain, and we would search for giant fishing worms called nightcrawlers. We’d get down and dig in the rich soil and would find these giant wiggly worms. We’d put them in a jar with some dirt and put them in our fishing bag.
We had fishing poles, one big one for Grandpa and a smaller one for me. He was a very patient teacher, as he explained to me as he was putting the poles together with some almost clear line. He attached some contraption to the bottom part of the pole that would control the fishing line from going out too far or not far enough with a button, and it had a handle on it to reel the line back in. He put weights on the line to help the line sink into the water instead of just floating. He also put a bright colored ‘bobber’ onto the line that was supposed to float on top of the water, but it would bob under the water if a fish would bite. That would let you know that you caught something.
After Grandpa put the poles and lines together and had everything ready to go, we went down on the boat dock on the river at camp. We had to take a squishy nightcrawler and put it in the fishing hook. I wouldn’t say I liked this part too much, so Grandpa would put the worms on both my hook and his own. I can’t imagine that a fish would find that to be appetizing, but they do.
Then came the time for Grandpa to show me how to throw the hook and line into the river. That is casting. You had to do it just right. He taught me to put the rod in my right hand, hold it out to the right, and bring it up and straight out in front of me, all along pushing a button on the little gadget on my pole that let the line release. It took many practice times for me to get this swing just right. We had some mishaps, as he called them when the hook got caught in the weeds behind me. It hooked onto his jacket one time and even got stuck in my hair! As I said, Grandpa’s patience with me was excellent. We kept trying to cast out over and over again until I got it right.
Cast it out, reel it back in, and between all of that, you sit there in the silence and wait. Fishing is not an active sport at all. It’s quite the opposite of that. We had to whisper if we talked. I was a little Chatty Candy, as Grandpa would call me. There was always something to talk to Grandpa about, but we couldn’t do that while fishing. He said it would scare the fish away. We couldn’t bring a radio to listen to music because ‘nature’s music’ was all around us that I had to learn to understand. That’s a hard thing to accomplish, even as an adult. “Be still and know that I am God.” Sit back and listen. Nature’s music speaks volumes.
With my foot and leg in a cast these last few weeks because of a broken ankle, I’ve been trying to learn the lesson of “Being Still.” There are many distractions around us constantly. These distractions haven’t been as evident to me as in this current season. The microwave will ding when something is hot, and the timer will ring when the time is up for something in the oven. My phone will chime with a text, or it will ring with friends or family calling. I will get another tone when there’s a Facebook Message. My phone will clink with a reminder to do something. Our mind creates thoughts as “you should have,” or “you can’t,” or “maybe it would have been best if I would have” or “I wish I could.” Whenever there are so many diversions to thinking, concentration becomes hard. Remember to be still and heal.
No wonder the dictionary makes distraction synonymous with derangement. One can go crazy with distractions. “Be Still….and know that I am God.” (NRS) Psalm 46:10. We have to be intentional with this to maintain our relationship with God and for our sanity.
Other translations to the same verse are:
God’s Word Translation: “Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God.”
New American Standard: “Stop striving and know that I am God” (footnote: let go, relax)
I read, and re-read a devotion a few months ago from the book “He Holds my Hand” by Carol Kent, and I bookmarked it. It is entitled “Silence”
”Silence is the room we create for the searching of God, where we hear His voice and follow.” by Mark Buchanan
“Your life is filled with voices – some giving advice, some clamoring for attention, others possibly casting (there’s that word again) blame. Another voice comes from the enemy: ‘You’re too weak. You will never get through this ordeal. You don’t have enough resources. No one really cares about you, Just give up!” At times these voices give so many conflicting ideas that you just want to scream or escape into sleep — just to flee the sound of so much input.
Stop. Be intentional about creating a quiet place where you can hear My voice. Turn off all outside sounds, Get away from the chaos around you and listen to Me. Cease striving and study My character. I maintain the same position I’ve always had — in sovereign control. Begin by worshiping Me. Speak my names out loud. Thank Me for what you are learning in your current situation. Read a scripture that brings you hope. I delight in hearing your prayers. Concentrate on My power to do what looks impossible. Expect Me to work on your behalf. “
One of my favorite songs is “Be Still My Soul”. The lyrics are as follows:
Be still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul
Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last
In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go v
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul
Be still, my soul
Be still, my soul
1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all of your cares on him, because he cares for you.” Give your worries, cares, fears, guilt, shame, messes to Him to carry. After that, be still, my soul, and wait and watch what He will do. “The Lord will fight for you, all you need to do is be still” Exodus 14:14.
This casting that we need to practice is the one we don’t reel back in!
Be Blessed to Be a Blessing!
Candy
Musings from Candy 