There was a time when there was a group of people who called themselves fishermen.
Besides, there were a lot of fish swimming around. In fact, the entire region was dotted with streams and rivers full of fish. And the fish was hungry.
Week after week, month after month, year after year, these people called themselves fishermen, gathered at meetings and talked about their calling to fish, the abundance of fish and methods of fishing. Year after year they gave precise definitions of fishing, defended it as a profession, and declared that fishing is the main task of the fisherman.
Continuously they searched for new and better methods of fishing and better definitions for it, they also argued: “Fishing is the task of every fisherman,” “Every fisherman is a fisherman.” They sponsored special meetings called "Fishing Campaign" and "Fish Month". They sponsored national and worldwide conventions to discuss fishing and hear about all the fishing methods, fish, gear, and new inventions in the field.
These fishermen built large beautiful buildings called the "Fishing Office". There was a proclamation: “Everyone is a fisherman, and every fisherman should fish.”
One thing they didn't do, however, was they didn't fish.
In addition to regular meetings, a council was organized to send fishermen to other places to fish.
According to fishermen, this advice was needed to encourage fishermen to fish. The council included those who had the courage to talk about fishing and doing the work.
This council also hired workers and appointed committees to define fisheries, protect fisheries, and plan to cover new rivers. But the administration and committee members were not fishing.
Large, expensive training centers were also built, the main goal of which was to teach fishermen how to fish. For several years courses have been taught on the needs of fish, their structure, habitats and psychology. The teachers had doctorates in fishology. But the teachers didn't fish. They only taught fishing. Upon graduation, students received fishing licenses and were sent to faraway places to fish.
Others spent a lot of time studying and traveling to places where their ancestors could catch a lot of fish in order to learn the history of fishing.
Next, fishermen built large printing houses to print fishing guides. Printing presses worked day and night to produce materials on fishing techniques, equipment and programs, and how to organize meetings to talk about fishing.
Many responded to the call to fish. They were initiated and sent out fishing. But, like their predecessors, they never fished. Like their fellow fishermen, they did anything. They built pumping stations to pump water for fish and channels for their habitat. Some said they wanted to go fishing, but they felt called to make fishing gear. Others thought that their task was to communicate well with the fish so that they could know the difference between bad and good fishermen. There were also those who believed that the main thing was to teach the fish swimming lessons and give it enough food to grow. Others talked about methods of purifying water and moving fish to other waters to get rid of enemies.
After one awakening meeting about the need for fishing, one young man went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught two big fish. He was rewarded for his excellent catch, and encouraged to attend every big meeting possible to share how he did it. so he stopped fishing to have time to tell other fishermen about his experience. He was also placed on the Council as a person with vast experience.
Almost no one who attended the weekly meetings fished. Therefore, those who were sent fishing did not fish, just like those who sent them. They formed groups to define fishing, defend it and proclaim how important it was...They prayed that many fish would be caught. There was just one thing missing: they weren’t fishing.
However, they were still called fishermen, as was stated everywhere. And there was plenty of fish. A little criticism leaked out that fish were not being caught. But since those who criticized did not catch anything themselves, their criticism was not taken seriously.
It is true, of course, that many fishermen have made sacrifices and faced many difficulties. Some lived right next to the water and smelled the smell of dead fish every day. They laughed at them, talking about their clubs. They did not understand why some people did not attend meetings to talk about fishing. After all, didn’t they follow the Master’s advice: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”?
Imagine how offended some were when one person once said that those who did not catch anything were not fishermen, regardless of their statements.
Still, it sounds right, is a man a fisherman if year after year he does not catch a single fish?
Do you hear, those who don't fish???
John Drecker
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru