Tuesday, October 11, 2011

#10. Catfish 'n Candy Bar


Saturday Morning, the two teen boys and Gramps were bouncing down the road in Nothin'. The boys remembered that Nothin' was the nickname of this old pickup truck that most folks didn't think it was worth nothin'. Duke was careful to keep his foot on the piece of plywood that covered the open place in the floor... mud puddles can get messy.

Silver-haired Gramps headed Nothin' down a rough dirt road toward Snyder's Pay Lake. The talk in the truck was always full of excitement and expectation. Max told his fish joke about the Catfish 'n Candy Bar. It was one of those fish stories not quite worth writing home about, but he got a couple chuckles out of his two companions. The two teens talked a little about school activity, including the history tests ol' Mrs. Grudy gives. They're murder.

Gramps spoke to the boys while watching the rough road ahead. “Boys. I've heard a lot of strange fishing stories in my time, but the strangest one, I suppose is one that no fishing poles, string, or hooks were used. Oddly enough, it almost cost the lives of everyone in the boat. The gist of it, as I remember is this guy was riding in this boat and the whole crew threw him overboard. Now here's where this turns strange. When this guy landed in the water some kind of a fish, or maybe a shark, swallowed him. Two or three days later this fish spit this guy out on shore. The guy got up and walked away. Strange, huh?”

Gramps hardly took a breath before he started explaining some of the rules to be observed at Snyder's Pay Lake, just a little farther down the bumpy road, that is, if Nothin' will hold together.

The teens grabbed their fishing tackle and headed for spots they were sure some hungry fish or two, were waiting to taste their bait... which was not a candy bar. While the boys were fishing Gramps was gathering a few things in an area approved to build a camp fire and have a great time. Blaster Jackson (that's Gramps) was quietly praying as hard as he could for the boys and this fishing time. Gramps continually prayed something like, “Lord, I've started the Jonah story and cast it upon the waters of imagination and curiosity of the boys. I'm asking you to use the story as bait to draw their hearts close to you and their need for salvation and your peace and even Full Joy.”

About half an hour before Gramps had planned for their lunch, Max walked over to Gramps with a confused look. He said, “Gramps I can't fish right now. I stare at my fishing line and think about your strange fish story, and it's bugging me awful. Will you tell me the meaning of the story? I know enough about you and your burden for us teens and all our inner stress. So I know you got something good hidden in the story. Tell me please, 'cuz I won't be able to think of anything else the rest of the day. Please?”

Gramps motioned Max to follow him a couple steps away from the campfire area, but yet easy to be seen by others fishing at the lake. Gramps looked both ways, in a shifty way, like he was about to pass on some military secrets. He looked directly at Max and said, “I'll tell you the rest of the story, if you'll promise to share the story with at least one other person, as best as you can. Agreed?” Max's nod sealed the bargain.

The old gentleman began, “Well God had told this guy to do something very important, He was supposed to go to this great big town and tell everybody how much God loves each of them. But see, this guy didn't think it was a good idea, so he got on this boat and headed in the other direction. Now since this guy on board this ship wasn't obeying God, the ship got in a big storm and almost sank. They threw most stuff overboard. Finally this guy was honest with the captain and said, 'I'm the reason God is about to sink your ship.' He tells the captain to throw him overboard and everybody will live.”

Well that's what happened, Max. Now the strange and wonderful part of the story is that God had prepared a big fish at the right time and the right place to save this guy that had been disobedient, but was now being honest with himself and God. Now I know that only God has the power to keep this guy alive inside that fish, until he got spit up on dry land.”

I'm sure that guy had learned for sure not to disobey God, especially when He wants others to know about how He can save them for eternity, to live with Him in Heaven. Max, what I've told you is not a story at all. It's a real piece of history, that you can read for yourself. Oh, you'll want to know the guy's name was Jonah. The town that learned about God's deep abiding love is named, Nineveh.”

A couple days later, Blaster's phone rang, as it so often does. Blaster's wife Hattie, shouted, “Blaster, someone called and wants to talk to you!” He took the phone from Hattie and spoke, “This is Blaster. Whatcha need?” The voice in the phone said, “Gramps, I told the Jonah fish story to Duke and he said the strangest thing. Gramps. Duke said, 'Ya know, Max. I feel a whole lot like I'm a Jonah, not being honest with God, and going the wrong way to find happiness and risking the lives of people around me.'”

Max's voice in the phone became noticeably humble in asking, “Gramps. If Duke and I was to come over, sometime after school, would you explain to Duke and me how to keep from being thrown overboard by God?”

Tears almost appeared in the eyes of the old coalmine dynamite blaster as he realized God wants us to go fishing for those He loves. No license is needed, and there's no limit.