November 2, 2007

The filth, stress and heat overwhelmed the fish. It lay, arched on it’s side, at the top of our pond. (By the way, our fishing adventure was more successful than anticipated – eight large koi and four beautiful shubunkins.)

Even through this particular fish was one of the less attractive specimens, we had worked so hard to get him, and he was one of God’s creations. So I took the fish in my hands and started to move him through the water.

Since his mouth was agape, the water began to flow through his gills. I moved him slowly, quickly, backward and forward. We noticed a small convulsion and our hope strengthened. After about five minutes, even though the fish wasn’t swimming, it’s gill slats began to rhythmically open and close.

Now, six days later, he’s swimming around with the rest of the fish. I’ve wondered about the quality of life of a brain-damaged koi though.

We’re like this ‘rescue fish’. God jumped into the muck of this world because he valued us. Paul says we were “dead in our trespasses.” There’s even a ‘roaring lion seeking to devour’. In my case it was the large great-blue heron that flew away with something orange the morning after we brought all the new fish home.

“let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22

Rejoicing in hope,
Pastor Steve