Simon answered the call

Simon was a fisherman.
One morning after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing, he and his crew returned to shore.
On shore waited an itinerate preacher, who asked to use his boat as a platform from which to preach to the crowd that had gathered to hear him.
After preaching, he asked Simon to put out to deeper waters and cast his nets once more.
Although Simon explained that they had fished all night without results, he did as instructed and his nets were filled to the point of breaking with fish.
Simon recognized this preacher was no ordinary man.
This preacher recognized that Simon was no ordinary man.
The itinerate preacher had plans for Simon.

He asked Simon, and some of the others, among them James and John, to follow him.
He said he would make them Fishers of Men.
He called Simon “Peter” which means Rock and said that upon this Rock I shall build my church.
This church was not a church of brick and mortar.
It was a spiritual church built on the idea that we are ALL children of a Higher Power, no matter our religion, our color, our gender, our country of origin, our immigration status, or our sexual orientation.
It was a church that believed that we are all capable of mistakes……..
And forgiveness.

Simon Peter answered that call.
He would eventually give his life for that call.

How many times have we been called?
How many times have we answered, “I am but a fisherman?”

When asked to speak for those who have less of a voice than us, are we afraid to step forward because we are flawed?
When asked to speak out against those in power, are we afraid that we are not the spokesperson needed for the task?
Simon felt this way.

Please answer the call.