I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15:5
A couple years ago my Grandpa on my Mom’s side died. I was very close with my Grandpa in fact he’s the reason I love to fish. A month or two after he passed away I had a dream with him in it that I would like to share.
In the dream Grandpa and I were going fishing. I loved fishing with my Grandpa. Some of my fondest memories are of my Grandpa and I fishing together. This time we were fishing on Eagle Lake which was a lake we fished often when we fished down in the cites. The boat was already in the water and I was in the drivers seat. Grandpa didn’t always let me drive but I loved the special occasions when I was able to. I pick out a spot on the other side of the lake where we should start fishing and I start driving there. As we are making our way there I look down and notice that the gas gauge says we’re almost out of gas. The lake isn’t huge so I figure we can make it and we do. I start casting and casting and never get a bite. I decide it’s time to find a new spot and it’s on the other side of the lake. I anxiously watch the gas gauge as we’re driving there and we make it. I start casting and casting again and still I never get a bite. This happened a few times in the dream and each time I pick a spot on the opposite side of the lake. Each time I watch the gas gauge hoping we would make it and do. Eventually I wake.
I think that dream is a perfect illustration of how our Christian walk can go at times. How often do we try to make it through a day, week, month, or even a year without spending some quality time with God so we can be recharged? It funny that I don’t even remember if my Grandpa picked up a fishing rod in the dream. I do remember that he never said a word. He just looked at me with a big grin on his face. How often is God looking at us in the same way? Today no matter how full you think your tank is, I encourage you to spend some extra time with God refueling.
Originally posted January 13, 2010.