It seems to me that I remember a song or story from my “youth” that dealt with a fella from Arkansas whose roof leaked. He never seemed to get around to fixing it. A friend asked him one day the inevitable question. “Why don’t you fix your roof!” As I remember his answer, it went like this, “Well, when the sun’s shining, it don’t need fixin’. Can’t fix it when it’s rainin’!” Now, I may have totally messed the story/song up. If I did, I’m pretty sure at least one of my sharp readers will set me straight! (g) However, it certainly fits the story I’m about to tell you.

A few weeks ago, I was having lunch with a good friend at my favorite mall. I arrived early and had a little extra time. As I sat at our table, I noticed a huge ladder-on-wheels moving from place to place. One worker pushed the rig while another perched rather precariously on top. The perchers job was to replace large squares of ceiling tile that had been stained by a leak in the roof.

I casually asked the men, what was to me, the definitive question: “Have the leaks in the roof been fixed?” Here’s the answer, pretty much word for word, that came back: “I don’t think so, but that’s not OUR job. Our job is to replace the tile. We don’t have any concern about the roof.”

Is your mind blown? Are you looking shocked and incredulous? To be fair, the responsibility for this shortsighted procedure MUST lie much further up the mall food chain. (BTW, I have since noticed new stains on the new tiles.)

I really was quite surprised by their answer. I understand that their job description didn’t include roof repair. However, wouldn’t you wonder about spending your day putting up new, expensive tile squares when the problem that caused the tile to get stained in the first place hadn’t been addressed? Next rain, what’s going to happen? More stains on the new tiles, right? Duh!

All of us find stains and symptoms of “something wrong somewhere” things in our lives at one time or another, don’t we? Then we’re faced with choices. We can keep patching up the surface results or try to deal with the underlying cause or causes. It probably seems “cheaper” to take the band-aid approach and deal with the external. In terms of the long haul, however, we would probably be much better served if we took the time and endured the pain involved with repairing the problem. Our choice, eh?

Kinda reminds me of a story about a man who went to a doctor. The diagnosis involved a spot on his lungs. This was quite evident in the X-rays. The man asked the doctor how much it would cost to fix the problem. The doctor said that it would cost about $20,000. The man said that he neither had insurance nor that kind of money. He finally said, “Look, could you just touch up the X-rays for a hundred bucks!”

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– What a wonderful “fishing trip!” Praise God! What an amazing truth it is that God grants us that wonderful privilege, at just the right time, of being there when He reels in one of His own! What a blessing for you, but especially for T_______! I love stories like this.

– I just think it’s so wonderful how you manage to witness and come together with folks over Jesus. It’s so great. I know that fishing is a wonderful place to get spiritual as well. I live on the Great Lakes and we spend a lot of time out there in God’s creation. It’s beautiful and you can really meditate, pray and commune with the Lord. God bless you!!!!

– Good article. I am including the one from the previous week by the tone of the responses, as well as, the one from this week. Jesus went fishing. Look what he caught. Eleven out of twelve ain’t bad. Sometimes we have to throw back the bad ones or maybe they are too small, needing to mature a little. Who knows. Great illustration. God works in marvelous ways that are mysterious to our souls.

– OK! You SHOULD have warned me to grab a kleenex before reading this. WOW, Papa J, what a TESTIMONY and a BLESSING. Thanks soooooooo much for sharing this…I pray that God continues to bless you in a MIGHT WAY as you “troll” for Him.

– This story really touched me. As you probably know, my Dad really loved fishing. I live on a bayou where he used to come every day and fish. The last two years of his life, he and I were able to sit on my pier at night and solve all the world’s problems. One thing he made clear to me was that he definitely had Jesus in his heart and knew where he was going. Although his passing has been difficult, the knowledge that he was a believer made the burden far easier to bear.

     Another wrinkle on this story is that the only way I can fish is trolling. As you know, my son, David, is severely autistic. As a result, he cannot sit still long enough to bottom fish. Therefore, our only method of fishing is trolling. I don’t think anything makes him happier than a day on the boat. It was also on a trolling trip recently when I got him to say “I love Jesus”. Now I don’t know that he understands all the nuances of faith. But, I am reassured that ANYONE who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Someday my little buddy and I are going to sit along the “river of life” and fish with his grandfather while we rejoice in the glory or our Lord! Keep on Trolling!

– The Lord seems to drop you into situations at the exact right time! But part of your success comes from the fact that you are “The Bear” – that is a big Teddy Bear – Now I mean that as a compliment. You have a very non threatening way about you, and you put people at ease. It’s a gift from God that you have developed and choose to use. Praise God!

– It is so wonderful that someone came to Christ. God has a way of placing us exactly where we are needed and when we are needed. I’m glad that you are so open to his leading and an example of how God leads in ministry if we are willing. And it all is a miracle..you meeting her…and then her meeting Christ.

– I read these verses and thought about you witnessing for Christ. I just want to share them. It reminds me of how everywhere you go, you take the opportunity to present Christ in some way. Just thought this may be an encouragement to you.

     II Cor. 2: 14 and 15 (NKJ) “Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” What a blessing to be considered the fragrance of Christ. Keep on keeping on.

– Sometimes I marvel at how God works in our lives. Your “Inside Out” is a wonderful testimony of just doing what comes naturally and watching God bring in the harvest. I learn so much from you. I’ve grown up in urban California and neither my family nor ours now were into “guy” stuff. No hot cars or motorcycles. No fishing trips and very little camping. I could probably bait a hook, but I’d have no clue what kind of bait to use for what fish. Good thing God didn’t ask me to fish for fish!!! I praise God with you for the new life in His Kingdom because you went fishing!!!

– It just goes to show that we never know when the opportunity will arise when we will be able to lead someone to the Lord. God does work in mysteries ways.

– This is another good article. I knew right off the bat what the end would bring. (g) Sounds like a really nice afternoon chatting with people and spreading the Good News with others. You have a very unique way of befriending people and glorifying our God. I love the fish stories as I really love to fish – don’t get to anymore – but that is okay. Nothing better than a good pan of fresh fish fried up for supper. The only thing that will top that is your story of another “fish” in the sea of life saved for all eternity. Praise the Lord. You had an angel guiding you to the right person and that is very awesome.

     Thank God there are those who are so good at reaching to those in need and showing them the light of the word and leading them to salvation. Awesome!!!!

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