Not exactly haiku…
These words contain several metaphors. What do they say to you?
There are no right or wrong answers…all gaze into the mirror and take away that which they see.
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Eric Alagan's Books
Eric Alagan's Books
Not exactly haiku…
These words contain several metaphors. What do they say to you?
There are no right or wrong answers…all gaze into the mirror and take away that which they see.
********************
sorry, my last phrase should read: more likely to be open to being used by Him. (not sure how it got mixed up)
Fixed the problem 🙂
my thoughts at this point which hardly scratches the surface of this mysterious saying: just as one reaps what one sows, one catches what one fishes for…
You got it Dee – very succinct.
I must congratulate you for not taking the religious route. Many feel that ‘fishers of men’ is biblical. It is…but not exclusive.
It is like saying ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ – some Muslims feel this is exclusive to them. Well, I respect their opinion. Hopefully, they respect mine.
Assalamu Alaikum means Peace unto you > something that many of us Christians use, taken from Our Lord. It is the same meaning but in Arabic. Yet some think it is exclusive to Islam. Kinda strange when one considers the Bible pre-dates the Koran.
When I said Assalamu Alaikum – some Muslims scolded me. The Catholics are no better – they also scolded me.
That is why I said in this post > many metaphors and we each see what we want to. But to please respect everyone’s opinions.
You are deeply religious > but you are also wise and discerning.
Peace, Eric
Hi Eric,
I take this two ways, both of them in the context of religion, because of the phrase “fishers of men” used by Jesus. Either that the people who are evangelised are hypocritical and not very good recruits, or the one that I prefer, that the people are the so called scum of the earth. These are the people Jesus was accused of associating with, and the people who God can use because they are broken, and therefore more likely to be open to being used by Him.
Taken at a religious level – I agree this can be interpreted in both these ways.
When searching for spiritual food – we tend to cling on to the stuff that is not good for us – that’s my take on it for today…it may change the next time I read it!! 🙂
This comment is sweet and beautiful. It reveals a few characteristics:
(i) An all too obvious fact
(ii) You’ve given your take for now
(iii) You’ve hinted that you don’t know it all
(iv) You made clear that as you grow – you’re willing to relook past positions
These show a very mature, wise and humble person.
Very refreshing and thank you, Eric 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Only because I have been around some amazingly inspiring Buddhists for a very long time which has enabled me to wake up to myself! 🙂
You become what you surround yourself with…
That is very true… one which they create, feed and feed off.
I think for me it is the thought that in this life we can look into our nets and be disappointed – the question is whether we are strong and determined enough to keep fishing.
This is a positive approach to life and living that you suggest Jacqueline. Lovely 🙂
very beautiful Eric! Loved the way, we try to net out the things we want ,in which there’s nothing except greed,jealousy,crime,sin,hatred …Instead of gathering the real nectar…we fill in our hands with dirt and grime of feelings and conscience..
Truly said, as what we hold in our hands and hearts – reveals us
Fishers of men …
Those who fish for those who have nought …
Those who fishers can mould, manipulate and abuse …
Orphans most at risk: starving, abandoned and homeless …
I hear their silent screams, I feel their aching bellies, I cry too …
Yes, the ‘fishers of men’ can be manipulative and succeed when dealing with lemmings…
All mankind are like fish what we feed off is most important. What we put into our bodies or discussions we get involved in, like gossip, verbal bullying, can render us like offal, some unfit to eat. Yet we tell other mankind how to act,what to say , how we say it. Who are we to judge? But those that have a good strong net (work) will be able to fish longer but those who obey as to where to cast the nets will produce more than anyone else and will always prosper.
Ah, true sentiments these.
If we knowingly cast our net into a cesspit…
We first need to discern before choosing the spot to cast our net
Thank you – your comment resonates for me 🙂
Work reference – you have a gather of poor fare or collection of “offal”, the output is poor decisions and inefficiency. People don’t think much of HR, but the recruitment affects the results. That was what come to my mind when I read this.
What a refreshingly different angle, akin to sowing and reaping. Thank you Jasey dear 🙂
men are not meant for fishing. so those who try it truly get nothing.
I didn’t get the meaning of your comment. But I know your work enough to realise the problem was with me and not your words. I set aside and revisited this morning and it became clear.
It says this to me > to each his own, the paths many but destination the same. Therefore, why do you busy yourself showing directions to others when you are lost yourself.
Perhaps I read you wrong, but this came to me.
wise thought, 🙂
but its good to help others, sometimes we find our own path in that process.
Very well said, when we ‘carry’ another, our ‘strength’ is revealed, I reckon.
and we may end up guiding each other to our destinations 🙂
Love this poem 🙂
Thank you George. All good wishes, Eric
Nice metaphors/haiku. Yes, we sure are a sorry lot, fishermen and fish alike.
People don’t live the faith they promote – often we hear ‘Do as I say and not as I do’ – this seems to give license to stray > ‘If the priest can do it, why not me…’
Aren’t we all sometimes offal, I mean awful?
If we look down on our fellow man, then we don’t really love them like we’re supposed to. p.s. I had to look up the word ‘offal’-
You are right that we should not look down on fellow man.
The next time someone thinks he hears god speaking to him and he blows up innocents…let us hope that it is not our loved ones splattered on the road.
So true!
It is really sad and heart wrenching, Zellie. We need to pray for these people…difficult as it might be
so beautifully written,we the humans have never ever understood God and his world..it was such a huge gift free to all,and look what we did
greed blinded us and we forgot we could have had it all and now for a piece of land we fight
It is sad when we fight over things that we ultimately leave behind.
Unfortunate, but true
We wonder at the kind of people (not all but some) who flock to religious standards and wonder at the calibre of preachers who gather this offal…
I pictured the guys passing the sock-type “baskets” on poles to fish for the meager offerings, the-cast off coins no one wants.
That’s an interesting take. Thank you 🙂
Hmmm…I hear you…like being fishers of men…not sure I like catching only a few and do not like the quality of the catch — can I say – I need more…
Taken at a religious level – not of any particular religion but refers to all – perhaps the question is, what type of ‘men’ as in ‘people’ are you gathering?
yeah – that’s where I was going – what’s up? why would you bring this up?
Biblical reference: evangelical connotation?
So… I would think about the religious right and some kind of jingoism or hypocrisy?
If it is construed as religious…it opens up some avenues of interpretation, yes.
a feminist’s kaleidoscope views this as a poor choice of (worthless) men 😉
That is interesting…yes ‘men’ as in the male gender…