Recently I met the captain of one of the boats featured on Wicked Tuna, National Geographic Channel’s reality television show. The show follows the lives of bluefin tuna fishermen living in the US. Bluefin tuna are some of the largest marine creatures. They can grow to 10 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Sadly, illegal practices and over-fishing have seriously threatened their population.
The captain told me of some steps taken worldwide to protect and sustain the tuna population. He said one country even paid its commercial fleet to stop fishing for 3 years so tuna numbers could increase. When I responded with, “That’s a fantastic act of stewardship,” he asked, “Are you religious?” To him, stewardship was a religious word.
Circumstances allowed only a brief explanation, but I told the captain that I believe in a Creator-God who made the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1). I told him that the same Maker created human beings, and that we’re to steward—to take care of—the earth and see it flourish just as He created it to flourish (Genesis 1:20, 27-28). I explained that even if people don’t realize it, they perform acts of stewardship because that’s part of what God created us to do.
The captain paused, and then admitted that seeing the intricate design of the bluefin tuna sometimes makes him want to be “religious.” I responded, “I’m going to pray that you will find the Creator of the bluefin tuna.”
You never know what meaningful conversations may open up when you recognize and affirm the efforts of others who unknowingly reflect what God created us to do. May He help us to be good stewards of His creation and the conversations we have with others.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Deuteronomy 29:1-29
More:
Read Romans 8:19-21 and consider what God will do one day to restore the natural world to its intended beauty and glory.
Next:
With whom can you have a meaningful conversation today about why you believe in the Creator-God? How can you be a better steward of what He has given you?
Gary Shultz on February 23, 2016 at 6:17 am
Well Jeff, you just never know how your path may merge with others. I think being a good steward would also include keeping the ship in shape to be able to fish at any time, any water. It is also a curiosity to me that people that come in close contact with creation easily see natures marvels. If they think about it, a hand of design, balance, and provision is evident, even in Wicked Tuna. Thanks Jeff, spring is coming.
Jeff Olson on February 23, 2016 at 7:53 am
Yes, you never know who we will run into…I love catching people living out parts of God’s original design for us…yes, sin has mangled it all up, but it’s still there…and noticing it in others often brings questions which leads to opportunities to talk about the One who is behind it all.
And thanks for the reminder that spring is just around the corner!
gagirllive on February 23, 2016 at 6:51 am
That was a great encounter, Jeff. God gave you an opportunity to fish for men…and unlike natural fishing, it doesn’t always require a lot of time. God provided the bait. You just had to cast the net. I pray that I will steward well the divine appointments that come my way today… and like you, be aware of them! May the God of the bluefin tuna find His home in that captain’s heart. Thanks for sharing this. It’s inspiring.
Jeff Olson on February 23, 2016 at 7:57 am
“May the God of the bluefin tuna find His home in the captains’s heart”…Indeed!!!
sdwise on February 23, 2016 at 7:38 am
Jesus said to Simon and Andrew in Matthew 4 “… I will make you fishers of men.” Although He was speaking to Peter and his brother, the call goes out to all believers.
Mike Wittmer on February 23, 2016 at 10:20 am
Thank you for this example of godly living in our world. It’s interesting to me that through common grace, even non-Christians do many of the same things we do, but for nonreligious reasons. We can and must affirm that, all while pointing them to the special grace of redemption only found in Jesus. Your encounter is a model of this.