Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
-Luke 5:10-11

Dont be afraid...right. Imagine, for a moment, Simon's position in the matter. There you are, a fisherman; doing what fisherman do: cleaning your net after trying, unsuccessfully, to catch fish all night in a lake that you are likely tired of looking at; tired of floating around on; tired smelling; tired of being a slave to. You clean your net because that's what you do...day in and day out. You clean your net because it has to be ready for the next day of catching no fish.

Well, on this particular day, as you clean your net, you see a man surrounded by a crowd in the distance. Must be nice to stand around all morning and tell people how to live. Must be nice to have a bunch of people hanging on your every word as if you were the Messiah himself. Yeah, and just how hard did he work for his breakfast this morning? Did he have to sit on a barren lake all night, hoping against hope to catch even a single fish? No, he probably just sauntered around town; entourage in tow; telling people what to do.

You continue to clean your net, faithfully, as you notice something strange: he has pushed his way through the crowd and is walking in your direction. Uh-oh. What's he doing? Maybe you alerted the other fisherman, who were also cleaning nets, as he came closer. To your surprise, he steps right into your boat, without permission. Then, he asks you to push your boat out into the water a little bit. What!? Is he crazy? Does he have any idea how long you've been out on the lake? Does he have any idea how tired you are? Well, he obviously is of a higher class than you...a teacher...a speaker of wisdom. You are just a fisherman—of course, you will comply.
When you do as he asks, he sits down and does what he does...he teaches the crowd on the shore. Perhaps you listen. Perhaps he says something that hits a nerve. Perhaps he speaks as if he knows you.

He finishes. Then, he tells you to take your boat further into deep water and put your nets down into the miserly waters. Excuse me? Again, you just spent all night out there, not to mention spending all morning cleaning your nets. This guy just won't stop. Anyway, at this point, you tell him your problem with his statement, but ultimately, you obey. You are just a fisherman, after all, remember?

Imagine your surprise as your nets begin to swell with fish. Wait...they are breaking under the sheer weight of the fish being caught. You need help. You call over your friends on the other boat to help you. You have so many fish, that your boat, and your friend's boat, both begin to sink. It is precisely that moment, that you figure out just who it is that you are dealing with and, for an immeasurable instant, the world is still.

Defeated, you fall down before him and, distraught, you tell him to leave because you have done bad things in your life. You are no good—just a fisherman that can't catch any fish on his own; unworthy and common.

The King of Kings looks at you and tells you not to be afraid, that you will now catch men. Afraid of what? Your purpose? Your calling? Afraid of not being useful because your best skill is cleaning nets? You and your two friends pull those fish-laden boats to the shore, somehow, and leave them behind to follow him. That's right...fisherman leaving behind two boats full of so many fish that they were sinking, not to mention your precious nets, the tools that support you, that you fussed over every day of your life. On what planet does that make sense? Well, it probably made no sense to the crowd that witnessed it. But it probably made for a great meal.

Oh, and as for you, well you became so much more than a fisherman, didn't you? The truth is...the King knew you would be on that boat cleaning nets on that day. He knew you did bad things in your life and he still chose you to follow him. Just a fisherman, huh? Guess again.