佩蒂一整個下午都待在河邊，用她長長的釣竿將「魚餌」拋出去。其實，她並不是要釣魚，而是想要藉這個機會結交一些新朋友，因為她最近才剛搬到這個地區。她的魚餌不是蚯蚓，也不是其他傳統的誘餌，而是奶油小餅乾。她用她那又長又堅固的鱘魚釣竿，在炎炎夏日下，把一包包的小甜餅傳遞給那些乘坐竹筏漂流而過的人。她用這種創意的方式來認識新鄰居，而他們似乎都很喜歡那些小餅乾！

佩蒂這種以釣魚結交朋友的方式，讓人聯想到耶穌在呼召彼得與安得烈來跟從祂時所說的話。彼得與安得烈兩兄弟是勤奮的漁夫，在加利利海上撒網捕魚。耶穌打斷他們捕魚的工作，呼召他們來跟從祂，還說要派他們出去，讓他們「得人如得魚一樣」（馬太福音4章19節）。不久之後，耶穌也向另一對漁夫兄弟，雅各及約翰，發出相同的呼召。這些人全都立刻撇下他們的漁網和漁船，跟隨耶穌。

耶穌也要我們來跟從祂，就像那些成為基督首批門徒的漁夫一樣，將目光專注在永恆的事上，也就是那些我們認識或接觸的人屬靈的生命。我們能帶領周遭的人，領受那真正叫人滿足的盼望──在耶穌裡的永恆生命（約翰福音4章13-14節）。

Patty spent the afternoon on the banks of a local river, using her fishing pole to cast bait into the water. Having only recently moved to the area, she wasn’t hoping to catch fish; she was angling for some new friends. Her line wasn’t baited with worms or any other traditional lure. Instead, she used her heavy-duty sturgeon rod to extend packets of cookies to people who were floating down the river in rafts on a hot summer day. She used this creative way to meet her new neighbors, who all seemed to enjoy the sweet treat!

Patty went “fishing for friends” in a much more literal way than Jesus intended when He invited Peter and Andrew to walk with Him through life. The two brothers were hardworking fishermen, casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus interrupted their labors with a call to follow Him, saying He would send them out to “fish for people” instead of fish (Matthew 4:19). He made the same invitation to two other fishermen, James and John, shortly thereafter. They all left their nets and boats immediately to journey with Jesus.

Like the fishermen who became His first disciples, Christ invites us to follow Him and focus our attention on eternal matters: the spiritual lives of those with whom we interact. We can offer those around us what really satisfies—the enduring hope of life with Jesus (John 4:13-14).