In the gospel today, Jesus is calling out to Simon and Andrew, and then to James and John - all of them fishermen. And they dropped everything and went with Jesus. Jesus saw something in them, helped them to see it themselves, and their hearts were open to hear him when he called. But in the case of James and John, their father, Zebedee, remained behind. I always had to wonder about ole Zebedee. I mean, what happened to him? His sons were likely his security when he reached is aging years, and there they went, leaving their nets - the livelihood for the family, and their dad behind. Did Zebedee not hear Jesus? Did he, miss the boat, so to speak, while he remained in it?

No. I think he knew exactly what his role was, and it was to stay behind and keep things running in the home and in the village. He heard Jesus quite clearly - and answered his own call. I think we struggle sometimes with the idea that we might be called to do - nothing at all.

We have times in our life when we are called to action - to go out into the world, and other times when we are called to stay in the boat. And it is those boat times, when we are waiting to hear where God will call us next. And if we are so busy running around, we just might miss it. To live into God's call, we have to live into God - the God that is love. We have to shed the fears that keep us from moving forward, that bind us to our "busy-ness", that keep us in the wilderness.

So take a moment to stop and to listen for where God is calling you... And when you do - you will walk in love as Christ loved us - fully alive and fully open to all that you are called to do, even if that is to do nothing at all.