The Margins
When fly fishing for trout, reading the river is essential. In the prime positions in the river is where the strongest, largest, and usually the most challenging fish to catch are found. They occupy the channels and hide behind rocks that shelter them giving them the first shot at the best food sources so they don't have to expend much energy. All the other fish in the pool make do with whatever is leftover in the eddies and shallows.
If you want to catch a big one, you must work hard and may only get one attempt, even with a perfect presentation. However, if you want to catch more, likely smaller fish, you work the less favorable spots. These trout may be more aggressive and more apt to take the fly presented, even by a beginner. They are generally content to survive on whatever food choices come to them.
Often the animal kingdom provides a metaphor for our own lives. The biggest, strongest, most influential of us consistently have access to the most resources, opportunities, and rewards. Yet, in observing the life and ministry of Jesus, he was usually found surrounded by those on the margins of society--the leper, tax collector, sick or infirm, children, adulteress, etc. People on the margins seem to hold perspectives that God favors in many ways.
Father Gregory Boyle says: "Because those on the margins have been cut off, have been hurt, have been lonely, God views them as trustworthy guides into the kinship God Desires. So, we go to the margins because there we will find the people who can lead us into our own salvation. Those society presses to the margins are at the very center of God's world." [1]
Jesus reminds his followers in Matthew 25:40;
"Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'" (MSG)
A fly-fisher works the margins knowing that more opportunities for a catch are found there. Jesus calls us to work in the margins of society, understanding that it is only in these contexts, with people found there, that we will be at the center of God's purposes for humanity. We may even discover our own salvation. As we enter holy week and consider the example of Jesus again, may we be challenged to view the world through his eyes and intentionally place ourselves in the margins as he did.
[1] Vanderslice, Kendall. We Will Feast: Rethinking Dinner, Worship, and the Community of God. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2019. P. 106
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As RPC’s Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss, has a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.