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I know the face, I just can’t plaice it.
Oh Cod, what a bad joke
you’re skating on thin ice with that one
It could be a lot worse, Will, I was herring on the side of caution.
oh carole, how can i out do that one. It was Brill!
this has to stop now! for cod steak!
me and jonny baker managed to do fish puns all the way from earls court to bath once… so i know it could go on forever!
Actually, thinking about it we should stop. it is very shellfish of us to take over with our bad puns.
… against the tide >
< < < < < < < <
Now I feel compelled to post just for the halibut.
It’s lonely swimming against the tide, but let’s keep encouraging another to keep on doing it, as it’s the only way any of us’ll make any difference.
Sas x
I tried to stay clammed up up but I just couldn’t resist beiting you just a little bit more.
All that aside… I really like this one!
right you lot! i know you’re all hooked now, but you’ve crossed the line… i’d batter you all with my rod but i’m still reeling. stop please, for the sake of my sole… i’m now in need of eeling.
we’re not worthy, we’re not worthy. And i am going to watch MOTD now so focus is somewhere else. On a serious note. I sometimes wonder if it is wise to make yourself stand out like this or what? I want to be seen as different but not a freak. I want people to wonder what is different about me but not to be reviled. Sometimes it is not easy standing out of the crowd. esp. on your own.
Yeah, cut it out. It’s net funny any more.
It’s not wise to set out to give offence or be freaky for some attention-seeking reason; but when offence is taken as it surely will be – by some swimming the other way – that has to be accepted as real life. If I choose to swim the other way I AM different. But I can choose how I respond to those offended – with grace, or not. Well that’s all obvious! – but yes, it certainly is a more lonesome road and I’m always grateful to find another poor fish floundering beside me
I see your point, Chris, but I would say that we do not always contrive to swim against the tide, sometimes it is just how things are. For me, this cartoon could be one of two things. Either, it is the Christian attempting to follow the way of Christ in a world with values which, at times, seem diametrically opposed to that ideal. Alternatively, you can swim against the tide in your own Christian community, just by virtue of the fact that you see things differently to everyone else (or they choose to conform to a more dominant voice).
But I agree that the way of grace is always the nobler option. Anytime you’re looking for a floundering fish I’m right here!
Thanks Carole! I guess I just assumed it was being different in our own Christian communities that was meant,as I think that’s what the cartoons are about. Maybe “different” is wrong word – just unable to stay in the same old box for ever – sorry, make that pond
yeh… i kept the cartoon extremely ambiguous. the cartoon isn’t necessarily pushing any point of view. sometimes it’s good to swim in the same direction sometimes it isn’t. it is always possible to be a rebel without a cause, but by definition that is pointless.
i feel like the little freak fish sometimes, then at others i realise there are actually a few of us floundering in roughly the same direction… possibly many of us.
At work, it’s strange. Sometimes I feel so one of them we are all God’s children.
Sometimes it is just me, then me and my boss, sometimes me and my other boss…
The “yeast” is being kneaded just v slow.
Not really complaining, just sharing how it is with me.
Yours,
Sarah
there is nothing better than feeling you’re swimming in the same direction for a purpose. the sense of belonging is amazing. sometimes get it playing football. not a lofty pursuit i know… but when you’re all pulling together for a result it does feel great, even if you lose.
Absolutely.
Sas x
I don’t mind being seen as a freak. And sometimes I hate being the outsider. And sometimes I’m not. Weird.
Lots of my Christian friends are very much in the “we are of the spirit, they are of the world” type approach. They find jobs in ‘Christian businesses’, Christian charities, church organisations – not that is bad in itself but it can be the safe option. Loads of the people I really care about would call themselves atheist or agnostic if pushed to define themselves. I don’t hide my own faith, it is part of who I am. But I don’t push it either. They respect me and I respect them. It’s nice when they feel comfortable enough with me to start conversations about faith issues. They trust me to be honest without being preachy or giving them the hard sell. So I really like the image of the yeast in the dough, Sarah. I trust that God knows what he’s doing (‘cos I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time!).
BUT this morning the Justice and Peace group at my church asked me to help get signatures on Christmas cards for prisoners of conscience. Now I don’t really know what if any impact this has but it wasn’t a huge ask so I put on my best chirpy, friendly face (scary in itself!) and asked people as they left church if they would sign a card (pretty please, smiley, smiley). Of course, most were great but a significant number either looked through me or looked as though I’d asked them to rip their own arm off and said no. They didn’t seem concerned that no money was involved. Who was swimming against the tide on that occasion?
There is a scene in the film Witness where an Amish communitiy is busy working together to build a church. That scene is for me an icon representing what it should be like to be church together. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don’t.
Yes Carole you were absolutely swimming against their tide then. Or they the Gospel more like.
And the Amish, yes.
I don’t like the whole “Christian business ” thing as we are called to be the light of the world – not hidden away.
And you’re right sometimes it seems like we are going against our own brothers and sisters.
I just don’tlike being in my office much at the mo and sometimes I love them.
I bet after all this I’ll have a brilliant day tomorrow.
Just very tired as getting deep into winter and we should all be curled up in front of our fires with the harvest in not going to work at the same amount of hours regardless of the time of year.
Another day off this week methinks.
Thanks Carole and God bless,
Sarah x
Yes, Sarah, this is a very tiring time of the year and I too can feel a bit miserable. I’ve just completed the most exhausting 4 weeks of my life (I’m a trainee primary teacher at the moment and just completed my first school placement). I have more or less finished for Christmas and so I’m hoping to recharge my batteries, both physical and spiritual. Have a good week and spread a little positivity – you’re so good at that. And even if Christmas is a bit on the commercial side, it is a nice break to look forward to.
you both sound very deserving of a good break. i hope you have the most relaxing christmas ever.
Jon, thank you.
Carole thank you so much!
Sarah x
Bless you both.
I wonder what that one little fish going the other way is thinking…..