Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:9 that we all know in part and all prophesy in part. I have chosen to open this article with only a part of a verse, not to build a teaching on a partial piece of Scripture (as many have), but as a transition from the origins of mankind to the teachings of application for today.
The verse was shared in part because most of us, especially myself, do not have all the answers. The idea that any man or woman would have the answers is a theme that had been touted throughout history. Abraham did not have all the answers, Moses didn't have all the answers. The prophets had messages but not all the answers. Even Paul, when confronted with a concept so integral to the human experience called the relationship of man and woman, "a mystery".
The third and final reason for this partial verse being cut short is to clarify that the my view, as well the Biblical view, is not a "It's a man's world" view. Solomon, looking for people of Godly wisdom writes in Ecclesiastes 7:28, "While I was searching but not finding, one man out of a thousand have I found to be upright." Yes, he goes on to say that not one woman was found. Perhaps this is true, or perhaps he was searching for another wife/concubine that skewed his judgment of women.
We have to get over this idea that the Bible is a dead book full of dead women and men who are untouchable perfect saints, and start realizing that many of the troubles that they went through in their time are the same as what we struggle with today. Many of them were simply living their lives, both content or distraught with their environment. Some were searching for answers for short term concerns, others were drawn in by God to make historical changes.
I have to assume that you are not being forced to read this - that you have made a choice to search. It could be because someone recommended you read this, or stumbled upon this through a Google Search. So, the topic of this article aside, what is that you are searching for?
Obviously, the list of things people are searching for can be endless. When Jesus called from the shore to the disciples, "Children, do you have any fish?", they weren't at a synagogue, bank, or at a park with their kids - they certainly were not asleep. Sure, Jesus may have been hungry for a fish sandwich, but we do know that the disciples were searching for fish - and coming up empty handed.
In Joss Whedon's movie, "Serenity", a group of oddly mixed space cowboys, who are usually searching for work and getting paid, find themselves on a dangerous mission. Surrounded by corpses of those who had "just given up", one of the crew cries uncontrollably. The mercenary of the group, Jayne, replies, "She is starting to damage my calm." Jayne had Vera, but couldn't handle disruption of the status quo. (If you haven't seen the movie, Jayne is a man played by Adam Baldwin and Vera is his very large Callahan full-bore auto-lock gun.)
I share the scene from this movie, not because you should see it (the movie may not make sense if you haven't seen the Firefly series), but to help you realize that many people who are comfortable in bad environments - no matter how armed they are - do not want to have the boat rocked.
The disciples had been fishing all night and caught no fish. They have been there before, and it was status quo - they didn't like it, but still they were searching for fish. In Luke 5:5, Peter was a lone fisherman who was at the shore without any fish. Jesus got in the boat, and said let's go out and get some fish. Peter's first response was, "We worked all night and got nothing! But if you say so..."
Perhaps the most prominent cause for my digging into the Bible, and why I share with you, is that I have found where I have "fished" before brought me no catch. You could be an exhausted mother with wild children, a real estate broker in a bad housing market, an alcoholic that can't seem to kick the habit.
Because of my own personal life struggles, I could have given up a thousand times over. However, I had developed a deeper searching into the Bible that I never found sitting in pew. Get out of your mind that these were some first-world, white privileged, rich man surface issues. They weren't self-inflicted, egocentric, rebellious, wild-living or substance addiction circumstances either. Just doing the right and good things in a broken world, depending on the surface understanding of the way things are - and have been since the beginning of time.
The reality is, not everyone will be in your corner - especially if you don't want things to remain the same. Hopefully, you already know what you are searching for. You may be a great fisherman, but night after night of not catching any fish has left you thinking of changing occupations. You'll hear a voice of the wisdom from the shore saying, "cast it on the other side", but your crew is obstinate. You know that the vain insanity of what you are doing pales in comparison to the abundance brought about be a small change - yet, "because you have listened and given heed to your..."
We are made for relationship, knowing and preaching "in part", we can build on each other's strengths - or tear each other down in our weakness. We could become cold, and neither care for the input of others nor share in our own search. Of course, "it is not good that man be alone", but we often settle for an Eve when she is the only one around.
This is my main struggle. If you have family that support your dream - even if not your pocket - you are blessed beyond belief. If you have friends that seek to understand your desires and shortcomings, you have a helping hand (singing James Taylor's "You have a friend"). If your workmates inspire you to produce greater things as a team, you have a unity of environment which God intended for mankind.
Yet, what happens when your dreams, desires, and inspirations are squashed by "friends", stunted by your job, and family just doesn't care to "get you"? I speak of the Bible, and most have no interest, have another belief, or would rather me compromise.
"Leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet" is the direction I know I should take. But it is the love, loyalty, and sometimes sympathy - perhaps misplaced - that I have for my dis-comfortable community of fellow (broken) people that hinders me. "Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." - you see what I mean?
Knowing what you are searching for is the first key. Knowing what you have a passion for is next. Passion will help you to not give up the search. Obstacles can either keep you from finding the answers or strengthen your tactics to achieve your goal.
Exhausted mother with wild children, should you stay or should you go? I ask this, because if I had a job that I hated, you might say "just go get another job" without considering the consequences.
Alcoholic that can't kick the habit, should you continue or should you keep the tab open? I ask this, because if I had friends who are bringing me down, you might say "get new friends" without considering how you feel drinking alone.
Real estate broker in a bad housing marker, should you find a new job or take the time to build your home? I ask this because if I had a family who didn't support my career choice, you might say "you need to pay the bills" without considering the people at home you are supporting with your paycheck.
Before "shaking the sand off your sandals" or giving up your search - sometimes you just need to throw the net on the other side. Sometimes that grass truly is greener on the other side of the fence and you only need to move one house over.
I'll admit, I haven't been fishing since I was a kid - and don't know much about it. I remember that I would be so excited about any catch I got (which wasn't that much). Then my father would tell me I had to throw it back. It could have been that it was too small or that there was something wrong with it. It could have been my crying because I felt that I was a failure to my dad, but the fish became rarer at the end of my line. After clearing my tear filled eyes and ready to try again, my father would tell me "cast it over there" and a larger (and delicious) fish would wrestle with my hook until I excitedly pulled it from the water!
The same can be applied to people in our searching. Jesus didn't tell the disciples to give up fishing, but taught them how to be fishers of men. Throw back the people that need to grow up in understanding and maturity - it's not that you hate them, but you realize they either need time to be part of your vision or are not suited for your path at all. Don't be ashamed to feel the pain of defeat - but do be prepared for another stance, another method, or another location.
Perhaps, on your way to that next interview, AA meeting, or parent teacher conference you could pack yourself a cold fish sandwich and consider the miracle of the loaves and fish.