Two boats… left there.

It was just an empty boat,

but that emptiness told a story!

A lament for a long, hard night,

a tale of hearty spirits

setting sail with high expectations,

recounting hours passed in futility.

It paid tribute to stout hearts,

straining muscles, and sweaty brows;

and mourned empty nets rising from dark waters.

It sang a requiem for hope and brotherhood,

and chronicled the rise of despair and hostility.

Finally, it detailed that climactic scene when,

with all will and energy exhausted,

defeat overtook them.

They pulled the old boat up to shore

and left it there…

a testament to failure.

The day was done.

End of story.

But…

not in the eyes of Jesus.

There in that empty boat

he saw exactly what he needed.

Not a glorious catch of fish,

or a crew occupied by the results of success.

An empty vessel,

and at least one available and willing person.

It had been a bad night,

but then came the light of day,

introducing a new story.

Jesus looked at that empty boat,

and that disheartened crew.

And without hesitation, he declared,

“I can use that.”

“He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”  (Luke 5:2-3 NIV)