The Pirate and The Fisherman

Anisha Muqtadir *
 


Our whole island was running low on food. There weren’t any vegetables in the markets, and no one had any fish to sell because everyone was busy planting agar-agar.
 
“I think I’ll go fishing,” my husband said one day, grabbing his fishing basket. “I have to find something for us to eat.”
 
It was dark by the time Afraz returned that evening. His basket was half-filled with fish. “I had some trouble with the motor, that’s why I came back late,” he said as he got out of the boat. Taking the basket with him, he climbed up to our house.
 
“How’s the catch, Afraz?” one of our neighbors asked. I knew that he was hoping to ask for some fish.
 
“You know, I had completely filled my fishing basket,” my husband related. “Just as I started back home, though, a boat came by and a man asked me for some fish. I told him to take what he wanted. I had no idea that he would take half of my catch. He took all the big ones, too! Almost thirty fishes, I think. I was so surprised I couldn’t speak!”
 
I could see how disappointed my husband was, so I tried to console him. “Just let it go,” I said. “Perhaps the Lord allowed you to catch those fish so you could have something to give him.”
 
“Do you know who that man was?” our neighbor asked in hushed tones a couple of days later. “You know, the one who took half of your catch! That was a pirate! Pirates pretend to ask for fish from unsuspecting fishermen in the area where you were. If they like your boat or engine, they’ll kill you and take the boat. Or if you’re lucky, they’ll throw you overboard to see if you can swim home!”
 
“Praise God!” I whispered. “The pirate only took our fish! I pray that Afraz’s kindness in quietly giving up the best half of his catch will touch the man’s heart. May God’s Spirit who stopped him from killing Afraz lead him to faith in God.”


*The Muqtadirs church planted with PFM in a sensitive area. For their safety, we are using pseudonyms instead of their real names.

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