After these things, Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
John 21:1
The disciples had encountered Jesus multiple times: Mary, the Emmaus two, the disciples in the upper room without Thomas, then again with Thomas, and now John records another encounter. We do not know the time between the last encounter and this one—probably a few days. However, this gives us some insight. What do you do between encounters? You go fishing!
Not literally. The emotional, mental, and spiritual ecstasy the disciples experienced during their encounters with Him cannot be lived all the time; it would have killed them. After all the wonderful encounters one might have with the Resurrected Christ, one still has to live life. People have to eat, bills have to be paid, relationships have to be tended to, dishes need to be washed, and so on. Even though the disciples did not tweet about their encounters with Jesus or update their Facebook status, they most likely discussed these events and reflected and celebrated with each other. However, please note that they did what was in front of them. They lived life. They needed food or money, so they did what they were skilled at doing. Doing what is in front of you does not mean you are going to miss out because you are not in the “more spiritual” upper room. The Resurrected Christ met them where they were, and they were found living life. Everyone in the Old Testament who was called and used by God was found doing everyday kinds of stuff.
There is a tendency to think that because the encounters with the Presence of Jesus are so powerful and in many ways form our inner life, the goal is to have them all the time. Therefore, we end up with Christians who don’t take care of their responsibilities because they are too busy “seeking the Lord.” This doesn’t mean we should do whatever we want and never seek Him or that we should just cope with His absence. The balance is keeping Him at the front of your mind and in the center of your heart. It is to have our hearts and minds aware of Him in all things. Therefore, you do the “everyday kind of stuff” unto Him and with Him while enjoying Him.
Do not let the over-spiritualized notion that the secular stuff is keeping you from Jesus. The disciples lived their lives. They went to work, caught some fish, sold some fish, laughed, cried, changed stinky cloth diapers—everyday kind of stuff. They probably did those things with a conscious awareness of Jesus. Nevertheless, they did what was in front of them.
Because Jesus lives, He can be encountered anywhere at any time. His resurrection redeems the ordinary, making any activity, no matter how small, meaningful when done unto the Lord. Christ sanctifies the secular by indwelling the Christian. Now all work can be service unto the Lord when we do it unto Him and with Him.