Lend a Helping Hand

 

 

The last few times I’ve been out fishing, it seems that I have spent more time helping other people with their tangled reels, teaching them how to tie a knot or the proper way to bait a hook than I’ve spent wetting a line. And that’s okay.

I remember years ago people helped each other. It didn’t matter who you were, how much money you had, what color you were, your political views or where you came from. People helped people. Today it seems hatred abounds.

When I was a younger man if I came across someone who had a flat tire, and they were older or a woman, I would stop and help.  That was how I was raised. Today I might be called sexist or something. As I got older the world changed and so did I. I became more cynical, if it didn’t involve me it wasn’t my problem. And that is what’s wrong with the world today, people forget that we are all here together, with no place else to go.

What does it cost you to show some kindness? To change a flat tire, or help that person get that package of water off the top shelf? It will only take a few minutes of your time.

I was reminded of this by my two grown boys. One is a recovery specialist, helping people get off whatever they are addicted to and my other son who told me, “Dad people are just people. And if I can take a few minutes out of my day and make someone smile, then it’s a good day.”

So why don’t we try and get back to neighbor helping neighbor and make your little corner of the world a little brighter.

Matthew 25:40 “'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Back to the Basics

                                                                              

Do you remember strapping your small tacklebox to the rack on your bike, holding your fishing rod in your hand as you pedal as fast as you can to your favorite fishing spot? How about catching nightcrawlers after a heavy rain? Even digging through that pile of fresh horse manure from the stalls you cleaned, because those worms had that certain florescent color you were sure the fished liked better? Back when fishing wasn’t something you did to relax after work but was your life’s joy.

That’s how I started out, but something happened along the way. The joy of childhood became the addiction of adulthood. Like many other outdoorsmen I have more equipment than I ever imagined. I have tackleboxes stacked on tackleboxes, Three or four just for fresh water and another three or four, for my saltwater excursions. My favorite rod is a 5 ½ foot medium Bass Pro Power Plus with a Penn Battle 4000 spinning reel. There are also several ugly stiks, St. Croix, Daiwa and Shimano rods coupled with Penn and Daiwa spinning and casting reels. You get the idea.

 

 

 

 

Over the past few months my wife Jennifer reminded me of the joy of back to the basics of fishing. Okay she did this by out fishing me and my arsenal of artificial baits with a bobber and worm. So, I swallowed my pride and put on a bail hook, bobber and worm and guess what?  A few seconds after my line hit the water, my bobber started to dance. I remembered that bass aren’t the only fish in the water, and I can have a lot of fun catching bluegill. You never know what you’ll catch because everything that swims will eat a nightcrawler.

 I have known and fished with people who say they had a bad day on the water if they didn’t catch their target fish. I just don’t understand that train of thought. How can it be a bad day if you are out paddling, or you’re in a boat making a sunrise run to your favorite spot or fishing on the bank with your children or grandchildren?

I’ve fished tournaments when money was on the line and that can be thrilling, but I believe as adults we strive so hard to be the next household name in fishing that we lose the simple joy of wetting a line. The most satisfying fishing I do these days is in our canoe with my wife.

Next time you go fishing try and remember the pure joy you had as a child, put a nightcrawler on a hook and watch that bobber dance. In the fading light of sunset you may be pleasantly surprise.