There’s something about fishing…. Whether one uses a stick with a piece of string and a hook, or a full rig with fancy lures – it is a favorite past time for so many. Fishing is more than catching dinner, it’s part of a bonding process between people, and a means of relaxation and reflection for others. Who would have ever guessed that it would become a professional sport?
I remember at a very young age, fishing with my Dad. As a very chatty child (insert surprised look here), you can imagine that I found it difficult to be quiet while on the boat. It would seem as if we were out on the lake for hours, but in retrospect I realize it was most likely only a couple. When a fish would feel pity for me and throw themselves on the hook, I didn’t want to remove the hook myself because it was yucky. Luckily for me, Dad was always willing to step in to lend a hand.
Robert Kenui Pope told me many stories about fishing in Hawaii, and the funny thing is that those stories didn’t parallel mine. He would fish with his Father in the ocean, with big rods and reels. I suspect that he never had the occasion to use a stick tied with a piece of string and hook. He knew of fishing nets, gaffing hooks, night fishing and the list goes on and on.
On a trip to Hawaii in 2006, we took a fishing charter boat out for half a day to go fishing. Robert was very excited, and I was worried about getting sea-sick (or should that be ‘ocean-sick’) so I took two, yes two Dramamine. It worked so well, that I slept almost the entire trip. Robert urgently woke me up with his cries of joy saying that he had a fish on the line. I grabbed my camera, and the adrenaline took over as I snapped photos of his fight with the fish and ultimate victory as he pulled it over the side of the boat. An 87 pound Marlin’ was the prize and he was rightfully proud of it. As we pulled back into the bay, he told me that the spot he caught the fish, was where years before they had spread his Father’s ashes and that this fish was a gift from his Dad.
When Robert found our house, he was so very excited that there is a lake (large man-made pond) stocked with fish and a dock from which he could throw his line in. He spent many days walking down to the dock, fishing pole in hand, just to relax and reflect on how wonderful our lives were. We’ve got a good life he used to tell me, and I would always agree because he spoke the truth. The dock was always a fun place to hang out when the kids were over, whether to fish, throw bread to the geese or just talk. The ‘lake’ and the dock have been part of many wonderful memories, some about fishing, but mostly about spending time with family.
Fishing is more than catching dinner, it is a thread of experience woven through the fabric of our lives….
"And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”"
Matthew 4:19 ESV
#KeepLookingUp
No comments:
Post a Comment