Life Lessons from Fishing

Fishing is an outdoor activity that went from a coffee can full of worms to a science.  Fisherman today understand the habits and habitat of fish more than ever.  Many who pick up a rod and reel have at least a basic idea of what fish are supposed to be biting on. However, anyone who has fished long enough have had days where fish just weren’t doing what they were supposed to be doing.  That is when the angler has to face the decision of whether to “be right” and continue doing what is supposed to happen or change with what the fish are doing. 

This brings a life lesson that relates to processing emotional pain.  Life changes at a rapid pace.  Life often produces what is supposed to happen, but then turns around and gives people unexpected events such as the death of a loved one, a child born with a disability, or a layoff from work.  The temptation is to fantasize about a world that no longer exists or where those problems do not.  One where there are no pain events and everything works the way it is supposed to.  The problem is that is not reality.  Each person must learn to process pain and accept the changes like the angler must change his lure or fly in order to catch fish.  We can fight reality because it is not what was supposed to happen that way, or live in it and change with the different circumstances.  Then we can accept life in the reality it is and find contentment in no matter what circumstance (Phil 4:11).