Fourteen months ago, my son introduced me to the joys of fishing.
My husband and I had taken our offspring fishing a few times in years previous, but I don’t remember experiencing any particular affinity for the activity, perhaps because my focus at the time was making sure my family was safe and tended while we were out on or near the water.
Five years ago, I worked with a woman who is passionate about the sport. She not only spends hours on her boat each summer, but wrote her masters thesis about women in fishing, and has a business focussed on introducing women to the sport and encouraging and supporting them in growing their skills. Her passion fascinated me and stirred my curiosity.
Then my young adult son began fishing. From his first solo trip to the nearby river bank, he was obsessed. Every chance he got that fall, he headed out. When spring came, he was even more avid, and began researching popular fishing spots and where certain types of fish were most likely to be found. He drove all over the southern third of our province, his kayak strapped to the roof of his Honda Civic and quickly collected an impressive number of awards through the Manitoba Master Angler program.
His joy in the experience, regardless of the number or size of fish caught, was palpable … and enticing. I asked him if he would be willing to have me accompany him on a fishing excursion, just so I could see what it was he found so enthralling. He readily agreed.
It was a Sunday in mid-June. My husband and son loaded our tandem kayak on the roof of our pickup, our son’s kayak alongside, and we headed out to a popular lake a couple of hours outside the city. I love being out on the water in our kayak. To my surprise, having a fishing rod in my hands added a new layer of enjoyment to the experience. I didn’t catch anything that day … or the following weekend when we went out again, but I didn’t care. I revelled in the previously untapped connection to the sun, the water, and now the living creatures beneath the surface.
My love for the sport and experience of fishing has only grown. I’ve had days of breathtaking success in either size or quantity of fish caught, or both. I’ve had days of disappointment and frustration. I’ve had days of catching nothing and just feeling happy to be outside near my favourite element, the water.
And, being wired the way I am I’m always seeing metaphors and symbols in my experience for the work of the inner life, the nourishment and growth of soul.
I look forward to sharing more of these experiences and reflections in the weeks to come.
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