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Topic: Fishing (06/07/04)
TITLE: We're Goin' Fishing! By Joanne Malley 06/09/04 |
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by Joanne Malley
It's a beautiful summer day and there's a warm, gentle breeze in the air. Do you like the picturesque thought of sitting down to relax with your legs hanging over the edge of a pier? As you dip your toes in the cool river, I'll bet your mind wanders to peaceful thoughts just like mine. Those thoughts abruptly disappeared as my husband, Steve, stood behind me and pronounced, "we're goin' fishing!"
My mother-in-law has a lovely home on the water with a pier that stretches out into the Manasquan River. Standing on her dock that sunny August day, I looked around at all of the paraphernalia Steve collected for our fishing jaunt. I went along with his idea as long as he promised I wouldn't get smeared with fish guts!
I was handling my new adventure fairly well until I had to bait the line! "C'mon already!," blurted my husband. "Gross," was the only word that spewed out of my mouth! Being a gentleman, he put the bait on the line for me. Snapper fishing was on the agenda for the day, so off we went in our Boston Whaler.
I thoroughly enjoyed our boat ride, and it was now time to anchor our vessel. During my newly found hobby of fishing (yeah, right!), I stood eagerly for quite some time holding my line in the water. Getting bored and frustrated, I tried to lift my pole out of the water--it took a hard tug to do so. To my amazement, my attempt at fishing only produced a ripped and dirty men's bathing suit that was stuck in the bottom of the muck!
I couldn't ask any questions at this moment because I was too busy laughing. Steve, being the comedian, couldn't resist. With his one eyebrow in an arched stance, and a sheepish grin on his face, he questioned me. "Do you think the guy got too hot to wear his suit?" I professed coyly, "I don't know, but at least he still had his birthday suit to wear!" My only hope was that he had a towel on board his boat! I wasn't about to place my pole in again for fear of what I'd catch next!
Even if you haven't set foot on a boat or held a fishing pole, you can still partake in the sport of fishing. However, we all need to proceed with caution regarding the fishing adventures we go on. We can "fish" around for our misplaced keys or search for a lost item--a harmless, but annoying chore! However, we need to be careful when fishing for certain things, such as juicy facts or details while engrossed in a conversation with someone. We just might hear details that may damage a person's integrity or reputation if repeated.
As humans, our curiosity may lead us to dig deep to satisfy our human desire of inquisitiveness; which may only lead to the bad habit of gossiping. We especially shouldn't be fishing in the waterways of another's personal affairs or belongings, for we may get too dirty and emersed in something we truly shouldn't have found.
As Christians, let's make sure our fishing trips only provide help or support to the person that trusts our motives. Instead of fishing for dirty facts or juicy personal stories, let's go fishing for people who are spiritually lost in the "sea of muck." We can hopefully help lead them to shore as the Lord watches on and smiles at another good catch.
Being pulled by a desire of inquisitiveness myself, I have to still wonder; why was that guy's bathing suit in the water? I guess I can continue to ponder that one the next time my legs are hanging over the edge of the pier!