Learn From Our Elders

This last weekend I spent a beautiful Saturday morning with my Dad out on a small lake with a fishing rod in hand and experienced a wonderful chance to gain some more perspective on lifes lessons. As my Dad and I worked the shoreline casting and chatting, we came upon an older gentleman in a beat up jon-boat, wearing a big brimmed straw hat, overalls, and fishing with a simple fly rod. His appearance is not important but it did reflect his demeanor. He approached us to admire my Dads new boat, and as we talked I believe he realized that we were just as harmless as himself and the conversation began to focus purely on the fishing. He gave us quite a few tips on where to fish and what techniques to employ. He watched us for minute, then he did something that I have not had any other fisherman ever do, he came over to our boat and gave us some jigs to try. Now for those of you who don't fish, this is very important, when another fisherman GIVES you bait to use, that is a very important indicator that they have been catching alot of fish with it, most fisherman keep the secret to themselves or just tell you what to use, this man told us what to use, gave us the jigs, then showed us how to use them. Amazing generosity! Then as I studied the jigs I realized that they were handmade, handmade means this man had spent the time to create it, take pride in it, and then share it with others. The very important thing to remember here is that he shared something that was important to him. So often it seems that people have these material items that have so much importance to themselves that they don't realize how much joy it would bring to them if they shared it with someone else. What happened to sharing? We teach our kids to share then as we get older we seem to forget the joy that is derived from sharing. I encourage everyone who reads this to look at their own lives and find out what it is that you enjoy more than anything and then find a way to share it with others. Whether it's money, time, fireworks, fishing, bicycling, beer, Yahtzee, or gardening, I bet that you will find that sharing only multiplies the enjoyment in yourself. I got the message from that man the other morning and from this day forward I am going to try and share again, every opportunity that I come across.

Yes, we did catch fish with his jigs, lot's of fish!

Enjoy the weekend and have a safe 4th of July.