How to fish like a Bible guy

FISHING LIKE A BIBLE GUY isn’t so much about fishing.

Kinda, a little.

But not that much.

Not in this story about what happened to me last week.

I took a day off to drive down into the Ozarks and fly-fish with a church friend of mine, Gary.

He’s an engineer, which means to me that he’s got a streak of crazy in him. I’ve come to believe it’s a prerequisite for engineering. I’m basing this only on the anecdotal experience of my observations over the decades I have lived.

However, as a full-time freelance writer, I am the pot calling the kettle black.

We two crazies spent last Wednesday morning standing in a cold rain on the ledge of the waterfall shown behind me in the photo that accompanies this article. One wrong step and I would get a trout’s eye view of the waterfall.

I was glad I had bothered to put studs in the soles and heels of my waterproof boots before heading out on this trip.

I caught my limit of fish that morning, not because of my skill as a fisherman. I am a rookie; I have fly-fished just a few times. I’m still learning things like taking note that my float has gone 3 feet below the water, which means I should set the hook. I really thought it was the swirling current that was pulling it down.

Fortunately for me, Gary is an experienced an avid fisherman. He has served as a guide for many people. He organizes fly-fishing trips for the men of our church.

He knows what he’s doing.

And he knows what I’m not doing.

So here’s what happened.

I’m not casting the line right. He comes over, grabs my arm, and shows me how to do it.

I’m not catching anything with my wet fly, which is a little bug-like lure that hangs in the water below a tiny float.

Gary is catching fish with a dry fly, which is a little bug-like lure that lays on top of the water like bugs that fish enjoy eating.

So Gary says, “Switch.”

Suddenly I am fishing with a dry fly. And suddenly there is a trout on the end of the line.

I stand there fighting the fish and wondering how on earth I can possibly net this fish which is a few feet below me at the bottom of the waterfall.

Gary comes over with his net and he waits for me to pull the fish close enough to him that he can get it.

Then he takes the fish off my line, and walks back across the ledge to where we have the stringer at the side of the stream. He does that so I can keep on fishing.

This went on until I caught my limit of fish.

It was as though I had my own personal servant, who also happen to be a fly-fishing master.

I taught the Sunday school lesson at church on Sunday. We’re working our way through Philippians, which is only a four-chapter book. I had signed up to teach chapter 2, which includes these verses:

 ^“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

I asked the class if they had seen anybody doing this kind of thing recently.

And I told them about Gary.

Now I’m telling you.

When people put us above themselves, I think we should take note of that, and I think we should spread the word.

If you’ve had someone treat you like that recently, I’d love to hear about it.

For more about helping others

• A home for Rosa, revisited
• Christians not afraid of getting blown to kingdom come
• Say something nice for a change

I’m giving away signed books

I have books that I’m giving away to people who might actually read them. If you haven’t gotten a free book from me before…or if you know someone who might enjoy one of the books below, let me know.

I’ll send out the books, Stateside, as long as they last.

• A Quick, Guided Tour Through the Bible
• Strange and Mysterious Stuff from the Bible
• 100 Tough Questions About God and the Bible

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid