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Learning to Fish

Learning to Fish
by James Ogle

I walked out on the dock this morning. The air was brisk; the temperature had to be in the 40s or 50s. I noticed something right away: the water clarity was pristine. You could see all the way to the bottom and there was no seaweed or algae clouding up the water. Probably due to the weather change and the cold water. Just as sure as the sun was shining memories from my youth began to flood my mind.

My father had just given me the greatest gift of all time. A new Castnet. Wow, my very own net to throw wherever I wanted, and take wherever I wanted, and fish wherever I wanted. In an instant, in my mind, I had gone from a boy fisherman to a man fisherman.

Just about the time I was dashing from the patio down to the river to throw my new net, my father stopped me and walked down with me to tell me one thing: "Son, throw anywhere up and down the dock but right here next to the seawall. You can throw anywhere else, except this portion right next to the seawall, because you will rip the net apart." Of course I retorted with the same response every boy that ever lived had to know. "Why Dad?" I asked. "Because I said so, son!” was all I got. Though that was not good enough, but I would try and follow his directions.

Well, some time passed, and it seemed that all the fish I wanted stuck close by the seawall; right next to the rocks, the bank, and right next to where my Pop told me NOT to throw the net. I could keep hearing his voice in my heart and in my head. "NO," the voice kept saying, but I wanted to do it anyway.

So I threw the net, with glory and might, and as soon as the net hit the water, it erupted. I could see fish reach for freedom, poking their bodies through the top of the surface attempting to escape, but I had them, all of them. Until I started to retrieve the net, and pull the draw strings, and low and behold, I heard the most awful sound I had ever heard (ping, ping) a high pitched sound of strings snapping being cut by the logs coated with barnacles underneath the net and the seaweed that I could not see. As the net ripped before my eyes, all of my catch escaped between the holes. The fact is my father knew the logs and barnacles where there and he warned me of their danger, but I went on my own.

Today I can see clear to the bottom, and see the logs now, with my own eyes. I can see their cutting edge and dangerous points. Because the seaweed is gone and the water is clear. The reality is, though, I am now seeing for the first time something that my father had warned me of all along.

Are you doing things today, right now, that you know you should not be doing? Our Father, our spiritual Father, talks to all of us, each and every one of us, each and every day. It's that voice in the pit of your stomach. It’s your earthly father talking to you out loud. It’s your friends and family that care about you. It’s those around you that love you. They tell you things that they can see, that you don’t see. Through the seaweed, and through the cloudy water, clouded by our own selfish motives and intents. Those who misjudge the value, and don't count the cost, end up with holes in their nets!

Desire does not equate worth. Worth motivated by desire warps value.

A boy does what he wants to do. A man does what he needs to do.

James Ogle and his dog Auggie Doggie reside in central Florida on the Space Coast where he was born. James grew up in Southern California and went to the school of hard knocks most of his young life. He came out of a lifestyle riddled in gang activity, alcohol and drugs. Jesus Christ came into his life and gave him hope through “City of Refuge” in the swamps of Okeechobee called Dunklin Memorial Camp. Today he attends over-comers meetings and shares with other men and women that are coming out of the same addictive, hopeless cycles that he was entrenched in. He enjoys fishing, boating and writing inspirational articles, stories and sonnets. If you have any comments or feedback, contact him. If you know someone that is struggling in their life clouded with the darkness of hopelessness, let them know they don’t have to live that way. As long as our heart beats, we have hope! Lets help them together!