Tuesday With Teri

          So the other day I had my first Kayak fishing adventure!   A few years ago my wonderful hubby got me a kayak for mother’s day….best gift EVER.  I love tooling around the river inlets and coves…just exploring.  Scott also set up a special fishing pole holder thing on it this last year so I could fish from it. Of course I had visions of a wild, wiggling fish flopping around in my kayak and me panicking and falling into the water…so I sort of put off using it for a while. Last week I decided to try it out for the first time.

          I gathered my gear…tackle box, lures, hooks, clamp, pliers, pepperoni(catfish favorite in these parts), sun block, life vest, knife, pole, my favorite pink  “Fishin Chix” hat courtesy of my  sister–in-law Stephanie, hand held emergency radio, and a bottle of water.  I was a force to be reckoned with…at least that’s how I must have looked.

          My husband dutifully helped me get set and shove off.  Actually, I think I saw a bit of a smile eek out his mouth as if he was a little TOO happy to be getting me out of his hair for a bit.  No matter, I was happy to be on the water, and ready for some fishing!  I paddled out like Pocahontas and found my place along with the burly men folk buzzing along in their bass boats.

          It was early in the day and the water was calm and quiet, except for the nerve jarring splashing of nearby fish.  Honestly, for two hours numerous large fish erupted out of the water at various intervals.  Each time my line was in the opposite direction of the jumping fish.  I thought a few times one was just going to plop into my kayak.  Alas, I got a few nibbles and several clumps of Hydrilla(river water plant). 

          I was certain I had snagged on plants again, then I felt the tell tale vibration of life on the other end of my line!  I was so excited!  Upon reeling I discovered a problem I had not anticipated.   As my fish began to swim away from me I found my kayak being pulled along.  Yep, with no anchor and my hands too occupied with my rod and reel to paddle, it soon became unclear as to who actually had who in this game of tug of war.   I was immediately happy I had not landed a REALLY BIG fish!

          Eventually I overcame the rascal.  I was especially pleased that I was able to pull him up and remove the hook with minimal damage and release him back into the river without creating total chaos in my kayak!  I even managed to snap a photo or two!

          The lesson here is pretty hard to miss and has played over in my mind these last days:  You may not anticipate being “pulled” along in life a direction opposite of your own choosing, but sometimes the thing you think you have control over actually is controlling you.  It is not always the big things that tug us away from our calling or path, sometimes it is little things and we are just not anchored.

          Since we plan on going after big fish in life, maybe we should re-examine our anchorage.  Let us set our anchor firmly in the knowledge of our God and His love and grace.

“….so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may filled up to all fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19