There is a famous quote, believed to be a Chinese proverb that says: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
When I was about 10 years old, my uncle Tito took me fishing for the first time. I did not even have a fishing pole and when I told him that he said don't worry about it. We'll figure it out.
We get to this reservoir that was the primary fresh water source for the county. Fishing was actually prohibited in this fresh water lake, but that is another story. We pull up to the edge of the lake and get out of the car. My uncle with his tackle box and gear and several of the longest and coolest fishing poles I had seen. It was clear he was going for the big stuff.
He proceeds to grab a fairly descent size branch from one of the trees at the edge of the lake and ties some fishing line to it and adds a hook. He tells me to sit under the bridge and to be quiet but just drop the line in the water. That evening, I caught 14 sunnies or brim, Lafayette's as they were known in that area, and a good sized catfish! I was in fish heaven and that day changed my life.
As I got older I would come home from school, drop my books and head down to the local pier to fish with all of my friends. There were times that we would have about 8 of us all lined up fishing, crabbing and selling the eels we would catch to people that wanted them. It became my past time but was, and has always been, my retreat. My chance to escape the challenges and pains of the teenage years.
Even today as an adult, I love to spend time with a pole in my hand, taking in the fresh air and trying to catch the big one that seems to always get away with my bait.
With the tons of fish I have caught over the years, there are some special memories that I have, such as fishing with my friends, or more recently when I went deep sea fishing with Dan, Nick and Dan's friends for his bachelor party. We were on fire that day and caught an amazing amount of fish. Though this trip was a couple of years ago, everyone to this day still talks about that time and that we should do it again.
However the one that made the most impact in my life was that of my uncle taking me fishing for the first time. It was a bonding time that he shared with me, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. He was showing me that I was so important to him that he would share with me what he loved to do most.
His simple act showed me that life was for living and for a purpose. At a time when most adults did not care to do anything with the younger generation, it was important to set an example and become a positive role model in a young life. Mine.
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said to Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Obviously, it is not the literal sense of fishing but to follow Jesus and be an example for others to follow.
At times, it seams with the craziness of the moments we are living, we cannot be bothered to do the simple things in life like teach a young child to go fishing. To step away from the TV and other electronics and be one with nature.
I have fished with friends, my boys, my nephews and most recently with my 3 year old grand nephew Liam. With such an amazing lake in the back of his house, he had never gone fishing.
Every time I visit my Florida family, I fish on that lake. I usually go in the afternoon and evenings but have found myself even going fishing before I start my day. Trying to catch the big bass, which are definitely out there, but mostly to catch my breath and be at peace before I start my day.
During one of those evenings, Liam was inside the house and said "Is that my Tio out there?" and then preceded to walk down to the dock where I was fishing. I asked him if he wanted to fish and he said yes. I asked him to sit down in a chair, primarily because I did not want him to fall in the lake, but also so I did not hook him myself during my casts, and then handed him a pole. I put some bread on it and told him we were going to catch a big fish.
I told him when he caught it, to yell Tio and that I would run and reel it in. Of course, being the busy body he is, he reeled it in a couple of times himself and would also squirm off the chair. But I placed him back and told him he had to be quiet and just look at the float. He was distracted looking at the other side of the lake when I saw his float go under water. I said "Liam, you have a fish!". He got excited and tried to real it in but I grabbed the pole and reeled the fish as I did not want it to get away.
Once I did, he screamed like I had caught the Loch Ness monster and it was going to eat him up!
We managed to calm him down and pose for a picture with his first catch!
This brought back the memories of my uncle helping me catch my first catch. Life came full circle and I could not be happier. Though it did bother me that the fish Liam caught was bigger than the fish I have caught all month on that lake. I'm still chasing the big ones.
As I have gotten older, I think more about my words and my actions. I genuinely try to do the right thing and be an example for others to follow. Most of the times, I get it right.
This is one of those times and I hope that Liam grows up to appreciate and understand how impactful this simple moment could actually become. I love you Muchacho.
A special thank you to my own Tio for setting the example for me to follow.
