I love going fishing. However, I have no desire to catch a fish, I just want to go along and watch. I am an observer at heart. People watching might just be my favorite pastime, along with animal watching, and all things of nature. Of course, there are a lot of things I enjoy doing, such as paddle boarding, body surfing, jumping on the trampoline with the kids, and playing music, to name a few, but fishing is not one of them. However, it lights me up to see people do something they love, and something they are passionate about.
This week we took four days off in a row to go camping and catch our breath during what has turned out to be a very busy summer. We went to Roaring River State Park in the southwestern corner of Missouri, close to both the Arkansas and Oklahoma borders. I had planned to put my phone away for a few days anyway, and having no service at the campground made it much easier than I thought. So instead of scrolling, and repeatedly checking my emails and texts, Mickey and I took walks with Dennis, I read a book, played my guitar, took a nap, ate, watched little kids ride their bikes back and forth, and witnessed people catching fish.
Roaring River State Park is home to a hatchery that raises and releases trout. Downstream from the hatchery, the waters are an anglers paradise. Anglers of all ages line the river banks casting their lines in hopes of catching their limit and eating a meal of fresh trout for dinner. As we walked, I saw several big trout reeled in and scooped up in a net. One little boy grabbed his prize catch out of the net and ran to show his dad upstream. A couple of times, the wiggling fish slipped out of his hands and flopped to the ground. I saw a little girl hold up a trout that was at least 15” with a huge smile on her face. In both instances, the kids looked around to see if anyone else noticed, as if to say, “Did you see that?” We acknowledged their amazing feat with smiles and a “nice catch” as we walked by. I’m sure there were plenty of stories about the ones that got away, but it seemed to me that most people were catching fish—like it was easy.
Maybe I would still be hooked on fishing if I had actually caught a fish when I was a kid. But I didn’t, even though I sat on a bank for what seemed like hours, trying not to move so I didn’t scare the fish away. Of course, this was in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where fish are wild, and avoiding the hook on the end of a ten-year-old girl’s fishing pole is the least of a Rainbow Trout’s worries. However, as I look back now, sitting on that bank is probably where my early appreciation of nature began—waiting, watching, listening, and being still.
Even though it might seem that the main point of going fishing is to catch a fish, I think nature has something much bigger in mind. Here are a few of my observations from this past weekend.
Fishing creates common ground between strangers. “Having any luck? Getting any bites?” are great icebreakers.
Fishing draws our attention away from our digital life—opening up time and space to notice what’s happening around us. The sound of crows talking, and the sound of water flowing over the rocks.
Fishing changes our point of view. We ponder things like, “What are the fish doing? Where are they? Are they hungry? What do they want to eat?”
Fishing encourages us to quiet our minds and our voices to a whisper—so we don’t scare the fish away. And when we quiet our voices, we hear that still small voice inside.
As we walked, I peered into the clear water and noticed that the fish appeared to be watching the people, as they cast brightly colored balls of bait, flashy lures, and expensive designer flies in front of them, trying to entice them with an irresistible treat. The buzzards were watching the people, waiting for the leftovers. We were all watching one another, paying attention to what was happening around us, sharing a moment, at the same time and the same place on earth, filling our cups with the gifts life has to offer.
Here’s a new song from the album Travelin’ Light which comes out in a few weeks. You are the first to hear it 😊
Fill My Cup This generous world keeps on giving Signs and wonders unfold every minute Flowers face the morning sun Tiny bursts of the miraculous Fireflies in the dark Fill my cup to the top right up to the brim With the beauty of this world, I’m living in Taking time to listen with all of my attention I won’t be coming back this way again When we meet I’ll offer you a drink Water from a silver cup That will fill you up With all that is good, all that is good Heaven on Earth Is just a state Time is ours to create Simple moments that turn to gold There’s no need to wait Let’s eat off the china plates Fill my cup to the top right up to the brim With the beauty of this world, I’m living in Taking time to listen with all of my attention I won’t be coming back this way again When we meet I’ll offer you a drink Water from a silver cup That will fill you up With all that is good all that is good How well I live, how much I laugh It’s up to me to choose Life is what I make it, I don’t have anything to lose Fill my cup to the top right up to the brim With the wonders of this world, I’m living in Taking time to listen with all of my attention I won’t be coming back this way again No I won’t be coming back this way again
Fill My Cup
We laughed, I cried, and our cups overflowed with joy!!! This is a gem, Trish, a true gem.
Trisha, I love this song. So many times we don’t stop to appreciate the beauty around us. Your song is a reminder to me to be more aware of the little things around me and to be thankful for the the joy it gives me.