Thank You, Kind Sir!

Several years ago, as I returned to my vehicle from a morning of fishing a stream in the beautiful Hegins Valley, I met a silver haired gentleman preparing to fly fish the lower section where I hadn’t ventured. “Any luck?’, he asked, and with that question began an interesting conversation between two strangers. We talked while I watched him assemble his 3 pc custom-made fly rod and then as he looked through his collection of flies. For my part, the conversation was a few questions here and there. For his part, he was more than generous with his answers. I’ll never forget the parting words of wisdom he gave to me as he headed towards the water. He said, “If you really want to get better at fly fishing, then start using your fly fishing gear and leave that spinning rod at home.”
I remembered his words every time I would load my gear to head out for another day on the water . I would want to reach for the spincast gear, because it’s familiar and easier to use. But I took his words to heart, and now years later, I’m able to roll cast, and also side cast – working out more and more line horizontally under the low hanging tree branches and placing the fly where I want it to go. I’ve learned to approach the stream slowly, mindfully, carefully taking it all in before I ever step foot near or in the water. I’ve learned much and yet, so very little.
So I set out today to find a stream location sheltered from the wind, for floating fly lines and winds do not mix well. Years ago, I would have left the fly rod at home on a windy day, or not ventured out at all. But I thought that if the wind is mostly from the West and I can find a stream flowin South with high banks on each side, that just might work. And it did. And I caught several beautiful rainbow trout, but more importantly, I had my batteries recharged.
As I walked along an area where flood waters had created a sand and gravel island dotted with little pools of standing water, I caught my reflection, noticing grey hairs on the sides of my head I had not seen before. And I thought about the silver haired sage I had met that day, wondering if he was well; wondering if he too was out fishing today, and I asked God to bless him…. wherever he was.
So, thank you, kind Sir, for the lessons you taught me that day, especially the one about leaving the familiar behind in order to stretch myself and grow. Remembering the wisdom mixed with kindness that I saw in your eyes as we spoke that day, I pray that I would be fortunate enough to reach that silver age with the wisdom, grace, and kindness that you showed.