JUST RELAX

The drive to my favorite fly fishing river takes about an hour. I live in a large Midwest City. The voyage typically starts with picking up a good friend of mine, we grab a bite to eat, and head down the highway. With every passing mile the hustle and bustle of the city fades away. Our conversations are about anything and everything, but typically turns toward fishing. Thirty minutes into the trip we enter the rolling farm lands of western Wisconsin; soon we’re descending down the bluffs through mature hardwoods, and arrive at the small town that neighbors the river. The Catholic Church is within walking distance of the honey hole and has a nice parking lot; we pull into the back corner, grab our gear, and head to different spots on the river.

 

As I walk the lush green embankment that gradually slopes down to the rivers’ edge, the summer sun warms the back of my neck. Looking up to the bright blue sky, the occasional fluffy white cloud slowly lumbers by. The opposing bank is high and steep, concealed with a variety of large trees and heavy vines. The narrow river snakes through the valley carrying a few leaves and insects as it passes by. The water swirls around boulders and fallen timber, creating riffles that softly bubble along. I raise my fly rod, whip the tip backwards behind me, and methodically bring it forward pointing towards the desired landing place for the fly. The fly wisps past me and lands just above the riffle; the current pushing it from side to side through the torrent water, and finally drifts to the calm pool just ahead of the next bend. Several more cast are made before all the clutter in mind starts to fade away. Eventually my mind is clear and my entire focus is on the fly drifting through the water. On occasion, a trout rises to ingest the fly, slap the water, and pull the line tight. This is one of my favorite ways to relax.

 

Everyone has their own way to relax and unwind. Sometimes we need to clear our mind of the clutter and purify it.

Ezekiel 20:6-7 I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them-a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. Then I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am you God”.