Vintage Fishing

Something from the tackle box:

       The Lord gives strength to those who are weary.  Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall.  But those who trust the Lord will find new strength.  They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.  (Isaiah 40:29-31 CEV)

Vintage Fishing

The fish are rising,

     down by the chapel,

          in that special time between supper and sunset.

It is my favorite time

     to fish the shallows there,

          going out to where the water almost tops my waders.

I take an old fly-rod,

     about as old as I am,

          an Actionglas gleaned from a second-hand shop.

I like the feel of it,

     buttery soft in its flex,

          no need to horse it getting the line to loop out on a cast, aft then fore. 

And an old Martin reel,

     just as aged as the rod,

          a century and half of fishing experience between the rod, the reel, and myself. 

We three are getting older,

     yet not too old to fish,

          each of us approaching our seventh decade of life with this fishing season.

But when the bluegills are rising

     to a little cork popper,

          down by the chapel in the lowering light, - I feel like I’m only ten.

And my rod and reel

     are brand new from the hardware store,

          and God has just blessed us with the joy of catching our very first fish together -

Again.

Something to take home in your creel:

Blessings upon you all.  M.J.