The fishing banter was in full swing. One was catching more. More in numbers, weight, and size than anyone else! The first day it was fun, the second annoying, and by the third we had to admit he was the top of the class. There were no facts that we could use to suggest that the score was anything but what the score was.
I am back in Singapore, reflecting on the experience. The others are still fishing in Exmouth. If weight is the measure of what happened, I am definitely in last place. Even as I reflect, I do not think weight was ever a measure of what was going on. Weight reflected the fish that we landed yet it misses the ones that got away, the excitement of the change, and the anticipation of what could happen. It also sidesteps everything to do with the experience of being in a unique wilderness area. Even if I had caught the most fish in weight, this fact would not help me describe what happened.
I had a chance to fish and reflect on life in a beautiful and remote wilderness area of Western Australia. Few people ever have the chance to experience this. I was able to spend it with a group of guys that were friendly, accepting, and caring. Life does not always unfold in this way. I did not injure myself or come away with severe sunburn. I had an experience that will go with me for a long time.
I often find that I allow myself to be caught up in an item that is not relevant in the larger scheme of things. With fishing it was the weight of the fish we caught (or did not catch). In other things, it is could be diet or another lifestyle choice someone makes. It is easy to presume that there are strict rules. “Fortunately God doesn’t grade us on our diet. We’re neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can’t stomach it.” (1 Corinthians 8.8) Life is a bigger story.
