Everyone has something to give

Everyone has something they can give to others. It may be big, it may be small, but to the person who receives it…it may be HUGE.

We fly fishermen and fisherwomen all talk about how relaxing and peaceful it is to stand out in the water, wave a noodlie stick called a “fly rod” with brightly colored line and hope to land a just as brightly colored rainbow trout or spawning bluegill. Whether it is the act of casting, the sound of the water flowing over the rocks, or the sight of a mink as it rambles up the bank, those experiences calm us all. Who cares if the fish bite? That is just a bonus. What this experience really does is allow us to do is to miraculously and momentarily forget the bills we owe, the leaking roof, and the mounds of paperwork waiting for us at the office.  While these issues may seem big to us, in the grand scheme of things those bills and that paperwork are trivial. There are many people in this world that are dealing with far more than you or I can ever imagine.  Cancer, PTSD, or other health related issues!

Matt and the Master Guide - Marty Horn with a rainbow trout from the Spring 2016 Reel Recovery outing at Westover Farms, Steelville, MO

I am not smart person, nor am I rich person, but for the last few years I have been able to take the one thing I do have and give it to those that can use it much worse than I. What have I been giving? Time. For years now I have volunteered for as a river guide for the Reel Recovery (reelrecovery.org) and Reeling and Healing – Midwest (fishon.org) organizations to help teach both men and women who are struggling with or recovering from cancer how to fly fish. It is the most rewarding and humbling thing I have ever done in my life. My bills and my paperwork are of absolutely no significance compared to someone who is worrying about if the next chemo treatment will eradicate their tumor. 

Ms. Mary's first Rainbow Trout - Reeling and Healing - Midwest, Fall 205 retreat at Westover Farms

Why am I rambling about all of this? I don’t want an atta-boy or kudos for what I do. What is want is for anyone who reads this post to sit back, think about what they have, and figure out how they can give their gifts to someone else who could use it more. For us flyfishers it is organizations like FISHON.ORG or ReelRecovery.org. There also other wonderful groups out there like TROUTBUSTERS.org who conduct fundraisers and help raise money to send not only cancer survivors, but also our American veterans to fly fishing retreats sponsored by Project Healing Water. What ever you do…just get active, get off your ass and spend some time and help as many people as you can.

Teaching the basics of a cast at the fall 2014 Reeling and Healing-Midwest retreat out at Westover Farms