My Father Taught Me to Fish Left-handed

Grandkids fishing in Tennessee

My father taught me to fish left handed; I did not discover this for 55 years.  It was only after he was gone, and I went fishing with someone else, that I realized everyone doesn’t fish his way.He was of the generation when a left handed person was required to learn to write with his right hand. He grew up one of three sons and became a father of three right-handed daughters .  Therefore, although he wrote right handed, he was ambidextrous in many ways.

Now, that my father is gone and I fish alone, several things have changed. I no longer have fishing rods rigged by him. I no longer stand at his right hand…right next to him on the river bank or in a canoe casting, reeling, and waiting. Some things remain the same, though. You see, I learned to fish standing next to my father.  Mimicking his every move, I tried to cast as far and deftly as he did.  That is how I learned to fish and to serve.  I learned by “being with” and “doing with,” and “waiting with.” There is an often-heard adage that some things are better “caught” than “taught.” You see in being “taught” we look “at,” but in being “caught” we look, “with.” We are called to stand next to others rather than to stand across from and mirror them. 

A couple of "caught" disciples at Second Church

Jesus’ disciples were “caught.”  They listened and learned and served alongside him, and then they were sent to “go and do likewise.” They were to be fishers of men (people). The same is true for us. The call to be fisher folk is not a call to serve “at” but to serve “with.” To anyone else the reel may be on the wrong side.  The line may be held with the wrong hand. The cast and catch may be from another perspective; however, we do what we do AND how we do it by “doing alongside” rather than “watching from across.” The one is participation; the latter is observation. 

We are called to participate in this life. We are called to go and do likewise.  We are called to be with.  We are called to serve alongside and to fish the way our Father fishes, even if it may seem wrong to others.  You see, my father taught me to fish left handed. 

Peace, 

Kat.