Praying for Trout?

[Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer]

From my article this week:

In the course of my years of fly fishing, I have probably spoken dozens of prayers while on the stream. When the sun was well below the horizon, and there was just enough light to tie on one more fly, I said to myself: “Please let one more trout rise.” When the rain clouds were forming, and it looked like my day of fly fishing was going to be cut short, I may have whispered: “Just a little longer, please.” And of course, when the trout were not biting, and every cast and every fly was ineffective, I might have said out of frustration: “Come on, just one bite.”

As The Fly Fishing Rabbi, sometimes people ask me if my prayers for trout to rise are answered more readily than those of everyone else. I think not. I’m just as likely to get rained on, or to lose my fly in the dark or not to catch a single fish as anyone.

As I thought about praying on the stream, I asked myself: What should we pray for when fly fishing? Is there such a thing as a blessing for fly fishing?

There are prayers that are good for fly fishing, and they are prayers of thanksgiving. Ironically, I am more likely to say a prayer of thanks when I am not catching fish. When the water is silent, and I cannot get a bite, and I am not too frustrated, then I sometimes take a moment to look around. I watch the river flow by. I feel the breeze. I smell the pine needles.

When I see the beauty of nature, I ask myself: How did such an amazing earth come to be? What did I do to deserve to live in such a beautiful place? Feelings of awe, connection and humility come to me. And then I am led to a simple response: “thank you.” Saying “thank you” when fly fishing is to acknowledge that this earth we live on is a gift. Saying “Dear God, thank you” when on the stream is to offer up a prayer.

Rabbi E

[Terry Beeson]

Rabbi,

Click here... I think you'll enjoy this...

[The Caddis]

Nice, I should be able to say something better, but the Rabbi has already said all that needs to be said. Thank's for sharing and I hope one day to share some water with the Fly Fishing Rabbi.

[jscheetz]

I have a sign in my studio that reads:

"It's better to be on the river fishing, and thinking about God, than sitting in church and thinking about being on the river fishing"

JS

[MrsDucky]

I had a student ask me if it was ok to pray before a major test. I told him to go for it! He said he was kidding. That led me to wonder why he was kidding. Because he didn't feel God would help him since he hadn't studied? Because he didn't feel God would help him on something as "minor" as a school test? Because he didn't believe in God? Because you aren't supposed to pray at school? God hears all prayers, no matter how silly they may seem. He knows you wouldn't bother Him if it wasn't important to you, no matter how small it may be in the big picture. I've had Sunday School teachers tell me that God does NOT help you get the good parking spaces at the mall, but He would if you asked for one! He is always happy to hear from us, just like we are always happy to hear from a friend or relative. I don't think any of us are advocating fishing to replace church, but sometimes, you can get more from a single ray of sunshine than an hour of structured service! I saw a rainbow today...