I’ve heard about the danger that rivers with dams pose to anglers, but until recently had never experienced it myself. On a summer evening, fishing with my friend and mentor, an unscheduled dam release occurred. I had been intently attempting to untangle a wind knot I made by poor casting, ever the challenge for a rookie, when I suddenly noticed the river grew significantly louder. I looked up and saw that the river, previously ankle deep where I was stationed, was knee high and rising fast. My fishing partner was headed toward me, a sense of urgency on his face. “We’ve got to go, now” was all he said as I stood up to follow. The rocky edge that we walked in on was completely covered. We tried to cross diagonally at a spot that looked doable, but I quickly lost my footing and almost fell. I could not believe the strength of the current and its force against my waders. We decided to walk the bank to the freight train tracks to the bridge connecting us to the road we had parked on, a several mile and couple hour ordeal. Luckily, we were no worse for the wear when all was said and done.
It was one of those situations while it was unfolding, that my brain and body were in go mode. After it was over, I recognized the actual amount of danger I was in. It could’ve taken a drastic turn for the worst in the blink of an eye.
I’ve spent the last few days reflecting on how true this fact is of life itself. So many of us walk around attempting to avoid contemplating our own mortality. Our appointment with Death is unavoidable. This may seem morbid to some, but acceptance of this is what allows me to fully connect with the present moment. The now is truly all we have. This is likely the reason why I gravitate towards bird hunting and fly fishing; there are moments of intense and profound joy which do not exist without an immense amount of effort, frustration, fear and even grief.
I do not have answers as to why our world operates on this principle, but if there’s one thing I’m sure of it’s that the delicate balance and tension of opposites is the thread that binds it all together. Here’s to wading through it all and experiencing life in its entirety.
A Joyful Bounty 