Creek

I got a fishing rod and tackle for my birthday as a kid. My dad took me fishing in a shady spot at a nearby creek. It was a heavily treed area with lots of limestone around. A fall birthday meant cooler weather, so we were there all day. I had fun, even though I don’t recall catching anything. 

We stood perched on a ledge of limestone hanging over the water. We packed up for the day and climbed out using a ladder of exposed tree roots. I had my tackle box in one hand and my new fishing rod in the other. As I stepped up, my shoe slid off a root, and my rod shoved into the dirt. The line and rod were still wet, so the rod rapidly slid through my hand. The hook pierced into the meat of my thumb. 

I was flooded with feelings. They were hard to sort through at the moment. I knew it was going to hurt as soon as my brain could process what happened. I was worried I would catch some incurable creek disease that I just injected directly into my bloodstream. I was also mad. This stupid tree root didn’t hold my step. These dumb shoes didn’t keep their grip. This cheap, wet fishing rod slid around. Why did we even take this ridiculous path out of the creek? 

I was frustrated at everyone and everything. However, I didn’t dry off my rod. I didn’t properly stow my hook. I didn’t choose a firm footing. I was certainly daydreaming when I slipped. I wanted to assign the consequences of my choices to ANYONE else. But this hook was in my thumb as a product of my own choices. And regardless of fault, I had a fishing hook IN MY THUMB! 

Sometimes, I delay tending to the urgent situation while I seek a nice home for my blame. Finding blame wouldn’t remove that hook. Changing my actions might have avoided everything. 

Can I tend to the most immediate needs first? Will I dry my line and stow my hook to avoid an accident? Am I being honest with where the fault rests? 

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.