“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5: 7
A mid summer morning just after sunrise and the dew dripped from the overhanging trees, I stood waist deep in the gently flowing stream. With the fishing rod in my right hand, I brought the rod back behind my head. A chill swept over my body, the cold morning air took me by surprise. With no one else visible, I embraced the serene beauty of this fly fishing trip. Only the sound of early morning chirping birds kept me company. With the snap of my rod the fly hook floated into the air. Gently resting on the water surface and the feathery hook floated with the current. Oh, how I needed this serene get away.
During the last few months the pressure from work and a location change caused a buildup of emotions. Tense, uneasy and ready to emotionally meltdown, that was my condition. This serene fishing trip should release the emotional stress. For some, this adventure would work. However standing midstream, I felt the pounding headache and the pinched neck nerve. With a flick of my wrist, the rod returned to my side, still no fish. Again, I raised the rod. With the extra line in my left hand, with my right hand, I flicked the rod towards the stream. The fly hock floated on the current.
After several casts, the still small voice whispered into my ear, “Have you learned anything yet?”
“About what, Lord?”
“About casting.”
“I’m a little dense this morning, Lord. What did you mean? “
“What did I write in I Peter about casting?”
“Cast all your care upon me…..” I whispered.
Like a polt of lightning, I understood. I replaced my cares for the fishing rod and cast those cares onto the water (Jesus). For the next few casts, I shouted a care into the wind and cast my hock upon the water. With each care tossed to the wind, my headache slowly released. My shoulders relaxed and I truly enjoyed this fishing trip.
After all this time carrying my heavy cares, I finally understood that casting was more then a fishing experience.
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