Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it. — Dali Lama
Don’t bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.— Thomas Jefferson
Both Jefferson and the Dali Lama use a fish hook to warn us that there are consequences to our actions and emotions.
There is too much anger and hatred being spewed these days, especially by those who profess to want to be our leaders. I have no doubt that this anger and hatred will ensnare us as a nation and tangle us up in a worse knot than any spinning reel gone awry. I yearn for a voice of calm and respect.
Jefferson cautions that worldly pleasure often is a lure that traps us into a situation that is often impossible from which to escape.
Fishing is the one sport that is most akin to meditation and prayer and teaches us patience, to be quiet, and to pay attention. No fish are caught when two fishermen and screaming at each other at the top of their lungs.
Perhaps, it’s because of the lessons that fishing teaches, that Jesus chose as his first disciples— fishermen.
Maybe, just maybe our prospective leaders need to take some time off and go fishing.
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