Gone Fishing

I was sitting in a boat, on a lake, early in the morning. The sun had barely risen over the tops of the trees and little snakes of mist began to worm their way along the surface of the water. And I? I was fishing.

I was young at the time, but who isn't when they start to fish? At first, I didn't even know what to do. I just sort of dangled my line in the water, not even sure if I was ready for this yet. But, the more I thought about it, the more I knew I was ready. Not just for fishing either. I wanted a keeper. None of this catch and release over and over again. I wanted to wait for just the right one, catch it, and hold on to just that one. I saw a few swimming around that looked good, but as I watched them dart about, I could tell that there was something wrong with them. It isn't easy fishing like that, but it was how I was going to do it.

Most people catch all they can and only when they finally get the best do they stop. But, I've watched them... They always seem to find a better one shortly after they catch their "one". Those people are always unhappy with what they have and keep trying to get something better. All I can think of is how many fish they nearly kill in their search for the best. That's not my way. I don't want to hurt any fish.

As I watched the fish around the boat, I noticed one in particular. It certainly looked like a keeper. And, as I watched it, the more convinced I was that that fish was the keeper. So, I dropped the line next to it and watched what happened. I wasn't going to jerk about too much, that might scare it. So I just sorta eased towards it. But the fish wasn't interested. So, I tried putting my best on the line and easing it towards it. No luck there either. I decided to try just the line, no frills or anything so that the fish could choose with no deceptions involved. Zilch result. True, I kept my distance from it. No sense in scaring the thing away. But, I wasn't getting the line close enough...

Grabbing my net, I eased my way to the edge of the boat where the fish lurked just below the surface. I knew that if this didn't work, that fish would likely dart off and I'd stand no chance at getting it then. I got ready with the net. I tensed up, ready to plunge it in the water. And then, I noticed something...

I wanted this fish to be a keeper, but how was this going to go for the fish? Easing back into the boat, I leaned back and thought about it. If I let this fish go, it was likely going to have a much better life in that lake than in an aquarium. And, as I had seen, this was no dumb fish. Only the best could ever hope to catch it, meaning that it would live a far better life if somebody else caught it. Somebody better. And really, what would happen if I let it go? Besides, I'm a terrible fisherman. The fish would likely have to jump into the boat before I'd catch it. I suppose some people just aren't supposed to fish.

Lasts

Lasts. This time of the year is full of Lasts: Our Last meal with friends; our Last day at our Church away from Church; even our Last class. Lasts… And we couldn’t have these Lasts, if we hadn’t had Firsts.

Firsts. The year was full of them. Perhaps it was our First time away from home. Perhaps it was the First time in our lives that we felt abandoned, left on the great doorstep of an institution of learning and expected to simply adjust. Or maybe this was our First chance to be on our own, an opportunity to become independent men and women. Perhaps, but whatever our arrival was like, more Firsts were yet to come…

There was the First night in a strange bed, far from home. Some of us had meet a roommate from other parts of the country whom we had never seen before in our lives. Others found friends to room with and so were sheltered slightly from the encroaching loneliness. But most of us were still alone that first night in a whole new and great big world.

Then came First friends. Those First special people whom you met and clicked with. The people who would laugh with you, cry beside you and be there for you all throughout the year. Those First few were what made the year go by so quickly. And it is those few that make these Last few days so precious.

We all have special Firsts from the year that we will always remember. We all have separate Firsts, different Firsts. And so all I can do is list some of mine and smile as I think of all the Firsts you might have had.

I can remember my First time seeing someone shot by a ketchup bottle (kudos for Bethany’s unflinching resolve!). I can remember my First Super Bowl party at a house owned by people I had never met (Phil, your sister was very gracious in opening up her house to a bunch of rowdy college students. Thanks!). I can even remember my First punch from someone other than my brother (watch it Julia, those right hooks pack a wallop!). The First poker game (and all the subsequent games afterwards! Who can forget my First pocket 3’s followed up with a 3 on the flop and yet another on the final card! Also, a heartfelt sorry to the guy who went all-in against me on that hand…). My First surprise at finding everyone really does love Barnes and Noble (second surprise would be Drew running through the fountain even though it was scarcely above freezing out!). The First Lawlor riot (and although I never participated, who knows? Maybe storming other dorms while wearing your underwear on the outside is fun!). The First room fines (Drew? Why are there cookie crumbs all over our floor?).

Not all Firsts were so pleasant though. But it is the Firsts that we remember most fondly that matter most. Who is going to remember the 20 hour paper ten years from now over the time that your roommate locked you out while you were showering (yes, it happened to me and yes, I did have to sit in the hall and wait for him to come back)? I know which of the two I’ll remember!

Sadly though, for every First, there must come a Last. So enjoy these Last days with your First friends. Make some new Firsts, do some new things, even if all you do are old memories done over again. And remember, the Last is never truly Last. Though it can seem hard now, there will be new Firsts, new friends, new memories next year. But through it all, we will always remember the Firsts.