Fly fishing means a lot to me. I genuinely, truly enjoy being outdoors chasing fish with a fly rod. Make no mistake about that. And I am so appreciative of the experiences and opportunities that fly fishing has afforded me. Most recently, with Casting Across. But over the past 25 years I have met remarkable people, created memorable moments, and come to be in possession of some spectacular things due to my involvement in this community.

But truth be told, fly fishing is not in the top tiers of my priorities.

Perhaps that shatters some false impression about the guy who has been writing and talking about fly fishing three times a week for nearly a decade. Well, I can see your point. If there is some higher level of rabid angling commitment that you’re looking for in your casual reading and listening; trust me, it is out there. I can even steer you in that direction.

However, I don’t think that what I’m providing is too far off what you’re actually looking for. Let me explain.

My family is a higher priority than my fly fishing. Reasonable enough, yes? But here is the thing: it has made and is making it better. All of my boys love to be outside. A few of them are totally content to spend countless hours on the water. At times, that has actually  led me to have more fishing. Notice I also said it is making it better. My wife and I can see where, in the near future, I’ll be off on trips with my older boys that I would have never taken before. This is all happening because fishing is peripheral, though.

Another higher priority? Faith. And not some nebulous spirituality that has no grounding. But a historic, Biblically confessional faith in the crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus Christ. A faith that is not just about Sunday mornings, but a faith that both overwhelms and buttresses family, politics, finances, emotions, and fly fishing. There isn’t one square inch of this world that hasn’t been claimed by the King of kings, and that certainly includes my favorite brook trout creeks.

On one hand, this is what you get when you get Casting Across. Not grind out every minute on the creek and behind the vise because those are the most important things. Those things matter, but only in context. Those things are a source of joy, but only with an appropriate frame of reference. Fly fishing is part of the facade highlighting a much more dramatic edifice. And that is what I’m focusing on today: what is underneath.

So, I’ll ask you that question. What is underneath?

If all the trout go belly up or every rod tip snaps, how will you be? If climate change ruins the whole thing or if climate change is revealed to be a sham, what will that do to your worldview? Will you be pleasant if you have to give up fishing, fishing so much, or fishing at the breakneck pace you’ve been maintaining for too long?  I’m not saying you can’t be bummed. But you can’t be broken. And if you are, what does that say?

To be clear, I think that whole “no religion or politics talk” talk is nonsense. Everything is religion, and most things are politics. So know that this online soapbox is a legitimate overflow of my worldview (feel free to tolerate or not… however that word is used today). That said, my strong conviction that you – and everyone else – ought to reckon with two relationships in a way that isn’t casual or laissez-faire. Get right with your people. Get right with your God. More pointedly, the latter then the former.

What in the world does this have to do with fly fishing? Everything. Everything, because fly fishing is part of everything. And everything is connected. Even the most staunch evolutionary materialist must acknowledge that your molecules doing stuff in and amongst the molecules we call a river has  whole lot of impact on… molecules. My contention with that is awfully simple, though. Molecules don’t generate meaning or purpose or passion or love  if rank molecules are all there is.

The greater influences, enriches, and establishes the lesser. And I maintain that fly fishing is the lesser. I can’t let angling define my worldview. But my worldview defines my angling. Consequently, my worldview defines my fly fishing writing and speaking. Casting Across is an outflow of something robust, where  trout and rivers point to the Creator; where  the rhythm of a cast or a streamside chat mean something.

There you go.  What say you? Seriously: let me know. Do it right here, below. But do me the favor of at least giving it some legitimate thought. And, as always, thanks for reading. I do appreciate it.