My Dad

 

 

 
Just wanted to share a story, because my blog is titled 'With Hope' - life should be about inspiring others by actions, living and sharing hope that things will change and be better, and that there is always hope.

My Dad just called and told me about how there were 2 men fishing behind our house at the creek, but on the other side. Neither of the men had fishing poles and were using fishing line like lassos to toss the bobber out and fish that way. Their technique he said was impressive and genius. My parents are in the process of getting our house ready to move soon, which is bittersweet. I won't go into all the emotions, or why the move is happening - but it's a fact now, and one that I will have to somehow get a grip on before I go home for 2 weeks in August. I say this because like many houses and homes, people start getting clutter, and acquire a lot of 'stuff' they don't use and don't need. (I never want this to happen to me... my goal as of right now is to only own and have what can fit in my car... minus a few pieces of furniture that mean a lot to me) Anyways, back to the story, my Dad went in the garage and found an old, but good spinning reel and rod and when my parents went out to do errands they walked down the other side of the creek, which is a park, and the men were gone. My Dad then realized they must have parked down by the old iron gate bridge at the other end of the creek and further down, and not where my parents parked off of the main road - details - so he figured if they kept going maybe the men just moved a little further downstream towards 'Snake Island,' where him and his brothers used to catch snakes when they were growing up. Sure enough, the men were fishing further down and the one had a big sun fish on his line. My Dad said Hey, this is for you, and the man with the fish said I don't need it and they both laughed because my Dad said, I can see that, you catch more fish than me! But then the other man came and took the pole and thanked my Dad for the gift.

It's these simple, small gestures that I hear about and inspire me. It's not the first time my Dad has done such things. He'll sometimes pay for someone else's meal and let it be anonymous, give money to people on the street - I get this mentality from him. One day, I'd like to be able to help people by giving them money, every one of them. While I know people don't always agree with this - I look at it like this... I think it takes an incredible amount of bravery to hold a sign and ask for help, and I think it is a huge shot to a person's pride when they feel the need to do that. I think any way that I can let people know I do care is an important action.

Those men back the creek had a system, and they were fine - but my Dad gave them a fishing pole because we don't use all the poles we have, and he wanted to share. Sharing and giving is something I think needs to happen more these days, and realizing we are all human. We all make mistakes. But we can help one another and bring one another up. By giving the men a fishing pole, he just allows them a different way to do what they were already doing, and giving them a gift they may not have wanted to give themselves. Those are the best kinds of gifts.

I think the line between helping and hurting can be a fine one, and I haven't yet determined what 'good helping' really means. I do know that letting someone help themselves, and helping them to do that is extremely important. Listening to what people need and maybe helping in the way that allows those people to make their own decisions and help themselves - that's what I mean.

Who knows what 1 fishing pole will do to those men's lives, but I can hope that it made their day and that, my Dad's action let them know that someone cares, even if they didn't need it, but just the action of giving. If we all started doing that, in those small ways - holding doors, letting someone pull out in front of us when we're driving, putting a quarter in an almost expired parking meter - the world would be a better place.