Across the years several of us have appended the common wisdom with an additional statement, "But best of all is pond ownership, or at least a key to the gate that lets you in so you can fish!" Access to opportunity is essential no matter what one's skill set.
My experience last Friday reminded me of another important component to success in any life-sustaining endeavor that involves skill development: all of us need a guide. Mentors who teach us the ropes beyond just the raw skills are absolutely essential to success and progress as individuals and as communities.
My oldest grandson, Wyatt, his dad and I went to Lake Texoma to fish for small mouth bass, commonly known as Stripers.
We met Roger, our guide for the day.
All of us had experience fishing.
We all knew how to cast a line, to use a rod and reel. We'd baited many a hook prior to this trip.
Roger instructed us in a few of the fine points of the particulars of fishing for Stripers, but he did much more than that.
Roger showed us where the fish were!
He went right to them because he knew the vast lake that stretched out for miles before us like the back of his hand. He knew when they would bite. He had it all figured out.
So, all three of us got busy with what we knew--fishing. But we put our weight down on what he showed us as our guide. He navigated the waters, prepared us for the cold wind and spray and led us to the treasure! By the time our day was over we all considered Roger not only the expert, but more importantly, our good friend!
The city is full of people with great potential, many skills and great desire.
What's needed in every case is a trusted guide or guides to walk alongside for just a ways until everyone can find the path to what they need most. It is a self-deluding myth to believe that we can somehow make it in life all on our own. There is really no such thing as a self-made man or woman. We all need help. Those of us who are doing relatively well have enjoyed plenty of it.
Oh, and I apologize for shamelessly displaying our catch. But pictures seem to make my point best of all.
I assure you, without the guide, we have no photos, to say nothing of a completely different set of memories!
Oh, Larry. Won't you be my guide?
ReplyDeleteWhat a jerk you are!
ReplyDeleteWhat you're saying is that we need a benevolent government to walk us through life. Actually, what is needed is for government to get out of the way. Capitalism has feed more people than charity ever has. This country has spent 16 trillion dollars on poverty in the last 50 years and yet it's worse than ever.
ReplyDeleteThe speech Obama gave yesterday was pathetic.
The country is in a mess now because of banks being forced by Democrats to make worthless loans. How's that for a guide??
Come to think of it Larry, you do need a guide. Anyone who sticks up for our Socialist/Marxist President does need someone to educate him. I try to do this.
ReplyDeleteObama said yesterday that this country has never worked since the day of its founding. Man, you could have fooled me!
ReplyDeleteSo, am I hearing this right? Food stamps now come in the shape of fish?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why, but again I am amazed by these comments. My post was about mentoring, coaching, engaging for the betterment of another's life, career, development. I had nothing in mind relative to gov't or public programs. . .only a desire to make a point about how important it is to be open to guidance and to provide it when possible. WOW--the single track some of you run on is amazing and downright bewildering.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad ya'll are able to tell Larry what he means. Here I thought the post was about fishing guides and mentors. There was not one mention of government or politics. Wow! Thanks for opening my eyes to Larry's nefarious deep inner meanings.
ReplyDeleteNaysaying Anons:
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely certain you're right. Just start spewing. Label it or call it a name. No need to think about what anyone else says. Need to think at all.
You've learned well from your mentors Rush and Glenn.
Really sad.
Ken
Dallas
Nice suck-up Ken. Do you work for LJ? Your light continue to dim
ReplyDelete"It is a self-deluding myth that somehow we can make it in life all on our own, there is no such thing as a self-made man or woman."
ReplyDeleteI believe this statement reminds us too much of Elizabeth Warren, trying to make the case for higher taxes on the rich.
She said that no one gets rich on their own, making the case that if you start a factory, fine, but you use the highways that others built and police that others pay for. There is just one thing wrong with this reasoning--the person who build a factory also pays taxes, as opposed to half the country that doesn't.
Warren is another liberal progressive, much like LJ.
Oh, I forgot to add guilt by association to your list of parlor tricks.
ReplyDeleteA pertinent definition:
heckler: to harass (a public speaker, performer, etc.) with impertinent questions, gibes, or the like; badger.
Ken
Dallas
When you poke them they squeal.
ReplyDeleteIn trying to teach in this medium with civility and grace, in the place where you are, you may find it difficult not to violate the direct command in Proverbs 23:19 -- "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool."
ReplyDeleteGod's Peace to you.
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