What do you, a fly-fisherman and my son have in common?

Last week, my little family drove from Minnesota to Lake City, Colorado, where I hosted the 2024 Women Rise Up Retreat—a retreat designed for those who want to move from overwhelm to overflow. On our way, we stopped at one of our favorite campgrounds nestled between the mountains and the Colorado River. 

As I played with Ryker in the river, a man began to fly fish nearby. As he cast, he eagerly pointed out various things in the water to us. And then, about a hundred feet downriver, he caught something and began to reel. 

Ryker, my little adventurer, immediately noticed and started walking towards him, asking repeatedly, "Can I see? Can I see? Can I pet him?" 

I figured it must be a decent-sized fish because the fisherman looked like he was relishing the fight. He then asked Ryker if he wanted to net it. The joy on Ryker's face was priceless—he was hesitant but eager. After a few misses, Ryker finally got to net a beautiful Brown Trout, even bigger than I had expected. 

The fisherman told me how happy he was that Ryker had taken an interest and joked that we would make a fisherman out of him yet. I smiled and shared that while we fish for muskie and bass, we have no clue when it comes to trout. We both laughed, and before he continued on his way, he mentioned that he had been on the river for hours, and this was his first catch of the day. 

I couldn't help but wonder if maybe God sent that fish just so he and Ryker could share that experience.

Isn't it amazing how we all crave human connection—even connection with complete strangers? The truth is that God designed us to do life in the context of community. We see this regularly throughout the life of Jesus—both in his close friendships with the Apostles and in his small but meaningful interactions with strangers. 

And just like Jesus, we are built for connection. 
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Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Restful Rhythm: Look for an opportunity this week to share an experience with someone new or with someone you love. Notice how sharing the experience enhances your felt sense of joy and belonging. What makes the shared experience more memorable than going it alone?

Journaling Question: How can I open my heart to deeper connections with others today, and how might that bring me closer to God?

Wishing you moments of joy and connection,

Gina Marie

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