“Fly fishing is a setting where God can teach us a lot about ourselves,” he says.
That observation comes from Rev. Mark Wilson, an Episcopal priest from Fairhope, Ala., who organizes a five-day fly fishing/spiritual getaway down south each year. His view might seem a bit more pious than, say, Norman Maclean, but we all know talking about religion and fly fishing in the same breath is more than acceptable.
I admit, I’ve prayed on the stream.
“Just one fish, that’s all I ask. I’ll release it; I swear.”
“Please, where are those blue-winged olives.”
“Make this a steelhead and I’ll make it worth your while in the collection basket.”
God, those things sound much worse when I write them down.
But, I don’t think that’s what Norman or the Rev. Mark had in mind. Like most, I pray when a) it’s convenient b) it’s in my self interest. Surely there’s more to it than that.
Wilson’s retreat features the great Bob Clouser and Kevin Howell and a few days fishing the Davidson River in N.C.
The event runs $615 per person, including a program from Clouser and Howell, meals, and use of recreational facilities.
The path to spiritual salvation, I assume, is also included in that cost.
