365 Days Of Love. Day 121

I spent the morning at My Fishing Pond in Bridgewater. Today, John, the President, hosted nearly 10 young adults, adults, elderly, and volunteers from Achieve in Sioux Falls. Achieve is a nonprofit organization that seeks to find innovative ways for people with disabilities to achieve their dreams.

Upon arriving at The Pond, the Achieve bus bumbled over the dusty gravel road with the ensuing zest of its riders. As soon as the driver parked the bus, the soon-to-be fishermen and women bounced off the bus, eager for the first fish bite. Volunteers from Achieve, Vern Eide in Mitchell, and the community helped each person bait and cast their poles and then, the waiting commenced.

Natisha, the leader of the group, said The Pond, “gives them (Achieve members) a setting where they’re comfortable.” She added, “Here (The Pond), they can be themselves.” As I watched the newly inducted group of anglers, I understood what she meant. Whether it was their first time fishing or they were veterans of the sport, each person readily gripped a pole and reeled it in at the first sign of any bite. What was most profound, though, was the connectivity The Pond created between John, the volunteers, and the staff and members of Achieve. It’s as if each ripple produced by the casting of a new line represented another commonality between all of us. Despite our backgrounds, professional or otherwise, we were all at The Pond to enjoy a July morning together, catching fish. This is what The Pond does, creates positive ripples, allowing people to be themselves and connect with each other.

The bite of a fish afforded everyone a reason to celebrate, especially the lucky angler holding the winning pole. John rallied volunteers to grab the fishing net and more importantly, cameras to document the new focus of the inevitable fish tales to come.  Grunts of lines burdened by fighting fish were quickly dissipated and replaced by claps at the successful capture of the fish. Pictures were taken and cheers were offered and smiles spanned the faces of everyone gathered around The Pond.

The day ended with a lunch supplied by Vern Eide and community supporters of The Pond. As hungry anglers deservingly devoured hamburgers and hotdogs, The Pond calmed, but a few ripples remained, serving as reminders of the connectivity and confidence the day extended to us all. Just as Natisha from Achieve noted, The Pond is a place where we can all come to simply be ourselves and be comfortable. 

This morning, I learned that loving might come in the most unexpected settings, like the banks of a fishing pond in the company of people who, had it not been for fishing poles and passion, I would have never met.