Today is a big day for us here at Baugher’s Summer Camp. We’re going fishing!
Today we get a lesson in what it really means to eat meat. A lesson on how if you’re eating meat of any kind, some living thing gave it’s life for you.
This is a lesson that I don’t think very many people learn in life. We consume tons of meat on a constant basis, but very few people ever really stop to think about where that meat actually came from. Very few even momentarily consider that the meat they consume once belonged to a living, breathing Being.
I’ve only ever been fishing maybe twice in my life, but I’ve always loved eating fish. My boys love fish too, and they love the idea of fishing. Sounds like a win-win to me.
I went and got my $20 fishing license yesterday, and while we were there, we got three poles and a small tackle box with sinkers, bobbers, and hooks. I can’t tolerate the idea of impaling a live worm on a hook and then drowning it, so we’re going to grab some fake bait on our way to the water today :)
And because I love any opportunity to teach my children Spiritual practices, we’re also going to talk about how we don’t take any more from nature than we need. We’re going to Bless the water before we fish and we’re going to actually thank the fish for its contribution to our sustenance before we kill it.
I know fishing is fun and relaxing, and I’m looking forward to sitting in the sunshine, sharing a beautiful afternoon with my kids, but I am really feeling a lot of reverence here. I’m feeling this is a sacred act. The hunting and killing to sustain and flourish.
It doesn’t feel “wrong” but I definitely feel the need to approach with honor and respect and gratitude and reverence for the sacrifice that’s being given.
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This new hobby of ours also makes me feel a little more self sustainable.
The garden is going well. I planted from seed in the waxing moon in May, and transplanted in the waxing moon in June. So far, so good. But it’s nice to know we now have a meat source that doesn’t depend on anyone else too.
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