Recipe for Contentment

I hurried out to kayak early yesterday in the morning, before the mercury rose to triple digits. As I prepared my kayak, I saw a little boy and his father launching their brand new kayak. The boy held a tiny fishing pole.
"Do you ever catch fish?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, "But we let them go."
"Oh, that's nice. More fun for the fish."
"Except they have a hole in their mouth. I think they die."
"Well, if you take the hook out, I bet they are ok."
"But what if you leave the hook in?" he asked, a troubled look on his face. I hope his dad was listening, and planned to take the hook out. I sensed the conscience of the child was torn between doing something fun with dad, but harming an innocent creature. That would certainly put a damper on his contentment with the outing.
"I don't know," I said, "I don't know much about fish."
But I do know if the fisherman let them go, they ought to remove the hook. Our pleasure and desires should not come at the expense of cruelty to other creatures.

I soon forgot the troubled boy, as I paddled on the serene waters. Morning is definitely the time to be on the lake. Breakfast smells wafted on the still coolish breeze, and few boats were zooming around. I kayaked an hour and a half, and when I returned, felt as though I'd been on a retreat.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” (David; Psalm 23:1-3)

When I returned, there was a group of fishermen on shore. They sat in chairs right by the boat launch, which gets pretty busy on the weekends.
"Catch any fish?" I asked.
"Nope."
"Maybe because of all the boats loading and unloading. Maybe you should move down there."
I pointed upshore where most of the fishermen I see seem to congregate.
"Maybe so," said one man, "But to tell you the truth, I don't care if I catch any fish. It's a day off from work, sitting in the shade in a beautiful place, just relaxing. That's enough for me." (and a clear conscience! No fish with holes in their mouths!)
"I think you have nailed the recipe for contentment," I said.

Jesus Himself found solitude in quiet places necessary. The Gospel records Him creeping away to a "desolate place" early in the morning to pray. I completely relate to this. Before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, before the full day's load of burdens are heaped upon my back, I love to go to the lake, and hear nothing but the rhythmic splash of the paddles, and the call of the water birds. I see nothing but the shimmering beauty of the quiet lake, and think nothing but what the Holy Spirit brings to mind. It is perhaps the deepest contentment in life I ever feel.
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At once the Spirit sent [Jesus] out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” (Mark 1:12-13)
 

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

“Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them.” (Luke 6:12-13)

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come…”‘” (Luke 11:1-2)

“When Jesus heard what had happened [that John the Baptist was beheaded], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.” (Matthew 14:13)