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Oceans For Emotions: Let freedom ring

Elaine Wheat
  • Originally published September 2, 2011 at midnight, updated September 2, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.

By Elaine Wheat

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

- II Timothy 4: 6-7

Yesterday, I retired from being an educator. Today, I went fishing on a school day. I have never done that before, and it sure felt good.

Do you realize that I started teaching "pre-panty hose" way back when the must-be-worn hose came in a package with two of them for each leg?

"Let freedom ring."

I fished all alone off the beachfront about hip deep. All of my other friends were teaching away, hip deep in something else. I didn't feel a bit guilty when the first good trout hit right beside the shell reef. Then the next one got caught because they were running in school. Before long, I had my limit doing detention on my stringer.

I put on a croaker for bait and threw it far, right to the back of the reef where that wild, big redfish had been swirling around all morning. He had always caused me a struggle, but I finally landed him, too. I finally was going to get to eat him for lunch. He deserved to be caught.

I finally realized I was getting pretty hot and tired and then it struck me - I can come back tomorrow on another school day.

Dear Lord, You lead me all the way, every day.