More is Better

Bass fishing is a hobby for me.  I love it.  The problem is that bass fishing can get very complex when we talk about artificial baits, lures, rods, and reels.  Is it possible to have one rod and reel exclusively to catch bass?  Well… sorta… yeah… I mean, Norah caught a 1.5lb largemouth bass on her kiddie barbie rod.
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But why is bass fishing so complicated?  The problem lies in the type of fishing you are doing.  Most exclusively I am always using artificial lures, and that is where the complexity begins.  Artificial lures come in so many different colors and weights, and each lure has a specific way it must be fished.  Some lures are used to fish the bottom, some lures are fished in the middle of the water column, and some lures are fished on the top water.  Some lures are good around rocks, some good in brush piles, some good in weeds, some are good on calm days, and some are good on windy days, some are good on sunny days, some good on cloudy days…. And the various colors need to match the occasion of the water clarity and temperature. 

Yeah, there are a lot to think about when trying to catch largemouth bass effectively and consistently.  That being said about artificial lures, you have your various types of fishing rods.  Each rod that I own is so uber specific on the type of lure that I want to use.  Each rod has a specific weight limit, and each rod has a certain “power” or “stiffness” and each rod has there own “bend.”  All these factors play an important part in catching bass effectively. 

But the question is… have I become a better angler with the increase of rods, reels, and artificial lures?  And the truth is… yes.  I definitely can say I put more fish on the bank as I have increased my rod, reels, and lures collection.  I catch more fish, lose a lot less fish, and also increased my interest in using unique lures that come out in the market every year.

Now this doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish with only one rod and reel set up.  You can, of course.  But it’s just easier to fish for bass with more gear.  Also, it is less worry and hence more confidence in fishing with different rod and reel set ups. 

Basically, the more “tools” you have the better advantage you have in successfully being a better angler, when it comes to bass fishing.  So the reason why I am talking about “fishing” is a metaphor about our Christian faith.  If you want your faith to grow, you need tools.  The more the merrier.

Can you still be a Christian with less tools, or course!  But if you really wan to grow in your faith and have a stronger faith, I do believe you need or tools and resources.  You can be a Christian through your baptism, which is fine and just leave it like that, maybe go to church every once in a while, like on Easter and Christmas.  You are still going to be a child of God.  But if you are wondering why you feel less confidence, less secure, less faith… well you need more resources to help your faith grow and be stronger.

Some of the tools you need to strengthen or grow your faith are prayer, bible study, church, and fellowship.  Each one of these “tools” have a certain purpose towards faith strengthening.  And you need each one of these tools to enhance your faith, build your confidence, and live a better life. 

Ask yourself these questions.  How often do you go to church?  How often do you read the Bible?  How often do you really pray (like as in close your eyes, cuff your hands, sit or kneel, and talk to God)?  When you pray what do you talk about?  How often do you go to fellowship and church events?  Are you satisfied with the answers to these above questions or do you feel embarrassed?  At the end of these questions do you feel confident or less confident? 

The crazy part is that we can all do more.  It’s true.  None of us have the perfect answer to the questions above.  And even if you answer all those questions confidently and feel good, it does not mean that everything in your life is going to be always great.  But it is possible to think that if we focus on doing these questions above more, we may a better self-esteem, a better confidence when we hit those “not-so-great days.” 

Sometimes in life, more is better, especially when it comes to bass fishing and Christian faith.