A Prayer For The Classic Anglers

“When I find myself in times of trouble…”

Dateline: Lake Hartwell

I have not slept much this 2015 Bassmaster Classic Eve.

I have tossed, I have turned, I have gotten up and looked out the hotel window, I have hit my Weather App all night.

It is 11 degrees outside.

It is -4 wind chill outside.

And brave men, and brave women will launch in this cold, will watch from the ramp in this cold, will stand on the shore, will sit in the boats, will hold the cameras, will write the words you read…

…while facing this cold.

Wherever it is you go to your spiritual place, please go there with me now, and say a prayer for all those who bring you this sport you love.

This sport that is played with the grace of god, sometimes in the face of god.

This sport that is played, when other athletes would sit.

This sport that is played, not for the glory of the game, but for the love of the game.

Let us bow our heads.

“…Mother Mary comes to me…”

To the one who guides our hands, please hold tightly all those out on the water today, please hold them tight and warm.

To the one who guides our hands, please hold the hands of those on the ice and gently guide them to the shore.

To the one who guides our hands, please cradle the wind and protect those who turn into it this very cold day.

Let us bow our heads.

“…speaking words of wisdom…”
Guide those who are stationed on the shore, your love will be the warmth they need.

Guide those who travel the roads to watch these men take to the lake, may their journey be safe, may their journey be lit by your love.

Guide those who love those on the lake, hold gently our fathers, our husbands, our sons, our friends.

Let us bow our heads.

“…and in my hour of darkness…”

Make light the darkness for us so that we may see the safest way to play this sport that so many love.

Make light the darkness in the shallowest of waters, the deepest of channels.

Make light the darkness for the compassion, for the caring, for the creatures who on this, and everyday does not take this to be a game.

Let us bow our head.

“…she is standing right it front of me…”

To the person who drives this bus we call life, safeguard all our travels, whatever lake, whatever event, whatever weather we face.

Let us bow our heads.

To the person who drives this bus we call life, please let the spirit of all those who once took to this sport be with us on this day of competition, please send them to us once again to protect, to look over, to help us as they did when the stood aside us on the dock once ago.

Let us bow our head.

To the person who drives this bus we call life, I ask, please forgive us the sins we know, the sins we don’t know, please forgive us our arrogance, our disrespect, our waste, our anger, we share equally in the bad, but we share equally in the good.

Let us bow our head.

And to the universe above, from just me, please keep my friends safe, please keep them warm, please keep them happy and healthy.

Please bring them home safe.

This and every launch.

In cold.

In heat.

In darkness.

In sunshine.

Please bring them home safe.

Amen.

“…speaking words of wisdom.”
Let it be
The Beatles