The Point and The Pearl
From the bank of the Fall River, I watched my nephews and their father catch brown trout after rainbow trout in the clear, refreshing snow melt pouring out of Rocky Mountain National Park. It was early August. It was awesome. They each would claim their section of the river in hopes that bragging rights lurked just behind the right boulder. The big fish lay in the braids of water that drop into deep, dark runs.
"They're in every hole Uncle Pete!" Mark called out from a crouched position. He was unhooking a trout his youngest boy had worked over to him in deft fashion.
"That's right. They each have their own place in the river, and just about every place that looks good, is," I replied. "For myself, I have started calling it the Spiritual Treadmill."
"I like the sound of that," Mark said with a chuckle.
"Me too. Here we are floating in motion, and all the morsels that we get in life are coming at us down the river. There are lots of small peanut sized things drifting along to keep our attention. We can easily gather enough to survive because they are basically hitting us right in the face. But every now and then, you get lucky and a Twinkie comes tumbling by. If you are paying attention and you are able to grab it, well, life is looking pretty alright."
"There is enough for every single fish, no matter where they choose to thrive," Mark added.
"Exactly. We just have to stay present, prepared, and positive. Wherever we are and wherever we go, if we are on the Spiritual Treadmill in our minds and in our hearts, the gifts will present themselves."
"I love it, Pete. Hey, I just missed o…oh…wait. There, I got him!" Mark hooked a pan sized brown trout, and wrangled it in. "Delicious!”
"See," I smiled back as I snapped the picture. "We can taste the Twinkies already."
Mark and I have acted like this for 35 years. 20 years ago in Iowa City, we were fishing for bass and walleye on the Iowa River. Right there, on the sandbar, Mark found a beautiful arrowhead. It was amazing. He is always finding things. Shark teeth, rare seashells, and arrowheads are not uncommon treasures that he has collected over the years.
"Mark," I called out to him as he was putting the fish on a stringer, "you find arrowheads, and I find marbles. They are the markers on our paths." I keep a small jar of marbles that I have unearthed in the last dozen or so years. About one marble per year, I guess. I may have found more, but these are the certain few I have been able to hold on to. I enjoy their beauty very much. They are not uncommon, yet they are one of a kind. God bless the marble makers.
"I think about that arrowhead often," Mark reflected.
"So do I. It's proof that we are here doing what we love, which cannot be wrong. If we stay on the treadmill, if we keep stomping these creeks in our day to day with family, friends, business, and play, then everything is right here flowing all around us."
"Amen, Peter."
"Amen, Mark. Tomorrow we will fish my favorite small stream. It's not big enough for the four of us, so I won't fish."
"What will you do?"
"Someone needs to take pictures, get hooks out of trees, and hunt for mushrooms to go with the steaks and pizza for dinner. See how this Treadmill works?"
"Just like it always has?"
"Exactly."
After their trip, I had about 5 days to enjoy a stack of pictures from 3 afternoons worth of fly fishing. It has been a top source of therapeutic activity to be able to take pictures in the outdoors and edit them all on my phone. Sharing them on social media has become a new way to engage and stay in contact with friends that are near, far, or new. The gratitude and encouragement I have received motivates me every day, and I hope to show you just how and why as the rest of this story unfolds.
I sent a picture to Mark, one last postcard from their vacation.
"Wish I was doing that today! Totally awesome pic!" Mark replied.
"For real creek stomping right there," I said. "Heading up above 10,ooo ft. to a new river tomorrow. Hopefully some more pictures of fish. Lol."
"We had a lot of practice as kids…"
"That's right."
A guy I know around town asked me for help getting his truck from a repair shop a couple hours away in the mountains. He knew I liked to fish, so he reached out. We made arrangements to head up on a Sunday. The fishing had been so good with Mark and the boys, it got my fever going. I became pretty excited to see a new stream near that town way up in the hills. Getting out of my town for a day sounded like soul recovery every chance I could get this summer.
Fairly early in the day, I was caught off guard. I am not going into detail, but I became very uncomfortable with my friend. Suddenly, I realized I had to quickly get my wits about me. I picked up my pace and worked my way upstream a few pools ahead. There, I collected my thoughts and started using prayer and meditation to connect to the "right" voice inside my head.
I began to take awareness of my breathing. I slowed it down, quieted my mind, and let the instructions come in from the connection between my higher-self and the Creator of the River.
After several minutes of meditative relaxation and seeking mindfulness, I noticed my friend had caught up with me. I was just taking in a beautiful stretch of "dry-fly" water.
"Hey there," I said, as nonchalant as possible.
"What do you think of the river so far?"
"It's great. The fish are very healthy and every new bend reveals gorgeous looks."
"I had a feeling you'd be into this kind of fishing."
"Yeah, I love it, but hey, I have been catching a lot already, so I am going to slow it down, ya know, soak it in. Go on ahead. I think I am going to start looking for arrowheads."
"What?"
"Yep. Seems to have that vibe," I described. I began looking at the bottom of the river through the crystal clear water. Immediately something caught my eye between my wading boots. "Look here already. A marble! I can see it right below me. It's white, and has a ton of sparkle." I hadn't taken one step.
The water was Evian clear. The marble contrasted with the pale orange pebble and sandy bottom, and I could easily retrieve it by only getting a rolled up sleeve wet, so…I casted and caught a 13 inch brown trout.
It was of no surprise to me that at the moment I declared this a treasure hunt, a marble appeared between my feet. If you have read some of the other stories posted here, or have had to listen to me ramble on about some "crazy" occurrence, well then you should not be surprised either.
I landed the fish, took a picture or two, then released it into the crisp, biting flow. It was such a pretty trout, I almost forgot about the marble. I took a few steps downstream, then towards the middle of the river. There it was, right where I had left it. I reached into the water, almost up to my shoulder. I could feel it between my thumb and first knuckle.
"I got it!" I said, holding it up out of the water. "I was just talking with my brother-in-law about how I am always finding marbles. A friend I work with calls me the 'Marblero Man'." I said with a laugh. "But look at this one, it's…different. I don't think this one is a marble…it's…it's a FUCKING PEARL!" I started to get a little excited, and repeated that last line a few more times.
After about five minutes of childlike disbelief, I took a picture of it resting in my palm, then I put it in my zipper pocket and kept on going. I almost forgot about what had been happening leading up to this, so I decided to let it go. I knew it was only a matter of time until I would be able to reflect on my own.
The rest of the day was more great fishing and pictures, but I intentionally ran out of steam a couple hours earlier than discussed in the plan. It was time to head home and get to our separate vehicles. Thanks for the day; get home safe.
In my truck and privacy, I was able to take my phone out of airplane mode, and put on a much needed charge.
As soon as service hit, a photo attached text from Mark came through. I figured I was going to start getting another few pics from Estes Park photo dump. I was wrong. It was a picture from that day's live action in Iowa.
"Took Laiklan and his buddy fishing in the stream through the woods and found this today." The picture almost didn't register in my brain.
"Wow," is all I could say.
"Wow is right!"
"That looks really old. What a beautiful point."
"Super old."
"Like Clovis old, 2000 years at least." I like to make guesses on lots of different facts. (closer to 12,000 in reality)
"I was looking for arrowheads today too. Right when I declared the hunt was on, I found this…not a marble." I sent a picture back to him as I was holding the pearl in my truck.
"It's a giant pearl,” Mark wrote back immediately.
"A giant pearl…" I replied.
"You may have made a new discovery!" He exclaimed.
"We made good discoveries today. August 14th is now our Treasure Day!"
"Gave me goosebumps."
"It's just like we were talking about…a week ago on your vacation!" I was in disbelief.
"Yep."
"That's just insane." I began to start adding this to the insanity file marked “Small Miracles” in my mind.
"It's always inspiring hanging in Colorado with my bro Pete!"
It's lines like that, when matched up with cosmic gifts of ancient or rare quality, that make this whole thing work.
"I should probably tell you I have been listening to the Last of the Mohicans Theme at least once a day for over six months." I texted to him.
"We have always been a part of it and were able to see it even as suburban kids! We found it and wrapped ourselves up in it. Love it! That's freaking awesome!" Mark stated, ever so poignantly.
"That's absolutely right!"
It's all there, right? I know that all I need is an access code to the 24-hour gym of my life. That is how it has been, and it is how it will continue to go. Sometimes it has seemed like a pipeline of sewage and sharp objects, but when I take the time, and make the choice, life can instantly become a Spiritual Treadmill. Peanuts and Twinkies, or points and pearls. Your treasure is the one that marks the path to the beautiful places in your heart and soul. Just by placing one foot in front of the other the gifts will be found. From the palm of your hand, the whole world can see just how magical life can truly be.
