One of my favorite lines about fly fishing is a quote from John Buchan. He wrote, The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. Every time I cast a fly onto the surface of a stream, it is another in…
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Over the years I have read many articles about the power of the outdoors, nature (creation), and/or fly fishing from prominent papers and magazines like Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, and most recently, Fast Company. I am always surprised by the impact these articles have on people when I thought the information was common…
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My favorite trout stream is in northern Michigan. It’s not the most famous trout water in the state—it probably wouldn’t even make a top-ten list. But it’s the stream I learned to fly fish on many years ago, and one I have faithfully fished ever since. With those years have come a familiarity. I know…
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As I write this, the first day of August, I considered the mindset that I too often fall into… rushing ahead as if we were already there. From back when I was in school, the Fourth of July was a waypoint marking that summer was half over. Dread! And somehow, while still in the middle…
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This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16) As I sit at a Colorado lodge after just ending our Soul of a Pastor Retreat and preparing…
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In recent years, I’ve broadened my understanding of spiritual practices to include fly fishing. For most of my life, my list of spiritual practices included the traditional ones we all think of like prayer, Scripture reading, weekly worship, and sabbath keeping. But thanks to the guidance of some of the great teachers of our faith,…
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I am not sure I could add up the miles I have run in my life but I am sure it is in the 10s of thousands. What started out as a means to get fit, quite surprisingly became a rhythm of my life. Running shoulder to shoulder with someone brings me great joy. It…
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Mend! Mend! Mend! I don’t know how many times I have heard those words from the fabulous river guides I have had on float trips. They weren’t being critical, they were helping me, pointing out that my flies were not floating properly. Either they were dragging in the current or my fly line was getting…
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Spring is starting to emerge and so is the most powerful season of the Christian faith–Easter. Different church traditions prepare for Easter in different ways. Regardless of the tradition, I (Eric) am inviting YOU and the Altar community on a journey that begins with two questions that have the power to change everything–at least for…
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Next month Altar begins its fishing season with a Spiritual Resilience Training for Special Operation Forces personnel. Resiliency is the major theme for the year because, well, we all need more of it. As we finalize our content for this first trip, we wanted to share some snip-its that may help you build or strengthen…
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