Colossians 3:12-13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Fishing in Alaska when the fish are running is often called “combat fishing” because of the number of people and the close proximity that people are to each other as they fish. It is usually “no problem” and is often a lot of fun as you talk, net each other’s fish, and enjoy the excitement together. But occasionally, there are regular line tangles, casting across others’ lines and causing someone to lose a fish. Then conversations can get a little heated, and occasionally there is a person or two or three who is just a plain ole jerk. Every problem is someone else’s fault; they have an anger problem, they have a swearing problem, they have a “no brain” problem, they have a “don’t know how to fish problem,” they have an “I am the only one who knows how to fish” problem, and they have a “their parents should have spanked them more” problem. Anyway, you get the point.

One of my goals while fishing is to talk nice, be nice, and don’t get upset at anybody, no matter what they do. That is a tough goal to keep when someone keeps casting over my line and then swears at me when he causes the tangle. It is hard on my teeth as I clench and grind them in my attempt at self-control. Several days ago, there was this guy, and his wife that were terrible fishermen, and their language was almost unrecognizable as English because of all the swear words thrown in. He was lecturing me on my fishing etiquette, and so I asked him if there was any problem in his life I could pray for. He was surprised by the question and sputtered and muttered for a few seconds, and then said, “Why do you think I need to be prayed for?” I said, “I am a Pastor, and one of the things I do is pray for people and ask God to bless their life; everyone has problems, and I could pray for yours if you wanted; if not, that is OK; I will go back to praying for my 28 grandkids.”

He never did share a problem that I could pray for, but the swearing stopped, or most of it did, and he quit yelling at me when our lines tangled.

I am not sure he will choose to fish next to me again. We will see.