The bass fishing tournaments are getting ready to start with a vengeance. Once they begin, each weekend will offer another opportunity to fish for money. All bass tournaments have pretty much the same rules; two fishermen; one boat; the five biggest fish by weight, win. Some men will literally come to blows in pursuing first prize. And first prize can be worth lots of money even in the smaller tournaments. As I have said before these types of events touch both the competitive and outdoorsy side of men. It's enough fun to fish but add in beating somebody in the process and winning cash to do it, makes it an addictive potion. Most of the time, each team will spend the first few hours on the water just trying to catch any size fish. The immediate goal is to get five fish in the boat. After (or if) that is accomplished, the goal changes. Now it's time to cull the smaller ones that are already in the live well for bigger replacements. Remember, it's the five heaviest fish. Sometimes the technique changes just for the purpose of perhaps catching less fish but bigger ones. Again, the lesser ones get tossed back in when a better quality one is caught. And there are occasions when some good fish are thrown back because a great one is caught.
Our life is somewhat like these bass tournaments. We know we only have room for so many things in our life as well. Each one of these can be of little or great importance. Our life's pursuit and God's desire for us is to constantly add something that has a greater value than what we already have. What we must remember, however, is sometimes we must get rid of something that is of great worth in order to add something else that is priceless. This decision always comes with a mixed sense of both loss and excitement. As we mature, we understand it just has to be that way. It's just like that exercise shirt that you once wore that said, "No Pain; No Gain." This is so true. But never forget, what you give up now will not seem so great a sacrifice when you get to the weigh-in. These types of sacrifices will always put you in the money.

gary@outdoortruths.org ~ www.outdoortruths.org