Nothing is of consequence, except these...

A Fisherman and his catamaran

“Men who talk of finding God in nature

rather than in church, go hunting for Him with rod or gun.”

 -Mckenzie

Men who go hunting have extraordinary tales to tell of hardship, misery, tenacity and survival. But if ever there was a tale of heroism that belied normal boundaries of bravery, a tale that stood the passage of time such a tale would be uttered only from the lips of a fisherman. We encounter one such hunter who likes to call himself ‘Jeevan’, which translates to ‘life’ in the local language. His stories of fishing even at the sight of storms and withstanding threats from enemy boats just to earn a living are nothing short of awe-inspiring. His generous side presented an irresistible offer to my partner and I. He was ready to take us on a ride on his catamaran and experience first-hand the trials and tribulations of a fisherman’s life. Never one to lose such an opportunity my partner and I clamber upon the hulk of wood that was as ancient as seafaring itself.

With the wind blowing heavy on our faces and the waves beckoning us with a provocative swell we reach somewhere in the middle of the ocean. The shoreline invisible now, we are commanded to jump into the ocean. We do so with arms stretched wide and knees trembling in anticipation. The dip is exhilarating and we float after a while buoyed by the life jackets strapped we are onto. As we lie on our backs scrutinising everything in our horizon, the blue unblemished sky and wide unconquerable sea, we cannot help but feel like some fierce warriors on some daring mission. To quell our rising enthusiasm, Jeevan throws in a nylon rope for good measure. We hold onto the rope to avoid drifting apart and that rope is the only thing that ties us to the ‘other world’ – the forgotten world of concrete buildings and fast cars. A hungry seagull whooshes by and swoops up a tasty catch in its beak gliding away graciously from our view. Who would want to leave this paradise, this everlasting source from where all life began? Not us, not ever. But sadly all good things must come to an end, no matter how soul-stirring or thought–provoking.  As we make our way back to the mundane reality that is life, we are filled with a fearsome determination just like that lone fisherman who steered our boats and taught us that the forces of nature are greater than any of us.