Gifts for Alcoholics Sober Fishing

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In 1993, I had completed a ninety day chemical treatment program at the Eden House in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was very active in my recovery by meeting other fellow alcoholics
and addicts as I tried to grow my support and surly sober friends. However, I was still soul
searching on how to have sober fun. Yes, the bars was not a place for me to go nor my old
using friends and their parties, but I knew this and working the Twelve Steps from attending
meetings at "Alcoholics Anonymous," confirmed my dedication to my life of recovery one day
at a time. However, I surly wanted to have sober fun other than only attending AA meetings.
New in recovery at the time I surly didn't want to be sober and bored.

So, the word came out about a sober recovery retreat. I was very interested in going on this
retreat. It was for only three days and it did mention, "Fishing." I thought about it for a while
and I knew it would be an investment for me in my sobriety and I surly wanted to go fishing with
support, but my past experience with fishing involved me in purchasing beer before the worms.
Yes, the old thinking did appear and by me replaying the tape to the end, "What happen
before my addiction, what happen while I was in my addiction, and the end results hitting rock
bottom and the consequences," surly gave me the courage to sign up for the retreat.

When I showed up at the doors to go on this recovery retreat I felt very excited. I remember
seeing my mother with a smile on her face as she was happy for me. For she had given me a
ride to the retreat with my new fishing pole, which I called the, "Big Fishing Gun." The fishing
pole was long and thick and it was very expensive. I thought any fish I would catch on my new
fishing pole would not get away. Well, the old fishing story:

The old fishing story:

I was fishing at Lake Calhoun at 5 AM CST. It was raining outside as I sat in my old blue
Lincoln with the heat turned on high and the windshield wipers going at full speed. It was very
cold out side and the waves from the lake were very strong. While looking through the foggy
windshield of my car, I searched for my big red and white fishing bobber, while my fishing reel
stayed open and leaning on a minnow bucket because I surly didn't want a big fish to swim
away my fishing pole. Suddenly, I realized that my fishing bobber was gone. I looked through
the waves and then I felt the excitement and the possibilities that I may have a Big Fish on my
fishing line. I quickly jumped out of my car and excitedly ran for my fishing pole. The cold rain
drizzled down on me as I was already cold and was already soaked wet. I reached down with
my cold hands to grab my fishing pole while looking out towards the lake for my fishing Bobber.
I thought, "Maybe my fishing hook snagged some weed." I slowly started to reel in my fishing
line after setting my reel. I then pulled back on my fishing pole but nothing happen, so I started
to real the line in some more and all the sudden I notice my fishing line took off making a
wheezing sound and quickly my fishing pole was forced forward and then it was forced to the
left. I shouted with a rush my God!" I felt the rush through my whole body as I was fighting a
big fish. I quickly reeled and release and reeled. This lasted for about five minutes and then
this huge Musky jumped out of the water and broke my fishing pole and snapped my fishing
line.

For two weeks I went to the same fishing spot with out any results.... I was sad.... The big one
had gotten away.

The Sober Retreat:

When I made it to the retreat I was ready to go fishing. We first attended AA meetings and
introductions. I met a few other recovering alcoholics and addicts there that was as excited to
go fishing like I. We decided to all meet early in the morning with our fishing gear and our
fishing poles at the wooden fishing dock. Believe it or not, it didn't take long before I caught my
first Bass. I was so very soberly happy while taking the time to sip on my warm coffee! Then I
even caught another fish and another Bass. But there was something I caught that was more
than the fish, it was Spirituality. While I stood in the presence of other fellow alcoholics and
addicts I found myself at the time when I watch the sun rise at a very serene and a peaceful
moment of my life. I was giving thanks to God. Here I was sober and a live. A new giving life
and around other alcoholics and addicts like myself who were also enjoying the sober life of
freedom. That day was not a day that I spiritually fought with myself not to use addictive
substance something I called a slave to addictions.... That serene moment of silence in the
wilderness with God of my understanding was the twelve steps at its work... Where the birds
sang and the fish splashed the waters and waves played the shore, it really felt good to be in
God's hands and a safe place for me to be.

Happy Sober fishing!!

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Gifts of Sober Fishing in the Midst

Arnold Williams

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