Like Greased Bowling Balls

‍As I’ve become an older fly fisherperson, I’ve learned the value of a wading staff or “third leg” as some call it. Wading in rivers (but not as deep anymore!) can be dangerous for me. I once fell in the icy waters (35 degrees) of the North Platte River in Wyoming during a February fishing trip. I slipped and fell in same river one April afternoon losing my Orvis fly rod in the process. Not to mention falls in local central Oregon waters like the Crooked and Deschutes rivers. All without a wading staff.

What all these tumbles have in common is a slippery and uneven river bottom primed for catastrophe. Like greased bowling bowls. The bottom is slippery from the buildup of algae and decaying plant material that acts like a lubricant. And given that it’s rare to find a flat surface on the river bottom, it’s like trying to stand on a round bowling ball. Nearly impossible.

Enter my “third leg”. A wading staff provides security in an unstable environment. I poke around with my staff until I find solid bottom before I take baby steps to reposition myself in the river.

But the staff is not infallible. Several times I’ve almost fallen into the drink because my staff wasn’t anchored as securely as I had thought. I had an over-reliance on something not always reliable.

My wading staff experience illustrates what happens when we rely too much on our own intellect and understanding. To be sure, God has revealed a lot of his will between our two ears. Knowledge and experience can be helpful guides in life. Proverbs 16:9 does say, “the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

The familiar verse Proverbs 3:5 cautions us to “lean not on your own understanding.”  Lean comes from the Hebrew root sha'an (שָׁעַן), meaning to rest weight upon, rely on, or support oneself. It describes a total reliance—like leaning on a staff or a wall for stability—indicating we should not trust in our own intellect as our primary, self-sufficient support. (Thanks to AI for this definition!)

Instead, the first part of v.5 tells us to rely on God with our entire being. Ironically, as I’ve gotten older, that trust in some ways has become harder. I lean on a lifetime of knowledge and experience without seeking God. It sometimes takes a “fall” figuratively speaking for us to reorient our perspective towards God.

Fortunately, it’s never too late in life to quit leaning on what will ultimately fail and to start believing God with all our heart.