MY DAD and a CATFISH ROCK-GREATNESS (somewhat true) story

My dad was telling me about the time his distant cousin Jimi H. and distant cousin (from the other side of the fam) Janis J. went fishing together. According to him, it was one of those excellent mornings where Lake Waco was calm and there was no way they shouldn’t catch catfish...

For some weird reason, a few hours into NOTHING, Jimi was staring at the water just mesmerized when he finally said, “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”

Dad said he wasn’t being deep; he was actually talking about catfishing.

“Knowledge” was Jimi explaining for the tenth time why his super-secret dough bait should work.

“Wisdom” was the catfish ignoring him completely.

Janis didn’t even look up. She just flicked her tightline and said, “The more you live, the less you die.”

Dad said she meant keep your tightline in the water long enough and eventually something happens. Or it doesn’t. Either way, you’re still alive and the catfish are still laughing.

After a long stretch of nothing, Jimi asked, “Janis, you think there’s catfishing in heaven?”

Janis shrugged. “No idea. But whichever one of us goes first must come back and let the other know.”

A few weeks later, Jimi died (Sep 1970).

Dad said one quiet morning, a few weeks later, he and Janis were back on Lake Waco alone, because that’s how these stories work, and she heard a whisper drift across the water:

“Janis… it’s me. Jimi. I got some good news and not so good news”

She didn’t even flinch. “So? They got catfishing up there?”

“Oh yeah, tournaments every morning!” Jimi said. “Perfect weather. Clear water. Catfish practically volunteering to jump in your boat.”

Janis nodded. “What’s the bad news?”

Jimi sighed.

“You’re scheduled to fish in the tournament tomorrow morning…” (Oct 1970)

BONUS: Here's my grandson hitting a homerun! - (20+) Facebook

 

TightLine Catfishing Thanks - Jimmy and Janet

After 1,736 Sundays — more than 33 years — of faithful service at Church Under the Bridge in Waco, Jimmy and Janet have announced their retirement as leaders, effective the week after Easter. What began in 1993 as a breakfast meal and Bible study with six homeless men and women under the I-35 bridge became a congregation of more than 225 friends: Black, white, and brown; rich and poor; educated in the streets and in the university — all serving the same God who created us all.

Through funerals, weddings, letters to prisoners, meals, softball games, songs, baptisms, and more hugs than we can count, Jimmy and Janet have walked alongside the poor and marginalized, and those whose wealth and privilege needed reorienting toward the kingdom of God. Their leadership has been a living sermon of grace, grit, and gospel.

A Personal Note from TightLine

Jimmy is a great friend and tennis buddy from way back, I was blessed to work with his family on the tennis courts for many years, and I got my start with TightLine Catfish donations through him and CUB - Church Under the Bridge. His encouragement and example helped shape our ministry’s heart for feeding and fellowship. 

The Tightline Crew: Rick, Dazy and I honor their legacy and celebrate their next chapter: more global trips to serve the poor and unreached in Haiti, Mexico City, and South Asia; continued teaching at Baylor, Truett Seminary, and local churches; and loving on their 12 grandchildren!

Here are few pictures from this past Sunday at Church Under the Bridge

The size of the congregation varies each weekend, 

but usually there are about 100 to 150 people.

 

Baylor students helped with a Health Fair, which brought out a few extra attendees.

Our line stretched far under the bridge—TightLine Catfish served about 150 plates.

Roughly 560 pieces of TightLine catfish hit the fryers under Interstate 35, 

Kyle, Liz, and Bill were slinging plates so fast the bridge shook more than the traffic!

What a GREAT crew of servers: Leni, Alex, Wil, Harper, and Wilder, backed by 

GREAT FRIENDS…Eddie, Bill, Kyle, and Liz, 

who somehow made serving under Interstate 35 feel like home.

Rick getting some TightLine hugs from Alex

WE ARE SO BLESSED!

HERE's What You Pick Up Between Casts and Catfish Fry's - a TightLine Thing!

Two Really Cool TightLine Catfisherman... Owen and Wilder

The older I get, the more I realize my Dad is right - the lake doesn’t rush its LIFE LESSON'S.

It teaches slow and deliberate, like when Dazy takes the co-captain seat and gives me that sideways “you deserved that” stare or when Rick eases in and takes the steering with zero discussion, and suddenly I’m just a passenger in my own story...

 

Here are a few TightLine Catfishing "Life Lesson" Thoughts...

a TightLine Thing!: Tweakin’ Your Own Rod-n-Reel

Life shifts. People shift. Sometimes the drag starts screaming when it shouldn’t.

You don’t chunk the whole Shimano Bullwhip custome TightLine rod-n-reel in Lake Waco, you adjust it, clean it, 

and keep catfishing.

Growth isn’t always dramatic; it’s just turning the star drag one click at a time. 

                             

a TightLine Thing!: Lettin’ the Catfish Speak for Itself

You don’t have to argue every point or prove you’re right.

Fry it golden, set it on the table, love the folks eating it.

Good work and good love speak louder than any debate.

                                                         Co-Captain - Rick            First Mates - Owen and Wilder

a TightLine Thing!: Pickin’ Your Tightline Crew Like It Matters

You can’t fish with everybody.

Some folks steady the boat when the wind kicks up.

Some folks rock it just to watch the catfish cooler slide.

Choose the steady ones -life’s too short for drama on the water.

      

a TightLine Thing!: Stayin’ Calm When the Line Tangles

It’s gonna tangle. Guaranteed.

Plans tangle, feelings tangle, tennis players tangle, families tangle.

The TightLine move is to breathe deep, work the knot out slowly, and keep the line in the water.

Calm spreads faster than panic.

a TightLine Thing!: Lovin’ the Quiet Dock

Sometimes the best part of the day is when the boat’s tied up, the lake’s glass, 

and it’s just you, Dazy, and the crickets.

Alone isn’t lonely when you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

a TightLine Thing!: Standin’ in the Heat of the Fryer

Growth isn’t always comfortable.

It can be hot, loud, and sometimes it burns a little.

But that’s where the magic happens -plain catfish goes in, golden beauty comes out.

Granddaughter - Addelyn - AKA - Addy-cakes!

a TightLine Thing!: Steerin’ Your Own Boat

Trust your gut, trust your heart, trust the One who made the water, and steer your life in a way that honors Him.

A TightLine Thing! 

It shows up in the way you speak to people,

the way you shoulder what life brings,

and the quiet peace you feel at night

when your head and heart both rest in sync.

That’s the TightLine way.

And around here, that’s more than enough.