This past weekend I was asked through the Outdoor Legacy Foundation (OLF) to take a special-needs young man fishing. His name was Lancelot.
Lance is what he told me to call him. Lance is a fine young man who is eaten up with dairy cows, peacocks, and animals in general.
I met Lance on the lake around midday and we had lunch together with my buddies Alex McClendon, Jon Parrish, Chad Wammock, and Darcy Flynn.
Alex had asked Darcy, Chad, and myself to help out and take Lance and his friend James Meeks, another young man from Milledgeville who went hunting and fishing with OLF last weekend.
OLF is a group of outdoorsmen who decided they needed to give back and wanted to help others who may have certain challenges to enjoy the outdoors. So, they take special-needs children, young people, and veterans hunting and fishing. This means that whether you are a veteran or a young, wheelchair-bound person, they take you outside.
Because outside is where we heal and bond with others so well. Outside is a healing force so powerful that it will change your life forever.
Through OLF we can help people from all over and from all walks of life.
And we all simply share one thing in common, we love hunting and fishing.
The young James Meeks scored on a beautiful turkey Saturday morning (make sure to check out the photo) and then spent the afternoon on the lake with Lake Oconee Striper Club Vice President (lovingly known as MVP) Darcy Flynn and our runaway angler of the year Chad Wammock.
Lance and his mother, Ms. Renee, got to fish with myself and Jon Parrish, while James’ brothers got to fish with Alex McClendon (more about mine and Alex’s family connection in a later column). All of us caught a couple of fish and boy did we work hard for it Saturday afternoon.
Between conversations about dairy cows, peacocks, and how big great whites could get, Lance managed to catch a nice 3.5-lb hybrid off a downline with me. I’ll say, without a doubt, that was the biggest smile to ever be seen on my boat.
Now at some point, someone is going to say stuff like how fortunate they are to get to go, how blessed we are to not have such challenges and many other things.
But let me tell you the truth about it all. I was just honored to be with James and Lance. I was humbled, not because of the obstacles they had overcome, but because of the love they poured on each one of us. To love as they do, to enjoy life as they do, and to be present and here with their families and friends are all things we should aspire to.
Their examples are strength, love, and faith. From the very first moment I met Lance, he treated me like his best friend and was very interested in my life, my family, and my animals. I wish I could be that way.
Now here’s the hook.
OLF needs your support.
So please take just a minute and go online to theoutdoorlegacy.com and find out how you can support this very worthy group. Drop Jon an email or reach out to me and I’ll help you connect. Meanwhile, if you see James Meeks or his dad, Kevin, give him a high five and tell him congratulations on such a fine bird!