THE PYTHON HUNT

  One of the beautiful things about being a guide is that you get to help people create memories, and if those memories are special enough they become a story, and if you’re really blessed, those stories contain a lesson. This is all three…

  The night before a hunt always has a routine. To keep everything smooth and orderly you need to have all your ducks in a row and since I offer many different hunts, equipment has to be changed and transferred so we have everything we need. One of the constants the night before is to contact the customer, arrange the time and place to meet up and address any questions and concerns. I checked the calendar and saw the was a python hunt on the books for two people. I made the call and introduced myself, clarified there were two for the hunt and arranged the time and place to meet up. Morning came, the boat was loaded and fueled up and off I went. I have almost a two hour drive to the Everglades so there is plenty of time to game plan. Weather is evaluated, a route is decided upon, and scenarios are replayed in my head over and over. 

As luck would have it, it wasn’t the best of python hunting days. It was cool and cloudy. Pythons don’t like anything much under 80 degrees, so the weather wasn’t in our favor. Having a sunny day often overcomes the temperature as the snakes like to sunbathe to warm their bodies. That wasn’t in the forecast either…

Now a python hunt is a trophy hunt, or in other words success is limited so I pray for perfect conditions to help overcome the odds. This day wasn’t off to the best start and when I met up with the customer I wanted to prepare them for the conditions and how it tilted the odds in the snake’s favor. When my customers arrived I could see something else was afoot. There was only one person. 

 John was a young man, maybe in his thirties and like most every python hunter didn’t have a clue. This is a first time experience for almost everyone I host, so that wasn’t unusual. I smiled and asked the obvious, “where was our other hunter?” John smiled back and explained it was a trip for him and his dad and the idea was his dad’s to hunt the Everglades and capture a python, but dad wouldn’t be joining us today. Dad was battling cancer and had taken a turn for the worse. He just wasn’t healthy enough to be involved but insisted his son go and live the experience so dad could experience it vicariously through him. John wanted to cancel as he wasn’t as enthusiastic as his dad about engaging with a large snake, but a son’s love motivated him to follow through.

We loaded the boat and set out into the marsh. John and I discussed the game plan if we encountered a python, what to look for, and who would do what when the time came. Then I explained the odds, which seemed to relieve John’s troubled look. He wasn’t as excited to face a snake as you might think, so the understanding this doesn’t happen everyday and the weather not being in our favor eased his anxiety. 

We traveled the canals and stopped often to search the brush. It was breeding season so that was in our favor, but alas the day went as predicted and it didn’t seem to be in the cards to rid the Everglades of yet one more unwanted inhabitant. The weather did improve and the sun peaked through. I was getting ready to head back to the boat ramp when intuition/compassion kicked in, one more land walkabout, I need to make this happen. I found a gator slide which provided a clear path to negotiate the bank and beached the boat. All tied up we set out and explored the spoil for our prey. John lagged behind, his enthusiasm was waning, and there it was! Back in the wood, in the shade of all things, (pythons usually seek sunshine on cool days), was a huge 12 foot python! John kept his distance as I dispatched the snake, but overcame his fears as the snake was rendered harmless. We had success and achieved what most people can only dream about, and for all the right reasons! The Kodak moments abound and there was no shortage of smiles. We were both relieved and fulfilled at the same time, John had his story to relive and his dad’s dream was fulfilled. It was just what the doctor ordered~

The memory was created, all three of us have a story to tell, and a lesson learned. To this day I believe that success was because our mission was for all the right reasons and God smiled upon and rewarded our effort. It pays to do that little bit extra, the results are predictable if you don’t and even under suspect conditions success is possible. 

 I smile and often pray for John and his dad. I hope God granted favor on his dad’s recovery like he did our adventure. I was blessed to have a part in their story and I tell it often. Come make a memory with me, create a story and God willing maybe we will both take away a lesson. Be safe!

Woodstowaters.com book your adventure today~

 

A New Adventure to Share!!!

 Well…life is full of twists and turns and nobody is exempt, even me! Turns out at a time in my life when I should be considering slowing down and retiring I’ve been put in a position where I'm launching a new and exciting business, Woods to Waters Outfitters! Yes, I’m launching on my own. It’s not new to me, just now I’m solo and no one else’s asset. 

 Weeks have been spent mulling over the decision, finding and buying just the right boat and equipment, learning how to setup a website and how to launch it toward the top of the search engine, bank accounts, incorporation, insurance, registrations, and watching my funding shrink. All the time repeating, “Jesus I trust in you.” Knowing He led me to it, and understanding He will lead me through it keeps me from being overwhelmed. Satan stands in the wings with the cloud of doubt handy for anytime I weaken. Not today you horned devil~ Watch me grow and don’t bet against me! 

 I’ve always been part of a loving community, one that treats me like family and I have a request my dear friends. Please visit my website as traffic drives it to the top of the search engine. If you’ve hunted or fished with me, leave a testimonial. Just the fact you clicked on the website helps. Here’s the link…

Woodstowaters.com

 Nothing builds a solid business like word of mouth advertising, so tell your friends. Have them mention this blog for my friends and family discount when booking. I have a plethora of pictures to put on there, more on my list of things to do. Peruse the picture gallery and enjoy my past client’s successful hunts. More to come~ 

 I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank you for your support! You guys are the best! 

God Bless

Capt. Bill

The Beautiful Music Of Life!

Funny thing Orrin Woodward and I were just discussing this story the other day while trolling for Sailfish out on the Gulf Stream. Orrin gave me a different perspective on the moral behind this story. He likened the talent of Joshua Bell to the greatness inside all of us, greatness hidden because we are stuck in the bowels of the subway, surrounded by subway people. Give us a stage, and we can give a command performance, a performance worthy of a pricey ticket!


The LIFE opportunity is just that stage. It's our job to lift people out of the subway environment and help them realize their greatness. No longer is it acceptable to be held back by the indifference of the subway people and their microcosm. We have the talent scouts and the mentorship to enhance everyone's ability to shine upon life's stage. No longer will we walk by the beautiful music others are playing trying to be recognized. We are the agent of change, we are the ears seeking that ballad that yearns to be set free. This my friends if what sharing the LIFE opportunity is all about. Go find your Joshua Bell!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

"A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.


Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

... A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Time to Heal!

First, senseless tragedy. May God rest their souls, and bring peace to their families and this nation.


I could do a lecture here on taking God out of society. I could rail on the reactive wave of trying to ban guns. I could do this piece on any number of things that apply to this assault on humanity, but it's time to learn how to heal.

My Dad,rest his soul, had a unique way of handling death. He recognized that there needs to be a period of mourning for the loss and an expression of grief. He said, "go ahead and cry, for you've suffered a great loss."

Then came the but.

"But there comes a time when the grief must come to an end, heal your heart, because grief is but a selfish behavior."

His intent was to show that the person who had passed was who the initial grief was for. Their suffering has ended, they are now lifted into eternity. There is no more pain. To continue to grieve is only for our benefit, and by default a selfish emotion. It serves no good, and only continues our suffering. It's time to remember all the good the departed left us, and while we miss them, remember that we will be together in eternity much longer than we will be apart. This is a cause for celebration!

Keep their memories close, and celebrate your reunion in eternity.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

CHRISTmas!

Today is December 13th, so if we were to apply The Twelve Days of Christmas and want it to end on the 25th, we should begin today! But America has begun a shift away from the traditional holidays. Many are trying with fervor to take any religious implication out of this time of year, and some have even traded the traditional Santa image for a political figure. From the celebration of the winter solstice, to Brackoclaus, many in this nation try to rewrite the history of our culture.


Let's face the truth, there is no reason to celebrate the change of season, it happens naturally. But if you really want to admit this is truly a marvel, then you have to concede it's by design, ergo there is a divine power and a reason to celebrate. We don't set aside days off for any other seasonal change, only for days when we want to memorialize something out of the ordinary. So either join in the celebration of the Birth of Christ, or get back to work. If you don't recognize our God's influence in creation and salvation, there is no need for you to celebrate, Christmas is a religious holiday, just like the celebration of Hanukkah, and those calendar days are sacred to our citizens who practice their freedom of religion. Don't hijack our day of remembrance as anything but what it is. The Constitution allows us that right.

I've had it with nonbelievers claiming individuals of faith are stomping all over their rights. Freedom of speech, and expression, goes hand in hand with freedom of religion. When you don't believe in God, that is a right. Just as in believing in God is. I don't stop you from expressing your opinion, or celebrating your belief of a non existence of God, just as you shouldn't stop me from believing or expressing my celebration of God. To suppress one's expression of faith or lack of it is wrong. We are free to openly express our faith as guaranteed in the First Amendment, it doesn't matter if your faith is there is no God, or if your faith is, there is a God; they are both beliefs. It's what you have faith in, it's your religion. While your free to express and celebrate that, your not free to suppress it.

Merry Christmas!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

American History Isn't Kind To Bullies!

I saw a post on Facebook today that said, "I stand for the rights of Michigan workers." Obviously pointing to the struggles in Michigan about the right to work laws. I happen to agree with this statement. I stand for the right of everyone to have the option to either participate on not participate in Union representation. I can't understand why, in the freest nation in the world, one would force another to pay for something they don't want in order to gain employment. They should have the option to join if they find it adds value to their life.


This begs the question; why do they have to force people to join the union if it's such a great benefit? Why is it necessary to commit acts of violence while trying to impose your will on a free people? These are the acts of tyranny.

You see in a free market society when a service adds value to an individual's life, it naturally survives and prospers as long as the value exceeds the cost. A great example is electricity. I love the conveniences it provides me, so I gladly pay a company for that service. No one forces me to purchase it. In fact through solar, I could provide myself the same service, but I don't want the hassle or the expense of switching over, yet. If there ever comes a time when the value of the electrical service exceeds what I'm willing to pay, I'll build and install solar panels. I can assure you no one will come knocking at my door and threaten me because I chose to stop using their service. At least no one who values their life.

Union representation is a service. The Michigan bill denies no one the ability to provide or use that service. It simply gives them the option removing the mandatory status for employment. This is how a country of free willed individuals exercise their freedom. We don't bully people with the threat of violence. That's a great way for the "collective" to learn the hard way, tyranny is not acceptable behavior.

So my advice to the union thugs is to stop this emotional immaturity before the freedom loving citizens of this grand republic decide to teach your collective about the right to freedom of choice. "We the people" have had about enough of your socialist agenda and lawless behavior. Actions have consequences, and your current actions do nothing to further your cause. America has a history of dealing with bullies unfavorably. Don't be on the wrong side of history.

God Bless! (bullies included)
Capt. Bill

Obamacare Reality!

I just got my first taste of the benefits of the Affordable Healthcare Act in the mail.


"These payment adjustments are not based on your individual claim costs. They are based on the combined costs of all company policy holders who have the same plan. Everyone who is covered by this plan in your state is receiving a rate adjustment."

By rate adjustment they mean a 30% increase. Now if I remember correctly the big selling point of this legislation is that it would keep healthcare costs in check. Here's a little more from this bastion of good news...

"We are working hard to provide our customers with high quality insurance at an affordable cost. In spite of our efforts, medical costs continue to go up due to increased use and higher charges for healthcare products and services."

Now I don't want to be the guy who says, "I told you so," but "I told you so!" Part of this premium increase is due to the additional coverage of those with preconditions as the federal government is applying a &63.00/year tax on all healthcare plans to create a slush fund that goes into the Treasury for unspecified reasons. (Note: corporations don't pay taxes, their consumers do). This is another attempt to redistribute the wealth from the "haves" to the "have nots." Backdoor taxation that penalizes those who responsibly carry healthcare insurance.

America is being draw more and more into socialism. We are now redistributing healthcare for the good of the collective. That's a concept taken right out of the Communist Manifesto. We need to refocus on the rights of the individual, fix the problem not the symptom. Healthcare doesn't become affordable by taxing and penalizing those who maintain that responsibility. That just adds an additional burden and creates more without insurance. The solution lies in changing the culture in our country to address the individual, not the collective. You take care of the individual, the collective will be just fine!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill