Trying too hard in Fly Fishing and In Life:

Sometimes while fly fishing I try to be perfect. I make sure I have the best fly. I rush to get the perfect hole.  I try and try and try to make perfect casts and drifts.  I try to stay focused. However, sometimes it seems I try too hard and it just does not work. I only make a mess of things. I miss something, and I do not have fun.

I find the same thing to be true in my spiritual life. I try too hard to be “good.” I try too hard to be spiritual (whatever that means?), and I only make a mess of things and I do not have fun.

There is an old Zen teaching that implies if we try really hard to be enlightened, it will take twice as long. There is also an old teaching in the Tao that asks us to abandon holiness and morality and then we might find it. 

There is the old Zen story of two monks walking along the river. On their journey they see an attractive young woman who needs help crossing the river. Without hesitation, the old monk carried her across the river and placed her down on the other side. The old monk returned to the young monk who then proceeded to question him and his "morality." They continued on their journey along the river. Every few hours the younger monk questioned the older monk's integrity asking him why he carried the woman. He just could not let it go.

Finally, the older monk says, "I placed that woman down several hours ago and have forgotten about the incident. Why do you continue to carry her this whole way"?

It seems we can try too hard and miss some greater point. 

Something to ponder the next time I spot a fish in the river (or a stranger) and I consider my approach.