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Looking out the window at the little lake near our cabin this morning, I noticed that there was a guy standing out there fishing. It’s a dreary sort of day, rainy, but there he stands, casting out, reeling in, casting out, reeling in, oblivious to the weather. I didn’t notice him catching anything, but he keeps at it. I know there are fish in the lake, because I’ve seen them jump occasionally. My grandson even caught one, earlier this summer. But if I were to judge by the success of the rainy day fisherman out there, it looks like even if there are fish, they’re not biting. Yet, he keeps on casting out. I hope he isn’t too hungry for dinner.

For many of us who are searching for employment, it seems like that little vignette is apropos to our situation. The rain of the times is falling on our heads and all around us. We know there must certainly be jobs out there, at least we’ve heard of them cropping up here and there, but we’re uncertain of whether we’ll even be able to catch a break. If you’ve been out of the job market for a while, as I have, the uncertainty is compounded by the feeling that you’re at the bottom of the heap, and prospective employers are enjoying the pleasure of selecting only the cream of the crop. I am not an expert in the field, so I can’t tell you how to make yourself more appealing in your particular job market. But I can take a clue from our wet fisherman friend: there are fish out there, and eventually one will bite. You just have to keep fishing, even in the rain.

I noticed that our fisherman moved on to another spot.  Another clue: keep your search moving.  Fish in fresher waters.  Use different bait, if necessary, but keep fishing.  Didn’t catch the juicy, 10-pound prize? Don’t throw it back, it may keep you from starving while you continue fishing for a bigger, better catch. At the very least, you might use it for bait!

I know my analogy here probably sounds a bit trite or simplistic, but I’m really trying to encourage others as I encourage myself. You know, fishing is sort of an act of faith. The angler puts a bit of bait on the hook, and drops the line into the water. Usually the water is murky enough that he can’t see much. He only has the word of others that there are fish in there; maybe he’s seen some jumping, breaking the surface, but they’re certainly not holding up little signs that say, “Drop your line here, I’m starving!”  No, in fact I think sometimes they think, Huh, do I look stupid to you? I know a spiked worm when I see one. So, casting out your line in the job market is like that – an act of faith. You gotta eat, so you keep fishing. And even when the rains of adversity pour down and soak you, keep on casting out, because eventually you’ll drop your line in the right place, and you’ll pull in a keeper.

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