As the temperatures warm up, many are returning to the woods and the waters. Youth season for turkeys is this weekend and many have been pulling trout out of valley creeks for weeks. Along with mulching, these too are annual rites of springtime.
Although Dad didn’t mount nearly as many fish as taxidermists near bigger waters, he did his share. Bass were his most popular species but he did some trout and saltwater fish as well. I still hesitate whenever I throw a bread bag away for we always saved those to freeze fish in until he could skin and mount them.
The largest fish ever in Dad’s shop was a giant blue marlin. I don’t remember who caught it or how he ended up with it, but its arched silvery blue body hung above deer heads in the back for it was too large for the showroom.
Sometime in the 1970s, a customer from Maryland offered dad a deal on the marlin he couldn’t refuse. The check was written and the fish went out the door never to be seen again. Nor was the cash, since the check bounced.
I’m actually thankful it did, for this same man offered to buy dad’s business. I remember my parents having serious conversations about the deal although I never knew any of the details. If I recall correctly, they had decided to sell because the offer was just too good to pass up.
The main aspect I remember is how I felt thinking about this possibility. I couldn’t put it into words at the time but as I look back, I feared that such a transaction would greatly impact my identity. Anytime I met someone new, all I had to do to introduce myself was to say my father was the taxidermist in Maurertown. Everyone knew him and his shop was a landmark along the Valley Pike. That also came in handy when describing where I lived for our home was right next door.
The prospect of dad exiting the taxidermy business not only meant the end of my identity as the son of the taxidermist, but it also meant we would have to move since it was all one property. Never mind the fact that, if the deal were sealed, it would likely mean an even better home on a larger lot. I was never a big fan of change and still am not. This was a serious threat to my image and uniqueness for in addition to identifying with my father’s business, his profession also fed my hunger for all things wild and natural.
Thankfully, the man’s marlin check bounced before the transfer of the entire business was finalized. But it was close enough to give me a good scare and rattle my nerves.
In retrospect, this incident can be very beneficial to all readers. Where do we look for our identity? Many times we introduce ourselves in relation to our occupation or home location. We often drop names of well-known relatives that may help someone get a handle on who we are or where we belong. While these can be very helpful, if we stop at this, we miss a perfect opportunity to lift up Jesus. For a Christian, our primary identity is no longer with temporal earthly employment nor with human relationships, but as sons and daughters of the Living God! We never have to worry about Him retiring, selling out, or going under. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Like all other important questions in life, we should look to God’s Word for our identity. It clearly tells us that we are selfish lost sinners headed for eternal punishment unless we respond to Jesus’ sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. If and when we do, we’re adopted into God’s forever family and our new identity is totally defined by Him! If you never have, do that today and join the family of God! Blessings, George