Taking a Lesson From A River Runs Through It Essay

Taking a Lesson From A River Runs Through It - Essay Example He became a professor in Chicago, married his first love and lived a more serious life while his younger brother chose to stay in his hometown in Montana. He loved the provincial life that included fly fishing, his favorite pastime. However, he was also quite indulged in gambling, drinking and the dangers such vices are attached with. He had a lot of friends but he also gained enemies who in the end cut his life short. The story practically presents how the two boys were raised as sons of a Presbyterian preacher and how they were taught to catch fish. The summer that the older sibling, Norman, went home from college took most of the period of the narration where it was revealed that the younger brother, Paul, died. Norman and Paul’s story reflects a lot of religious lessons lived by the characters of the story. One can see how they have been raised, being taught every time the father gets a chance to give them a lesson such as reverence to nature, applying balance in how he do es things, showing them love and acceptance despite themselves and finally learn how things are connected to each other. From the beginning of the story, it has been evident that as a minister, the father has taken it as his obligation to become a teacher first and foremost in his own family. He spent much time not only in taking care of his flock but especially in taking care of his children. In fact, he personally taught Norman how to read and write as well as fish. He was a conversationalist who resorted to intellectual conversations in disciplining his children instead of getting angry at the wrongs of his children. He applied what God told Moses when they were in the wilderness, instructing them to teach their children in the way they should go, teaching them when they are walking, sitting or lying down. In relation to the manners of the reverend Maclean’s teaching, he made use of time and nature to his children’s education. As he reverenced the time given to him, he managed his activities well so that he was able to have enough time as a husband, a father and a minister all at once. When he performs his duties as a father and teacher to his children, Maclean teaches them about secular matters such as fly catching and allows them to make a connection to Biblical characters such as the disciples who were fishermen. He used the rich Montana nature to connect with God. For instance, when hey were young, the minister walked with his boys and told them a story about stones, mentioning that inside the stones, there are words. Then, he encouraged them to listen to the stones and water in the river. It may have not been implied in the narration but such teaching was a reflection of the natural pantheistic view of revering nature. As a result, in their fishing, the boys were taught to be in tune with the river and the fishes. Although Norman was not able to learn it, he saw how his brother found his own way of communicating with nature. In the movie, there was a scene wherein Paul was able to catch a big fish in an extraordinary manner, a manner of his own. When he brought the fish to his father and brother, he was congratulated and appreciated for his perfect job, being able to swim with the fish so he can catch it. In response, he said that he only needed three more years to think like a fish. This shows an example of the religion of nature, wherein one should synchronize his actions with nature in order to have a peaceful relationship with it. The reverend Maclean showed such character in training his children and it was compounded by his sense of reason. This was evident even during the two boys’