In the stillness of the Alabama woods, a father and son quietly navigate the tension between taking life and honoring it. This is more than a hunting story—it’s a reflection on faith, legacy, and the sacred weight of passing down wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Bryan Gill contemplates what it means to “consider the lilies,” in his latest essay. From fly fishing the Cahaba River and standing in awe of how the beautiful Cahaba Lilies thrive through adversity to reminiscing on days of his childhood walking through flower gardens with his Grandaddy, lilies are a constant theme in this essay. What does it mean to “consider the lilies?” Bryan explores parenting, worry, fear, and enjoying life despite the craziness happening around us all when we stop to consider the lilies. We hope you will enjoy this essay and, whether it’s visiting the Cahaba River to gaze upon the Cahaba Lilies or strolling through your own backyard, take a moment to consider the lilies for yourself.

In this guest essay, entitled “Second Chances & the One that got Away,” Chase Bowers recalls a fishing trip he took as a young boy with his grandfather and father. This fishing trip proved to be the catalyst that drove a wedge between he and his dad. But, like many complicated relationships, the worst doesn’t have to be the end. And in this story, the best was yet to come, even with the one that got away. This second chance essay is a beautiful story of grace and family.

You don’t fully understand fatherhood until you’re a father. And even then, you’re just doing the best you can with what you have. In this essay, Dr. Gill reflects on lessons his dad taught him about fishing, fatherhood, and sacrifice. He also laments his failure to having yet landed an Alabama trout—a feat his two young children have both accomplished. Bryan has understood varying levels of sacrifice over the years, but two nights in Arkansas, a Great Lion, and a fishing trip helped him to truly grasp this peculiar concept

In this essay, Bryan recalls a frightening night where he was lost in a swamp as a teenager. Reflection and journaling helped him to more fully understand this event and others. Reflection and journaling have been a big part of Bryan’s adulthood and in this essay, he offers insights into the practice of both. We hope you will enjoy this episode entitled, “Alone in the Death Marshes,”

I was stronger, but this experience with the river made me wiser—even the deadliest monsters can disguise themselves as quiet rivers.