A Fisherman’s Journey Through the Ten Commandments
October
– The First Commandment: God Alone
This autumn has been unusual — warmer than in decades past. The geese are still flying south, young ones tasting the adventure of their first migration. Farmers, grateful and weary, finish their harvests. City workers make the most of the mild weather to complete long summer roadwork. The leaves have turned and fallen, the mushrooms of summer are gone, and now the northwest wind carries the tart scent of cranberries left in the bush. Thanksgiving lingers on our tables, and the shortening days prepare us for the company of saints whose feast soon draws near.
Fishermen linger too, casting their lines as long as the lakes remain free of ice, knowing daylight is shorter and each chance more precious. Time is not ours to command; it is God’s gift to be lived well.
The First Commandment tells us: “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before Me.”
(Ex 20:2–3)
It is more than a rule — it is an invitation to trust. Just as the fisherman must trust the water and the changing seasons, so must we place our hope in God. Without Him first, our nets come up empty, no matter how many casts we make. But when He is first, even a quiet day on the shore, even a small catch, becomes full of meaning.
Idols are not only statues of stone. They can be our busyness, our possessions, even our worries — anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. The First Commandment asks us to let go of these false anchors and to trust that God Himself will steady our boat.
How It Shapes Our Choices
Like a fisherman who travels light, this commandment guides every decision:
● Discernment: Before acting, ask — is this about God or about an idol?
● Prayer: Restless hearts find peace only in Him.
● Virtues: Prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude keep God first.
● Freedom: True freedom is not “any god I choose,” but obeying the God who gives life (Veritatis Splendor §41).
October Feasts That Point Us to God Alone
● Oct 1 – Protection of the Theotokos (Pokrov): Mary shields us, leading us to her Son (a feast of the Eastern Catholic tradition).
● Oct 26 – St. Demetrius the Great-Martyr: Chose Christ over false gods.
● Oct 26 – Christ the King: The Church proclaims His reign above all idols.
October Focus — God Alone First
● Examine Priorities: Each evening, ask: Did anything today take first place in my heart instead of God?
● Simplify: Travel light — like a fisherman leaving unnecessary gear at home. Let go of habits, possessions, or distractions that weigh you down.
● Morning Prayer of Trust: “Lord, You alone are my God; I place this day in Your hands.”
● Daily Net: Record three moments you sensed God’s presence — a golden sunrise, a kind word, the stillness of water reflecting autumn leaves.
● Fish-for-Men Outreach: Invite a neighbour or young person to join you in prayer or service, echoing Christ’s call to be fishers of men.
Spiritual Practices for the Month
● Daily: Pray the Jesus Prayer — “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
● Weekly: Fast one day from a modern idol (social media, needless spending) and dedicate it to prayer or service.
● Scriptural Anchor: Meditate on Psalm 23 — the Lord who leads to “still waters” and restores our souls.
Closing with Joy
The First Commandment is not only a warning against idols; it is an invitation to joy. When God is first, everything else — family, work, friendship, celebration — falls into place. Even small joys become hymns of praise: the scent of autumn air, laughter at the table, harvest gathered in.
Joy belongs in our faith. Even fishermen laugh about “the one that got away.” In October, there’s cheer in the glow of a neighbour’s smile, the sharpening of hooks, the last casts before freeze-up, or even sharing a modest Oktoberfest toast to God’s goodness. Dance with your spouse, share laughter with family, give thanks for harvest and home. These joys, rightly ordered, lift us closer to God.
And as the northwest wind brings the tart smell of cranberries and the taste of thanksgiving, it also whispers of holiness, preparing our hearts for the saints who now draw near.
Please pray for me, as I pray for you. We are in the same boat, casting into the deep. The water is open, the wind is crisp, and God is near. Let us row with joy — and never forget to smile along the way.
Amen.
— Fr. Slavko Dumec
