Zoneloc On Tour: Alton Jones
Dec 21st, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Dec 21st, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Zoneloc pro Alton Jones is revving up for the upcoming 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series season and Bassmaster Classic. Before he goes full blast into the tournament season there is a little holiday called Christmas that he will be celebrating in an amazingly fun and fulfilling way.
“For me, Christmas is all about my family and faith,” said Jones. “My family has a place in Central Colorado we like to go to before Christmas and ski and take time to just be with each other.
“We had an amazing trip. Saw a lot of elk. It was very cold, minus 10 at times, but it wasn’t so bad, unless the wind was blowing. Over the five days we were there we had something like 48 inches of snow, which is great for skiing.
“We also have a daily devotional. It’s not like all we do is pray all Christmas season, but each day, kind of like an advent calendar, we have about a 15 minute devotional with our focus leading up to the birth of Christ. It is a great way for our family to get centered after dealing with all of the hustle and bustle of daily life. You often lose focus on what matters.”
Jones won’t be home in Waco, Texas, for Christmas. Instead, his family travels to Dallas where the majority of his family lives.
“We all head to Dallas, Texas where my parents live and the core of my family,” said Jones. “On Christmas Eve we all participate in a gift exchange. We draw names and get one present for that person.
“On Christmas my immediate family exchanges presents. There are a lot more than one each.
“My sister then has a huge Christmas brunch for family, but also friends, and often people we don’t know. Sometimes people who just need a place to come for Christmas and get a good meal. Sometimes we walk away with a new friend.”
Alton feels giving to someone in need is the greatest gift he can receive.
“I work with my church and help provide people with food and other things they may need this time of the year,” said Jones. “You never know how much that might mean to somebody who is less fortunate.
“For me understanding how fortunate I am, like the fact that I have food every day. Sometimes we all lose perspective since we live in a country full of such abundance.
“Until you walk with people who are less fortunate and try to understand the circumstance they are in. It is often nothing they could control. A death in their family, loss of income, so many things.
“I believe we need to help each other and reach out to people in need. For me, I feel I receive more out of helping someone than the person I am helping. In life, there is such a fine line between prosperity and homelessness.
“I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas.”