I had my first mouthful of smoked Salmon last year in November 2011. I'm over forty and have friends that always order it when we have sushi or go out, and ahh, ohh, and mmmm over every morseful - but not me - I always order chicken. First of all, I don't like things that look raw and Salmon sushi does so that was never going to work and also I just don't like things that are raw, like most seafood my people eat :-) So I must have been starving when I took a mouthful of a salmon entree last year and ohmigosh, I kid you not - I was hooked on that - and nearly ate the whole plate!! Now, I haven't ventured out to buy salmon sushi yet but I thought that day wasn't going to be too far away - until I watched David Attenborough's programme "Nature's Great Events" episode called The Great Salmon Run. I saw this episode a few weeks ago now and yet I can't help thinking about it every now and then - so touched was I... Those salmon go through a lot to be a salmon...... so not sure if I could eat it without remembering that.... We'll see ;-)Here are the lessons that I learnt from the Great Salmon Run of the Pacific Salmon
1) There is a God
Every episode of David Attenborough's documentaries confirmed for me that there is a God. For some, acknowledging that there is a God is untenable - but honestly for the events to happen which are captured in these beautiful programmes - you have to be a bit ?? to think there is not a higher being in charge of this great big planet.... I'm no intellect or theologist but I know for a fact, that if man (as in human beings) were in charge - this planet would have been stuffed up a loooooong time ago. This is evidenced in the fact that the things that man is in control of are dying or dead, running out or extinct.
2) Making a mark
The Great Salmon Race was focussed on Pacific Salmon and the annual salmon run on the west coast of North America where hundreds of millions of these animals return to the very place that they were born to spawn and die. Yip - their plan is to return to the place they were born which is hundreds of kilometres from where they lived their entire four to five years to complete a life cycle. What moved me the most was how the programme doesn't end with the death of the Pacific Salmon but adds, that there is possibly no other animal whose existence makes such a mark as the Salmon. David Attenborough tells us that even in death, the benefits of these fish are long-lasting and far-reaching with the nutrients of the decaying fish not only ensuring the waterways and river beads are fed but their goodness seeps into the surrounding forests and inland areas by being carried in by bears, birds, and other animals. What is my mark? What mark are you making? Where is our influence being felt or known?3) There is opposition in all things
The adversity these salmon face is amazing, but such is their focus (which in itself is unbelieveable - travelling thousands of kilometers to their destination - against the current), that they keep going, and going. In fact, of those millions that start the journey back to their birthplace only a fraction actually make it to the end. Instead of thinking, "stuff this - I'm out" and turning around after the first hurdle, or opting out of the trip in the first place, - these fish just keep heading towards their goal. While at sea, these Salmon are dinner for Orcas, Stellar Sea Lions, and Salmon Sharks. As they get into the streams and rivers, besides battling nature (sometimes the water doesn't rise enough for them to swim upstream that die), they are on the menu of hungry bears and even the Bald headed Eagle. Sometimes, I think I have it bad - but I remember that surely if a Pacific Salmon can battle against what appears to be unsummountable odds - surely this chick can too!!
4) Change starts from inside
The Pacific Salmon are born in fresh water but they live their entire lives in the salt water sea. So in order for them to return to their birthplace, and I found this fascinating that their body chemistry changes so that they once again survive living in fresh water. This change allows them to survive long enough to get to where they need to spawn, but what stays on my mind is that these fish are slowing dying because of this chemistry change - amazing. While they are waiting in shallow waiting for water levels to rise for them to swim in - Salmon also change body shape and colour in preparation for spawning. If they are these holding areas for too long their features change so much that some turn out to be just plain ugly ;-), like bumps on their heads or even curly nose looking things ;-) The lesson is that for these fish to get to where they need to be, their changes are what we call "life-changing", "wholesale" or "sweeping" or in easy terms - like Bill Bixby turning into Lou Ferrigno (human to the hulk :-)). What are the changes I need to make to get to my goals - are they life-changing or half-pie? What are we doing to start those changes?
5) Home
The trip home for Pacific Salmon is amazing. When you take a google earth view of the journey it is incredible - the fish moving from the open sea up tiny narrow streams and rivers, against the current to get to one place - home - where they were born, really, has to be seen to be believed. The fact that they are born with the ability to do this (there has to be a God - because man can get lost on any given day :-)) is mindblowing..... but this journey is is not theirs alone. I want to go home - to my mother one day and a loving Heavenly Father. This life that I am living through has adversity, opposition and although not life-threatening, it can be soul destroying and challenging - but thanks to the examples of the Pacific Salmon, adn the story telling of David Attenborough and the BBC - I can do it!!
Yours in friendship,
Mxo
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