Salmon Spawning II

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NIV)

When I lived on the equator in Africa, seasonal variations were relatively minor. We did experience changes during the rainy and dry seasons, as well as the fluctuations they brought to both the plants and animals. These seasons are necessary for the planting, growing, and harvest for those who depend on the land to bring forth food to survive.

I hope wherever you live, there are some special events which take place with the changing of the seasons. I’m not exactly sure why the fall has been so special to me over the years. I’m certain some of it has to do with the brilliant changing color of the trees where I live. Seems I could lay under a glowing orange sugar maple on a clear blue day, smell the freshly dropped leaves, and sense the closeness of God in a special way.

One extra-special event I look forward to each fall is the spawning of the salmon not far from our home. These members of the sockeye salmon family are bright chrome-colored with a tint of blue during the summer months. But come fall spawning season, their heads turn green and their bodies a bright orange-red.

I’ve seen them spawn in deep water, but often they build their redds (nests) in gravel in very shallow water as shown in the above picture. And like spending time amongst the vividly colored trees on a crisp autumn day, I could devote a long while watching these fish splash around in water less than knee-deep, marveling once again at our magnificent Creator.

How did He ever think of all this?

Hope you have a great autumn wherever you are.