Salmon Recovery
salmon are anadromous, a term which comes from the Greek anadromos, meaning “running upward”.[4]
A couple of days ago I was sitting with a sponsee as they were working on their sixth step. In our conversation I mentioned that sometimes the struggle to change is relatable to the salmon swimming upriver. It is indeed no easy feat to accomplish, but as we ascertained, we are not the ones doing the change, not really. Referring back to step one, we see that we are powerless to change much of anything, even our own self. If we consider the salmon’s journey and purpose, it’s easy to compare our recovery journey to their lives. Their perseverance to get up the river is recovery in action as we watch their struggles and root their determination on to the end.
A quick review of Step One: We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable. However,it is with humble gratitude that we recognize and concede that power we thought we had, to the real Higher Power. Once we do that, we find the true power in our powerlessness. Which brings me back to step six and seven. Again, we cannot just simply change ourselves, we need to have given that control over to our Higher Power. Don’t you think if that were possible, I would have done it long before I lost control of my addiction? Of course I would, I wanted to change and be well, so many times, but the internal struggle to keep doing what I was doing (destroying my life, health, family and relationship) had such a hold on me that I had lost the power to do anything about it.
I am happy beyond measure to give up any illusion of power and control I thought I had. So, what does this have to do with salmon? Well, just like the caterpillar to the butterfly, the tadpole to the frog, the salmon also goes through a metamorphous, but then, has to travel back from the ocean to its birthplace, its origins, to deposit the eggs for the next generation of little salmon to come into the world.
The salmon takes this journey at a certain level of risk, not really knowing if they will make it back home. Although most of
them do make it, some will be ensnared by hungry bears, fishermen and other obstacles they cannot overcome. Most are fit enough for this arduous journey, a few are not, they did not get enough to eat during their time (usually seven years) in the ocean and did not get strong enough for the entire journey. Just like the salmon, we too need to get ready and be fit for what streams and perils we must face in our lives. It might be an uphill journey that we do not anticipate, that’s why the steps, faith, and recovery help us to plan for and navigate these issues.
By digging deep into our steps and getting “fit” for the journey, we will be ready for those uphill battles that pop up along the way and all the predators and obstacles that life throws at us. We can be firm in the knowledge of who we are, who we are becoming, where we’re going and stay focused and steady on this sojourn.
I have been given the privilege of getting to travel and see a lot of this country and a bit of other countries. It is wonderful to experience God’s world and the people, places, sounds and culture, especially their food. But when I do travel, I always build in a couple of buffer days just in case weather, natural disasters or travel is disrupted for many different reasons.
Of course, steps six and seven are about looking at our character defects and getting rid of them- hence the earlier reference to step one, our power in powerlessness- and the conversation I had with the sponsee was about how to stop doing, thinking and behaving in ways that no longer serve us in a healthier, cleaner way of living. And even when we do give those defects over to our HP, it can still be an uphill struggle because life will keep throwing us curve balls and give us many opportunities to give those defects back to God, one more time. It is indeed a way of life. Just keep on keeping on and giving back to HP every time you need to.
And when we have a time of coasting, then yay, let’s enjoy the stream and roll with the waves, let them gently wash over you letting life be life as we stay the course, until we too, reach our original home. Heaven.
Question of the Week: Do your character defects keep coming back? Are you like the salmon, determined to swim back up the river while dealing with life on life’s terms? Lions and tigers and bears!
