It
is not always easy to follow the proper course in life. Sometimes our environment is not conducive and may even be frankly
antagonistic to Torah -- Bible -- principles. It is not unusual to find that we must overcome major obstacles to remain
faithful to YHVH.
We can learn from the salmon by observing how they battle the current and swim upstream to get to
their spawning place. When they encounter a cascade, they jump high to get to the next level. If they fail to
negotiate the leap, they swim around a bit to renew their energy and then try again, doing so repeatedly until they succeed.
The salmon's behavior is dictated by instinct. They "know" where they must go and they make certain
that they get there, even though they have to swim against a strong current and leap over numerous cascades. There is
no stopping them, and they do not surrender in the face of the obstacles in their way.
People do not operate primarily by instinct, but rather by intellect. We are instructed by the
Torah as to what we must do, and we must carry out our assignments regardless of how difficult they may be. Yes, our
environment may exert a strong pull, but we may have to resist this pull and make our way "against the current." There
may be formidable obstacles along the way, and frequently our attempt to overcome them results in failure. However,
we must not become frustrated and surrender. Rather, like the salmon, we must revitalize our energy and try
again and again until we succeed.
YHVH gave the salmon the strength to carry out its instinctive drive toward its goal. He has also
given us the strength to achieve our goal and to overcome any and all of the challenges that may stand in our way.