Ancient

 

Ancient          

Every spring folk in our neck of the woods have the opportunity to connect with a real sense of the ancient in nature.  Late April is when sturgeon make their annual spawning run from Lake Winnebago up the Wolf River.  We drove about thirty miles west yesterday evening to take in the spectacle. 

It may sound strange to you to hear that hundreds of people were gathered at a park just out of the little town of Shiocton that has been constructed on a large bend in the river specifically to view the sturgeon.  The spawning run lasts for only about a week or so each year.  There are several very unique characteristics of the fish itself that add to the draw.

The first thing to catch your attention is the size of the fish.  Compared to other freshwater species, the lake sturgeon is huge.  Many of the fish that we observed were over six feet long, weighing over 100 pounds.    

Then, there is the look of the fish.  They look like dinosaurs, and for good reason.  They have five rows of bony plates along their body that serve as protective armor.  I believe they rival the snapping turtle as another local species that has changed very little over eons of time.  They are, in fact, swimming museum exhibits.

The up-close encounter that you can have with the fish adds to the excitement.  The inner drive to spawn forces the fish to come literally right along the rocky banks of the river.  If one were allowed down by the water’s edge you could easily actually reach out and touch them.  Of course, for the protection of the people and the fish, the walkway ensures a safe distance for all.

The fish themselves are quite old for creatures in the wild that usually only survive for a handful of years.  Sturgeon can and do live for a hundred years or more.  You can’t help but wonder when you are watching a fish that is seven feet long that seems to effortlessly glide against the strong push of the Wolf River in spring flood stage, how many springs has this particular fish made its way to this point to play its part in continuing the species.

Events like this reinforce the ancient realities of nature itself.  The world is ever ancient and ever new.  Life is ever ancient and ever new.  The ancient roots the present.  Creation is not linear; it is a series of overlapping circles that we call seasons.  We have to be reminded of our own brevity to appreciate that our time here to have an impact is really quite limited.  It provides us with a necessary sense of urgency, because the human role in creation is unique.  It is ours to learn from; it is ours to learn to.  It is ours to protect; it is ours to use wisely and with deep appreciation.  It is ours to observe and to participate in.  It is ours to sustain and cherish.  It is ours to learn its truths and to recognize its ongoing mysteries.  It is ours to behold in the wonders of creation the deeper wonders of the Creator.

His Peace <><

Deacon Dan