Yes, you opened up this post and saw a picture of a duck bottom. But let me explain. Many of you know that I am a bird watcher. It’s something I took to during seminary as a way to rest my mind between papers, projects, and preaching. And I have seen some of the most amazing things—birds far from home and rare finds, all the way down to precious nests and behavioral habits that I never knew about wildlife.
One particular day, several months ago, I needed a ‘brain break’. I took my camera and I headed over to Elachee. As I circled the pond, I watched Green Herons hunt for fish with their spear-like bills; I watched Osprey dive-bomb into the water; and I even got dizzy watching swifts nab tiny bugs out of thin air. But the most interesting thing I saw was watching a mallard turn his tail straight up into the air and dabble for his lunch. Honestly, after the day I was having, I needed something ridiculous to take the pressure off and that did it.
The lesson I took away from the moment, though, was quite deep. There was no way that duck would eat if he didn’t engage that moment in that way. Is it silly to me? Yup. I didn’t understand it. But to the duck, this is how you eat, and everyone can question the method—from the regal osprey to the sniper-like heron—but if you’re a duck, you stick your bill in the water, even if that means your tail sticks up.
A duck’s bottom as he dabbles for food
“(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” —Acts 2.11-17 (NIV)
When the power of the Holy Spirit clothed the disciples who were gathered together, two things happened. 1) They looked and sounded ridiculous to some, and 2) God used their faithfulness to save people from eternal damnation and to everlasting life.
When you surrender to the power of God—to the filling of your heart, mind, soul, and strength with the Holy Spirit—mighty things happen. Sometimes the power comes and changes you; sometimes it changes others; and sometimes people just stand, stare, mock and glare. But as a Christian you can’t worry about that. Like a duck with his tail in the air, plunge the bill of your faith in Jesus deep into the water and feed on the goodness that God gives to those who trust in Him.
—Pastor Whit