I really like ducks. This is interesting because I have a strong aversion to all other birds, but ducks are cool. Most mornings I sit outside on the balcony of our apartment with my dog, Bono, drink coffee and watch the ducks in our little pond behind our apartment complex. It’s really amazing to watch them take off and land on the water and the way they dive down, fully submerged to feed on bugs is really an incredible thing to behold. We like to count the seconds that it takes for a duck to come back up to the surface when it dives. The current record is 8 seconds. 8 seconds under water! That might not be a lot for you and me, but it’s a duck! It’s lungs are probably the size of a quarter or something. We’re no scientists, but by our calculations, that would be the equivalent of a person holding their breath for 5 minutes! (Note: All calculations are based purely on speculation. Plus, half of our research team is a dog.)

Ducks are also very kind for the most part, not like geese - so territorial and evil (Bono and I had a bad experience earlier this spring). But the main thing I think draws me to watch these animals is that they look like they are having so much fun. They swim, fly, dive, flop around in the water. And the thing that struck me today is that their day is basically comprised of eating, bathing, and napping. Who knew ducks had so much in common with worship leaders!

I like to watch ducks because they make me feel peaceful. They seem to have a pretty good lease on life. I want what they have. There is no worry in their lives. Hungry? Eat a bug. Dirty? Take a bath. Sleepy? Have a nap. They don’t seem to realize that in just a few short weeks they will have babies and those babies will be need to learn all of the important skills for survival in just a few short weeks and then the weather will turn cold and they will have to leave this place and fly south. Bono and I get nervous just thinking about it! Somebody needs to tell these ducks to wake up and get busy! There is much to be done. They are just a bit too at ease about all of this for me. After all, I have similar worries - what I will eat - how I will pay for it, where I will live - how I will pay for it, and on and on.

All of these worries of life can choke us, can’t they? Today in America, anxiety disorders are being diagnosed more than ever. People are so worried about life they need medication just to cope. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not slamming people who take medication). I myself am a worrier. I don’t deal well with stress. The wheels in my mind start turning and sizing everything up so fast that I freak out pretty easily. Matthew writes about a time when Jesus made a great point about this condition people are in and tied it to trust in God…

“Here is the bottom line: do not worry about your life. Don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don’t worry about how you will clothe your body. Living is about more than merely eating, and the body is about more than dressing up. Look at the birds of the sky. They do not store food for winter. They don’t plant gardens. They do not sow or reap - and yet, they are always fed because your Heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird. If He looks after them, of course He will look after you. Worrying does not do any good - who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying?” Quoting The Voice of Matthew, Lauren Winner.

So each morning as I sit and think about all of the worries of life, I will choose to be like the ducks. I will trust my Creator for everything I need. And I will ask my Father to ease my worries and give me peace.

 ”Lord, help me be more like a duck today.”