Then this afternoon I saw something that reaffirmed my faith that not all is hopeless. We were moving in a steady line of cars going 80 mph when off to the left came a mother duck with at least ten ducklings. Seemingly oblivious to the situation she waddled across both lanes, babies in hot pursuit. Brake lights lit up, cars moved onto the shoulders and to my amazement all ducks safely made it. There is a children’s book entitled Make Way for Ducklings. People do.
At this point I am tempted to write about Jesus weeping over Jerusalem when He said, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Matthew 23. However, it doesn’t quite fit because the mother duck wasn’t caring very well for her babies. Every duckling was on its own. Jesus would never leave us on our own. We cannot deny life supplies us with some very horrendous times. But the Psalmist said, “Yea though I walk through the valley of death, thou art with me.” Psalm 23. And there is that fabulous passage in Psalm 139. “ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”
I am encouraged. More good than bad happens. Usually it’s just the bad that gets broadcast on the news.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 7, 2017
rogerbothwell.org