I had taken a team to where 'Rivendell' in the Lord of the Rings movies was filmed. While there, we each spent a few hours in silence in nature, open to whatever God would do.
I sat at the edge of a river, about 50 metres downstream of a swing-bridge. I had my journal with me and was feeling dry that day. Unexpectant that God would show me anything, but ready to write down whatever I saw.
Then a saw a duck at the far end of the river.
And this is when my journalling started. Here it is as I wrote it....
The Rivendell Duck
'It started off at the far side of the river, moving swiftly with the current, cleaning himself as he drifted.
Lord, is there anything this duck could teach me about life with You?
Could he visit me if there is?
Maybe half an hour has passed. He's still here. He came pretty much as soon as I had hoped for him to. I had no food. He just came, curious, to say hi.
Lord, what can this duck show me?
He cleans himself so much. But differently to me. He is home in the water. He stands on a higher rock, then cleans, dipping his bill in the water and using it on his bill to probe between his feathers, into the down, searching, grooming. Cleaning. Then another sip of the water he stands in. More cleaning.
Then his friend joins him - within arms' reach. They both clean, then both sleep - head under wings, standing in the shallow water, right by me.
Lord, what can these ducks show me?
He's still here. His friend left after about ten minutes of napping.
He has eaten a full banana, much from my hand. Now he's cleaning himself again. Always with water. In water. Dipping his bill in and letting the water clean him.
Lord, You are the life-giving stream - river of water. Through You, dead seas come alive.
The people here mince across the stream with the swing-bridge, but this duck lives in the midst of the water.
Let me live completely in You. Letting You carry me. Finding my food in You. My rest in You. And Lord, clean me. search my and by Your Spirit, Your power, remove my sin and weaknesses. Let me never try and clean with a dry bill. I need to do work, but it is You who changes me. Your water. Life-giving.
The duck is still here, within arms' reach. Thank You so much, Lord, for this precious duck. May I be in You as he is in this stream.
The swingbridge and the water. 'Ways to cross a river'
First it was the tourists. Slowly, holding onto the sides, looking ooh and aah at the river, snapping off a few photos.
Then the three older women with the dog. Cautious but triumphant, posing for a 'victory photo' just before completing the crossing.
Then the young man. No camera. Just ambling and gazing at the sun's reflection on the water's surface.
They all crossed the swing-bridge.
Dangerous.
Exciting.
Maybe ten metres above the stream. Perhaps 30 metres wide?
They all crossed over. The stream was beautiful, inviting, but beneath them.
The stream draws them, but the bridge is the best way to be close to it, to conquer it.
Then there's the braver man. Bridges? Pah! He wants to rough it, be real.
He stands only in his shorts. And wades. You can see his body tense as the water reaches his thighs. Arms high in the air. Like an orangutan, he clumsily and quickly crosses over. Too cold. Too swift. Too close for comfort. Maybe the bridge was a better idea.
Meanwhile, the water continues to flow, bringing life and the sound of refreshment.
And the whole time, my friend the duck has been in it, cleaning, drifting, hunting, scratching, visiting, sleeping.
Why cross over this enticing stream? Are we not called to plunge into it?
What's around the corner? A waterfall? A bend? Stagnation?
I'll never know by sitting on the bank or crossing to the other side.
Let the current take me. Life is an adventure of trust and mystery.
Father, consume me!
(PS - the duck stayed by my side for two hours! Then, after a few minutes away, he came back!)
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