Killer Ducks
There is a reason why putting all one's chores and responsibilities
in neat order is referred to as having one's "ducks in a row." Ducks, when properly
trained, are friendly creatures floating peaceful on the surface of a lake or
docilely accepting bits of proffered bread. But, make a group of ducks mad and
only the strongest adult will stand against them and fight! Duck have no teeth;
they just eat away with quick little pinches judiciously applied to the most
vulnerable spot they can find. It has been said there is no worse way to die
than being nibbled to death by ducks!
Ever felt like the "ducks" you so carefully disciplined in a
row have suddenly morphed into killer-fowl on the loose?
A few years ago, my ducks were in a row. Most problems could
be quickly dispatched with measured efficiency. Orderly days flowed in graceful
succession. Then Jesus led me down a rough path and exposed my efficiency
and order as having less to do with personal skill and more to do with the fact He
had arranged a time of calm. It was humbling to learn the control in which I
took such pride was more illusion than reality.
God gives each of us twenty-four hours in a single day; a
day that life quickly fills with tasks, responsibilities, needs, resources and
choices. We only accept the pieces from His hand. And, when they fit together
smoothly, we feel "in control." When they careen out in crazy directions or
multiply beyond the boundaries of sanity we struggle and say things are "out of
control." Yet the truth is that both of these days have come from God and while
our sensation of control may vary, His does not.
Our only job is to cobble the pieces together with both
stewardship and humility. Stewardship because we accept responsibility for
using what He gives and humility because we know it will never be our power holding it all
together.
There will be times we look around and see needs for which
resources won't stretch. We'll have plans that can't be completed because people
or situations block the way. We may feel that our ducks are "out of control." But,
the good news is we can look up like the Psalmist and recognize all of our times are in the hand of God.
In today's verse, the Hebrew word translated "time" suggests
continuing action. It is a global word embracing all our moments, days and
events. All the unexpected interruptions, mistakes and projects that started out
small then grew to surprising proportions over night; all the failures and bad
choices as well as the good ones and successes. All time is His time. He is
never in a hurry. He is never off schedule. And, He never met a duck He
couldn't tame.
