Recently, someone used the anology of a Duck, and stated that we should avoid being like a Duck because Ducks quack. This is true, ducks do indeed quack. But A quote from Michael Caine comes to mind to counter part this thought:
"Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath."
When we truely process the lifestyle of a duck, it is easy to learn from duck's example and apply it to our daily lives.
First, the example of the duck shows that appearances can be deceiving. The duck with their beautiful, unruffled feathers appears calm and serene as they glide with what seems to be very little effort along the surface of the water, but in actuality it take an enormous amount of effort to achieve our dreams and goals even though that effort is most often hidden; just like the duck whose busy paddling can only be seen if we look beneath the surface of the water.
We may look like we accomplish a goal easily and without much effort, when in fact, years of preparation and mental concentration are necessary to bring our goal into sight. Any performer, whether it be music, dance, or sports will tell you they need energy and focus to make what they do appear effortless as they accomplish their goals.
The second duck analogy and lesson come once we throw some food into a crowd of ducks. You will see that they move very fast as they swim towards the food. It take energy, movement, and focus for us to go forward, just as a duck must paddle busily in order to move through the water. We need to know what we want and pursue it. Nothing worthwhile ever comes without effort. How can we achieve our dreams and goals by just floating along or giving up? Sometimes we need to paddle like we're in a kayak moving through the rapids of a raging, roaring river.
As easy as it is to see the steadfast stability of a single duck, the true accomplishments come when the ducks work together. Ducks are migratory birds and therefore travel for long distances when a season changes to reach their breeding or feeding grounds. But if Ducks did not fly together, they would never accomplish this great feat. Ducks travel in the V motion so that when the lead Duck gets tired, they may retire to the back of the group and let another Duck pick up the lead while they are resting. We too, need to learn how to work as a team and not always have "Our way." We need to rest in the trust of our companions and know that they too are flying towards the same goal. Lastly, the duck's quack. This statement is true Duck's do indeed quack. But what is the purpose of a duck's quack? Encouragement. Ducks quack while flying in their V-formation to encourage the lead duck on.
It isn't always "be like a duck" for me. I am not always "calm on the surface". I am not a human being having a spiritual experience, I am a spiritual being having a human experience. There are times when people very close to me are extremely critical of the life path that I have chosen. I have to admit that I sometimes felt like and feared they may be right, yet I knew they spoke their truth not mine. I allowed their criticism to get to me and invade my inner sense of peace which caused some very busy paddling. I am still growing and gaining wisdom, however, and now I understand that it has been those very criticisms that have helped me to gain the firm conviction that I am doing exactly what I was put here on Earth to do. I know deeply in my heart that I am living God's truth, though in fact it has taken years of preparation and concentration to bring this truth to light and into sight.
Let's all be like the duck, and not let fear get the best of us. Remain "calm on the surface" as we paddle like the dickens to find God's truth in life. It will not be an easy road, but through prayer and petition and the support of an incredible team, all things are possible.
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