It seems to be fairly common knowledge, even for the novices when it comes to technology, that any videos or images that include a cat or a dog, perhaps a live zoo camera feed of the latest baby rhinoceros or elephant or whatever else: they all seem to heart-warmingly reel viewers in, and for longer periods of time than other items that pop up on their screen. Of course, for us at Divinity, we can add ducks to that list, for sure. As our courtyard has become a cherished nesting ground in recent years, they have certainly reeled in the hearts of many in our Divinity.
But the fascination doesn’t stop there. As the most recent emergence of ducklings has been shared over our social media feeds (thanks to Mandi Apathy!), it should come to absolutely no surprise that it is one of the most interacted and viewed-posts for our church pages across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Between the two videos alone on Facebook, each one has brought on over 2,000 views (with a fair amount being of the lesser than 40 years of age crowd, oddly enough). Although there’s no way to know if some individuals have gone back several times for their own viewing or showing someone else within phone-holding reach, but regardless, the creatures of the world have a way of captivating us with smiles and laughter and joy. Perhaps, for some, that’s what technology can be used for, in relatively healthy measure, at least: an amusing escape from the not-always-pleasantness of life. To bring in some extra needed doses of goodness to overcome some not-so-goodness.
And yet, no matter how much the ducklings have been viewed for their cute adorable “aww”ness, there still is a theological connection to be made (as we should try do being the church and all). As well they should, the ducklings are not just following their mother, they’re staying as close as possible to her. Perhaps it’s out of fear of the unknown, as they have no idea what a church courtyard and beyond is all about. Maybe it’s out of instantaneous love and adoration. It could be because of the safe warm embrace she provides, or fulfilling the needs that they don’t even know they need just yet, either. Or, it’s all the above and then some.
Regardless, plenty of parallels to work with when it comes to us and God: the God who we cling to amidst our own fears of the future (or current) unknowns, as well as a deep love and all the rest. The same God who will unbelievably exude patience as we go through some struggles waddling along about this faith journey, never leaving us to fend for ourselves (understanding that may not always remain the case for the mother duck with her dependents, but minor detail). The same God who will go along with us as we venture into even further unknowns (as the water-fowl family was eventually given an open door to depart into the greater outdoors to find a more natural habitat to claim). The God who will go through a fair share of earthly struggle to keep on initiating new life, and giving us more than our share of hope and joy to reel us in, and set us free to take on this world with compassion and love: the same love that saved it, even in spite of itself.
So, if the ducklings can not only provide some cute adorable “aww”-ness, but a different opportunity to be captivated by the breath-taking God, we, yet again, give thanks to God, indeed!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad