This past weekend was the first really nice weekend our area has experienced in quite awhile. Between the rain and the snow, we have had a month of weather that made being outside unbearable for those of us who get cold easily. But this past weekend was just about perfect for February. I hope you enjoyed a few days outside as you recharged your internal batteries and soaked up some warm sunshine.

Judy and I were out walking Saturday and we walked by one of the many ponds located in the neighborhood. We noticed an alligator on the bank, undoubtedly sunning himself after so many weeks of cold. We steered a clear path of that alligator and wondered if the family standing on the island located not far from that gator knew he was lounging nearby. As we continued to watch we noticed a duck gliding smoothly across the pond. It was making pretty good time and it really looked as if the duck was exerting no effort at all. However, we all know that while a duck may appear to be moving without effort, underneath the surface those web-feet are paddling like crazy. We watched for a few moments as he glided across the surface and until we were out of sight.

I’ve been thinking about that duck since Saturday. What keeps coming back to me is the difference between what I saw and what I know was going on in that duck’s life and movement. It appeared effortless, but it was not. The movements were quick and smooth and making no ripples in the water, but underneath it all, there was churning and motion going on that made those movements possible. What I saw was not all that was happening. What I could witness was not the reality of life for that duck. What I was seeing did not include the not so obvious actions of the duck. He was making headway, but not without some pretty strong efforts. And now to the point of all this.

As we enter the season of Lent, we enter a season that is meant as a time of reflection and journey for us. The season offers us the opportunity to move from realizing who Jesus truly is to a point where we understand what Jesus is going to do for all God’s children. As we read the scriptures, we may think it was an effortless journey for Jesus. It was not. We wonder whether Jesus was tempted to take an easier path, one that did not lead to Jerusalem and his crucifixion. We know he must have been tempted. But he did not take the easier path. He followed the path that led to our salvation. And in so doing, we have been given a glimpse of God’s great love for us, a love made known through Jesus Christ.

My guess is that even when life appears smooth for us, there is a great deal of churning going on beneath the surface. My suspicion is that like that duck gliding across the pond, as we glide through life, we too are vigorously paddling beneath the surface. It takes that to keep moving in this life. It takes that to navigate through each day. It takes that to reach our goals and destinations. My hope is that we always glide smoothly through life, yet I recognize that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes there are waves and turbulence in life that make it difficult to see where we are headed. When those times come our way, I encourage you to remember that God does have a plan for us. That plan is that we would know Him and His love through His Son Jesus. I encourage you to use this Lenten season and your own Lenten journey to celebrate Christ in your life, and to know, without doubt, that God is traveling with you as you paddle calmly or furiously through this life. Remember that. Celebrate that. Count on that as you continue your Christian journey to know and worship the Christ God gives us. I hope that during Lent you will take some time to sit still in your life journey and think about your blessings.

Paddling faithfully with you through Lent, 
Pastor Butler +