As I sit on the balcony from the ninth floor of the hotel overlooking the water, the trees, the boats, piers and people down below with a light haze that overshadows the area, It’s quiet, peaceful, and very serene.

The people are loading on the boats to set out for a day of fishing. As the boats begin pulling away from the pier my eyes become diverted toward the middle of the lake due to movement.

As the objects come in closer I recognize the items as being two mallards (or ducks as we would say here in East Texas) who are very oblivious to the departing boats pulling out and headed towards them. As I watch one boat pass almost on top of them the ducks do not even flinch nor fly off, no as a matter of fact they simply shift their head slightly to the right of the boat and continued their journey inland.

Reaching the pier they flew up and began their search of the ground and within a few minutes they are joined by several other ducks.

I would not pretend to think as a duck would, but pondering over their reactions to the boats passing them, they did not seem to be a bit phased by it. It was as though they never lost focus of their destination.

Of course this visual led me into reflecting over my own responses to situations I have encountered in my life time. I can tell you, it has not always been a response such as a slight shift in my head that directed me.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 it reads: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Like the ducks they were on a direct path to get to the pier. They were not deterred by the large objects coming at them nor for the boat that nearly hit them, they had a slight veer with their heads but they continued their journey regardless.

I’m left to think it is not the objects that we see coming at us that cause the veer in our lives but it’s the unseen, which takes me to

Faith. Faith is the key to keeping our focus. Hebrews 11:1 (read from the amplified Bible) tells us faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses.

When we are operating in our faith, the objects, the battles, the spiritual matters that rise up can only cause a slight veer in our heads if we allowed it to but never divert our eyes. Watching those ducks was a great illustration to being centered, determined to reach their destination, they were not intimidated by the boats in front of them. We too have the same spirit of accomplishment when we place our trust in the Lord who directs all of our steps therefore provoking our faith to become activated.

So, my “Thought to Ponder” today prompts me to ask you, have you shifted, did your eyes divert your direction, was it with a slight veer or did you fly off?