Seeing God’s Truth in Nature
My kayak floated on Lake Ontario about 100 feet away from a flock of cormorants, orange-beaked water fowl that look like graceful, black seagulls. As I paddled slowly towards them, a few became aware of my encroaching presence, and flew off. Soon more took off. I noticed a pattern.
The bird, comfortably gliding on the surface of the water, would become alert. Something new was approaching. He then would extend his wings, flutter them and begin to propel himself into flight. As his body slowly elevated above the lake his feet would skim the surface, kicking up a splash of white water. To take off, he had to repeat this action. Not once, or twice. . . but five times he would rise, dip slightly, disturb the water with his webbed feet, rise a bit more, dip again, splash the water. Finally, he was airborne and flew off.
As I watched this process of “taking flight” and the repeated attempts the cormorant made to clear the water, it made me think of one of God’s principles. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I can’t find this proverb in the Bible, but in nature we often see examples of the process of “taking off.” Achieving our goal does not happen all at once. We try and fail; we try and fail. We flap our wings, rise slightly, but our feet drag us back.
If you are facing a challenge — whether to change a bad habit, improve a relationship, or achieve a work for the Kingdom — think of the cormorant. Don’t get discouraged. He went step-by-step. He set his goal: get into the air and fly to a better place. He moved his wings. He started the process of change. At first, his feet did drag across the water. That was an obstacle slowing him down. But he persevered and kept flying, creating a draft of air to lift him into the sky. Finally the cormorant was airborne and flew off.
But the cormorant had to try five times to reach his goal. Hebrews 12:1 says “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Romans 5:3-4. “We know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.”
Don’t get discouraged, even if your feet keep tripping over the obstacles and your wings don’t lift you fast enough. You will get there. The Lord says, “I have called you. I will bring you, and you will succeed in your mission.” (Is. 48:15)