Feel Like You’re Being Trampled by Ducks?
As I began writing my recent book on the amazing life of Joseph, I heard the phrase “trampled to death by ducks” from my pastor.
It not only seems fitting for Joseph’s many trials, but it so describes daily life, especially for the Christian—we enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations (Acts 14:22). While it’s easy to imagine a quick demise by elephant, it’s not so easy to imagine dying by duck. It would take a lot of ducks to kill us—probably by knocking us over and trampling us to death in a flurry of webbed feet and flapping wings.
But that is life’s experience for most of us—one little hassle after another, suffocating us until we can hardly see the light of day.
There are unexpected bills, car problems, strained relationships, misunderstandings, nightmares, insomnia, problems with relatives, aging parents, identity theft, stress at work, difficulties with kids, endless minor health issues— such as a sty in the eye, a pulled neck muscle, cold sore on the lip, canker sore in the mouth, sore throat, pounding headache, earache, toothache—to major health problems. The dog threw up on the carpet, the sink is stopped up, the AC is out, the toast is burnt, and the cat brought a dead bird inside. You have cell phone problems, computer viruses, noisy neighbors, a leaking faucet, mold in the shower, rats chewing wiring in the garage, biting fleas, moles in the lawn, termites eating your house, aphids eating the plants, spider in the den, fly on the food, mosquito in the bedroom, cockroach in the pantry. . . and that’s just by 9:00 a.m.
Then things really get bad.
Early in 2020, the unthinkable happened. The entire world was put on hold. A global pandemic put Hollywood, Wall Street, New York, and the rest of the world out of busyness. Like Joseph, our lives changed overnight, and it was as though we were suddenly living in some foreign land. Millions were forced to stay in their homes, away from loved ones, and our freedoms were curtailed. There were mass deaths, financial collapse, food and supply shortages, and unprecedented unemployment. Just as we had hope things were improving, then the racial tensions, riots, and looting began. For many it became almost unbearable.
It seems as though we make it through one trial, and there are more ducks in a row, waiting to suffocate us. The only way they can do that is if they get us down. And they won’t be able to do that if we take a few lessons from the life of Joseph—a leaf from the world’s most beloved Book. Through the Scriptures we have the consolation that the ducks of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be ours. They work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
