Walk On Water

Here's a story from a Boston University website (www.bu.edu).  It seems fitting for this first day of March with spring being so near.

There once was a young boy who lived on a farm with his beautiful dog. Every day during the spring and summer the young boy would take his dog down to the pond on his farm and every day they would practice retrieving for hours.

As the fall and winter months slowly came in so too did duck season. And sure enough on the first day of mallard the duck season, the young boy and his Labrador were the first to find their spot at the pond near their farmhouse. After only a short time of sitting in the duck blind, the two heard the first string of ducks flying overhead. 

Taking action the boy slowly raised his shotgun, shooting three times at the flying herd with his third shot killing a mallard, landing flat in the center of the pond. Giving his lab the permission it sought, the lab left charging through the blind and brush to the pond, where instead of swimming on top of the water, as in practice sessions past, walked on the surface of the water, picked up the duck and then trotted back to the boy, walking right on top of the water.

As you can imagine the young boy was absolutely amazed and bewildered that his dog had such an amazing ability, walking right on top of the water. Yet the young boy knew that no one would ever believe his bird dog could do such an amazing feat. Knowing this and realizing that the only way he could tell this story is if another person was able to witness it for themselves, that same day the boy traveled over to the neighboring farmer’s house and asked if he would join him on a hunt the following morning.

Setting off, just as the day before, the young boy, his lab and now the neighboring farmer took their spot next to the pond and patiently waited in their duck blind. And just as the day before the trio heard a string of ducks flying overhead, and this time allowing his neighbor the courtesy, the neighboring farmer raised up his shotgun and took three shots, with the third shot bringing down a mallard. And just as the day before the boy gave his lab the needed permission and the lab charged through the blind and the brush and again walked on top of the water, retrieved the duck, then walked back with the mallard in his mouth.

Amazed, proud and barely able to contain himself the boy looked at the man and the man looked at the boy. To which the boy asked, so what do you think? To which the farmer responded “Well I didn’t want to say anything but your dog doesn’t know how to swim”

Moral of this story?  Most people will downplay our abilities and achievements just because they can’t do the same. Don’t let that get to you. Just keep on working at getting better at your craft or profession. Having the right mindset is the key to success and not falling under water.

Deacon David Pierce