Articles
Male Wood Duck
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith
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"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with
humility toward one another.” - I Pet. 5:5
In the natural world most male birds are clothed in bright colorful feathers in order to attract the females. This is especially true of male wood ducks, some of the most colorful birds there are. But something happens to the males in the fall. They lose their brilliant colors and change to a somewhat dull brown. Mating season is over and they no longer have the need to attract females. When spring arrives, the colorful feathers reappear. This particular male wood duck was photographed in the fall when his colors were changing. This change in appearance in wood ducks is called an eclipse. Wood ducks, of course, have no say in how they look. God decides that. But with humans, it is another story. We make the decision on how we look outwardly. Millions of dollars are made each year by clothing companies and advertising agencies who cater to our vanity. Pride is a sin that all of us gladly embrace. But Jesus prefers something different for his followers. The attraction he would have us don is not something we cover ourselves with outwardly, but what should radiate from us inwardly. And that is humility. Humility comes primarily from a proper assessment of who we are when compared to what we should be. The law of God is our measuring criteria and by that measure pride is crushed. The most godly people I know are people who realize both what they deserve apart from Christ and also the grace that they have been given by Christ. Humility never draws attention to itself but always points toward our Lord. Male wood ducks lose their color when it is not needed. So should we. - John
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