Spectacled Eider Duck (Somateria fischeri) ~ Drawing Others In
Spectacled Eider Ducks inhabit boggy tundra waters during the relative warmth of summer. In winter the lakes freeze and the
ducks vanish. Until recently no
one knew where the ducks went. In
the late 90’s localized patches were discovered across the frozen Arctic Ocean. Upon further investigation, voilá,
there were the Eider Ducks! It seems that the Eider Duck forms massive colonies
by which their constant movement and body heat keep sea ice from forming. The entire world population of Eider
Duck can be found in only a dozen such colonies each winter. By packing tightly together and keeping
the ice at bay, Eider Ducks can dive all winter to find food where normally sea
ice makes life impossible.
This weekend i was invited to go
“Extreme Sledding”. i wasn’t sure
exactly what “Extreme Sledding” meant. i do now. It’s basically
like sledding but with more speed, more bruises, and a lot more fun. Imagine luging down a riverbed
headfirst. Now add trees,
snowdrifts, and terrifying drops.
That’s basically our stint in Berthoud Pass. What made the caper so memorable for me, however, was not
the exhilarating wipeouts into snow banks; it was the friendship. i went up there not knowing anyone; essentially i was a
stranger. But this group of
friends took me into their huddle and taught me the ins and outs of their crazy
tradition. They let me stay in
their cabin, fed me, and considered me one of their own. i came away feeling like i’d had a
weekend with dear friends, even though this was the first time i’d met them!
When i picture the love of Christ, i picture a spot of light in the darkness. It’s the safe place amidst terror, the warm patch in an icy
realm. Blessed are we who can
huddle together in the love of Christ!
But a big part of “Christian community” comes with inviting others
in. It’s easy to form our little
clicks where we know everyone and can be comfortable with ourselves. That sort of self-seeking comfort is always discomforting
for others. i have had terrible
experiences trying to befriend people who “have enough friends”; perhaps you
have too. It’s like being blasted
with ice; like a face full of snow.
Is it worth having “Christian community” when others are being left out
in the cold because they’re not part of our flock? Even churches push each other away and become suspicious of
each other. When we extend love
and comfort to people on the outside, transformation happens. Like the Eider Duck, i hope we can
remember that we are all ‘birds of a feather’ and be willing to embrace each
other as family, no matter where we’ve come from and no matter what our theology is. i am so thankful for my Extreme Sledding stint with those
strangers, and i hope to pass on the warmth they extended to me.
Satellite image of Eider Ducks aggregating on sea ice in winter
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