The story is told of five doctors went duck shooting one day.  Included in the group were a General Practitioner, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a surgeon and a pathologist.  After a while, a bird came flying overhead.  The first to react was the GP who raised his shotgun, but then hesitated.   “I’m not quite sure it’s a duck,” he said.  “I need to get a second opinion.”  And of course by that time, the bird was long gone.

Soon another bird appeared in the sky.  This time the pediatrician aimed his gun.  However, he too was unsure if it was really a duck in his sights and besides, it might have babies.  “I need to do some more investigation,” he muttered, as the creature made good its escape.

Next to spy a flying bird was the sharp-eyed psychiatrist.  Shotgun shouldered, he was more certain of his intended prey’s identity.  “I know it’s a duck, but does it know it’s a duck?”   While the doctor wrestled with this dilemma, the fortunate bird disappeared.

Finally, a fourth fowl sped past and this time the surgeon’s weapon pointed skywards.  BOOM!!  The surgeon lowered his smoking gun and turned nonchalantly to the pathologist beside him:  “Go see if that was a duck, will you?”

We’ve all been guilty at times of shooting first and asking questions later.  That’s why we have the proverb, “Look before you leap.”  Of course, we also have a proverb which tells us of the danger in delay — “He who hesitates is lost.”  So which is it?  Which is the wiser advice?

If you look to God’s Word for the answer, you may end up just as confused:

“How long will you lie there, you lazy person?  When will you get up from sleeping?” (Proverbs 6:9. NCV)

“….Those who act too quickly become poor.” (Proverbs 21:5b, NCV)

The truth is, there’s danger in both extremes.  It is necessary to look ahead and plan before taking action (Jesus called that “counting the cost”), but we have to be careful not to procrastinate so much that we never get anything accomplished.  It is a wise man indeed who can find the proper balance.

Heavenly Father, I freely confess there have been many times in my life when I have been paralyzed by analyzing the situation, and have fail to step forward in faith as you would have me to.  And I also recognize the many times I have wildly plunged ahead without giving much thought to what I was doing, and later regretted my actions.  Bless me with the wisdom to live with the proper balance in my life.  In the name of Jesus Christ (who always knew what to do and when to do it), amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith