Morning at the Lake

The small splash is what first caught my attention. A duckling had landed in the water, so small it appeared as nothing more than a ripple in the lake.  She dipped her head up and down, as though nodding to me.  The world had gone quiet at sunrise, no human sounds to distract from nature’s sounds, no cars on the road, just me and the duckling, and the gentle lap of the serene water.  I watched the duck paddle around, enjoying the morning.  I should have rushed to gather my telephoto lens to take a picture, but the sweetness held me spellbound. I woke up this morning to capture a lake I’ve been eyeing for several months, my methodology technical, my purpose clear (get in while the light is good, grab that reflection). I hadn’t planned on a moment of peace.  I didn’t expect to find God in a duckling.