Free Ride Down the River

My Friend the Goose

I was taking a lunch break along the Missouri river. I had brought a book along to read and my camera. As I was reading my book I saw this goose out of the corner of my eye. He was swimming along the edge of the river against the stream When I got my camera out to take a picture, he quit paddling and drifted down river to get away.

I went back to my reading. Again the goose proceeded to swim along the edge of the river up stream. I was sitting about 5 feet away from the edge of the river. I saw the goose coming close to me again and I decided not to move till it got right in front of me. By the time I turned the camera on the goose had stopped swimming up stream and floated away from me.

I didn't realize it until I looked at the photos that night, to see a cave swallow flying into the picture. I have in vain tried to take pictures of these birds as they scoot along the edge of the river scooping up bugs. They move too fast for me to get a decent photo. But today by chance I got one.

But I don't believe in chance. It was a gift from God to catch this Cliff swallow along with my friend the goose. Thank you Jesus for giving what I can't achieve on my own.

God is like that. We try in vain to do things to please Him. We are not able to. God gives us the ability, as we cry out to Him. Pray to God for help.

As I left to go back to work my friend the goose was waiting down river from me at the river's edge. I told him, "he was free to swim up the river because I was leaving." And sure enough he did.

Why was the goose acting like that? Was he injured, or was he looking for a lost mate?

Devotion Site

I was riding back from Weston Bend State Park on my bicycle and took an access road from the highway to this field. I stoped and read the Bible and prayed. To the left of the trees is a railroad track and highway.

This farm field is on the Missouri river bottoms. The hills in the background are loess hills.