Some mornings require patience the way a deep breath requires stillness. I had been scanning the shore for what felt like hours, trying to locate a single killdeer through my lens, when the unexpected happened—a muskrat swam across my view, startling me and scattering my focus. And then, almost like a secret revealed, three killdeer appeared, scurrying along the shoreline with energy and purpose, hopping and stamping like they were running against invisible clocks. Their tiny feet kicked up dust and sand, the sunlight catching on their feathers in soft glints of gold and brown.

It’s a moment that reminds you why attention matters. These birds, so often overlooked, carry charm, intelligence, and joy in every movement. Watching them, I could feel the cool shore breeze, hear the soft slap of water against the sand, and sense God’s playful presence in the way life unfolds in unexpected ways.