-Learning From The Eagle
On numerous occasions I have watched the U.S. Navy Blue Angels precision flight team. Simply
put, the Bluesare impressive! You can’t help but be overwhelmed by the power, skill, and deafening roar displayed by these talented pilots and their highly sophisticated aircraft. However, I watched another air show this fall that also captivated my attention.
One November morning I had joined a friend on an elk hunt in the mountains of Wyoming. The air was clear and cold and the sky was a cloudless blue. Here and there, unmelted patches of snow still covered the ground, untouched by the bright sunshine. Having hiked through a small cut between two mountain ridges, I sat down for several minutes to catch my breath and to enjoy the beauty of the spectacular scenery.
After a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of something I had never seen before. Soaring high above me was a bald eagle, cruising above the mountain ridges in effortless flight. I grabbed my binoculars and followed his path through the cloudless sky. The distinct white head and tail feathers helped me recognize that I was watching one of the most magnificent birds God ever created. Then a second eagle joined the first and together they continued their ride upon the wind high above me.
The eagles only stayed in view for about five minutes. But during that time I had a front row seat for one of the great air shows of creation. As I made my way back down the mountain, I thought about God’s amazing creation. The body of an eagle is only 30-40 inches long, and weighs between 8-14 pounds. However, this flying creature is kept in the air by wings that may span from six to eight feet across. Eagles mate for life, have few natural enemies, and may live 30 years or longer. The eagle has keen eyesight which is six times stronger than that of a human being. In 1782, the bald eagle was chosen as the national symbol of the USA.
Eagles possess tremendous strength in their wings that allows them to rise to incredible heights with graceful ease. But the thing that fascinated me that November morning in Wyoming was not the power that was displayed. In contrast to the Blue Angels, I was not overwhelmed by noise and energy. Rather it was the ease with which the bald eagles simply glided through the air. Rarely did I observe any wing movement. It appeared to me that their majestic flight was effortless. The reason was because those eagles had overcome what at one time was one of their greatest fears – the wind.
Young eagles fear the wind. It sounds frightening as it roars through the rocky cliffs. It shakes the nest and ruffles the feathers of the young eagle who approaches the rim of the nest. And blustery gusts will topple them over. Yet, in time, the eagle learns that those winds of adversity are the key to flying – and not just flying like any bird, but soaring! Those same winds will allow the eagle to fly higher and faster, stay up longer and with less effort, rise above harassment, and gain a greater perspective on the world. Rather than hindering the eagle in his pursuit of majestic heights, the wind helps to lift it to even greater heights. The wind actually becomes a blessing.
In Isaiah 40:31, to “mount up with wings like eagles” is presented as the result of waiting upon the Lord and having our strength renewed. It is waiting upon God that allows the howling winds of adversity to lift us to new levels of blessing. Adversity may be the thing most dreaded and feared, but new strength results when we wait on our God. The eagle would never soar if he did not leave the comfort of the nest and lift off into the swirling wind currents that allow him to reach the highest level of fulfillment. Eagles were not created to scratch around in the barnyard with the chickens – but to soar!
By Tom Palmer
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA. Website: www.gtpress.org
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