Some years ago I read a wonderful piece about birds that I have never forgotten. That fact, alone, makes the piece special, as many of my experiences and encounters grow increasingly vague every year. With the onset of the holidays and the ubiquity of winged fowl, it seemed worthwhile to share the story with you all.
In a nutshell, the eagle builds the largest and heaviest nest of all birds. He gathers thick branches for a foundation and weaves twigs, grass, moss, and cornstalks throughout. His own feathers add a downy soft layer. Greenery is added and replenished – the perfect camouflage and insect repellent.
When ready for flight training, the mother eagle removes her eaglets from the nest. Frightened, they jump back into the layered security of home. This process continues until she removes the soft, easy down of the nest, exposing them to thorns and sharp edges. Shrieking, they jump from the next out onto the cliff.
After a time, she pushes them off the cliff and into the air. As they struggle, the father eagle swoops out, catches them on his back, and returns them to the cliff. This continues until they begin to flap their wings. Soon, they realize they can fly.
John calls me a news junkie, as I scour articles about our nation, our world, and try to make sense of what is there. It is difficult to accept the current culture as our ‘nation under God’. It makes me sad, eager to retreat to a kinder, more honorable society. It makes me long for a return to Mayberry days.
So, in thinking about this, I remembered the eagles. The loving parent knows the eaglets will not leave as long as they are comfortable. At the same time, they know that leaving is a necessity. They must learn to move into another, greater phase of existence.
And so our Father knows that His kingdom is not of this world. He knows that we do not have an enduring city; rather, we look for a city that is to come.
The Father understands our tendency to dig into a comfortable, tolerable living space and stay in our nest so He makes it less palatable. He introduces thorns and hindrances. Dismayed, we leap out of the nest and onto the cliff’s edge.
Right where He wants us -and the view is out of this world!
Janet Paschal 