On Eagles Wings (Day 1 from Besides Still Waters)

 

". . . I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."

Exodus 19:4 

    SOME MORNINGS I LIKE to take my tea down to the lakefront and enjoy it sitting in the swing. This morning was so peaceful and quiet, with a gentle breeze coming in off the water, that I lost track of time. My thoughts were distracted by a large shadow moving across the water, as I looked up I was thrilled to see an eagle circling. I don’t believe another bird takes my breath away as the eagle, they are truly majestic. With the biggest smile on my face, I thanked the Lord for bringing me here. Each sighting is amazing to watch, but there was one that still keeps me in awe. It was early in the evening and we decided to cook hotdogs over the fire, as we were sitting around the fire waiting on the flames to settle, an eagle appeared out of nowhere, talons extended he hit the water, and just as quickly as he came, he flew upward again with his fish clutched tightly in his talons. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen! I just stood there in complete wonder at the beauty of God’s creation.

    When I first started to see the eagles on the lake I did some research on them I would like to share with you. The eaglets have exercised their developing wing muscles while remaining in the nest; then at about 14 weeks, they begin branching. Branching is the term given to the fledging’s, eaglets that have developed the necessary plumage for flight, this is when they leave the nest to sit on the branches, venturing out just a little farther each time as they move about the branches of the tree. When the young fledging’s are ready for their first flight they have reached their full size, when the times come the mother will fly under them while the father watches from above; when you stop to consider the wingspan of a female [which is 25% larger than the male] is 6.5 to 8 feet, you can see why they would be able to provide adequate protection for their young; from above and below. I have seen a video of the fledging’s in flight and it is truly beautiful to watch, it was like a well-choreographed dance, they appear to fly within inches of one another with each movement synchronized to perfection.  

     I thought of how the Lord had been working with me over the past several months, I was not much different than the young fledging’s, first I learn to build myself up in his word as to who I was in Christ. I remembered the hours I spent reading and studying his word, I guess you could say I was developing my wings.  As I grew stronger and learned to believe in myself again, I began branching so to speak, as I tested my renew self-esteem.  As I remembered the video I watched of the young fledging’s flying with their parents I could imagine the Lord doing the same with me.  Then out of know where memories of my first flight came flooding into my mind. When I was a new Christian, like all of you, I was so excited, but I was also very naïve, to be honest, I never expected to find a predator in the church, let alone from the pulpit. My first experience of getting my wings injured was heartbreaking.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t the only time predators attacked from within the church. There were many times that others tried to clip my wings to keep me from reaching the plan God had for my life, but God was always there to bear me up. My wings may have been injured, but my spirit was not, and I learned, in time, to fly again.