On Eagles Wings

From time to time, Brent and I spot Eagle’s nests while hiking. Watching these mighty birds swoop and soar and care for their young is a fascinating pastime. Eagles build their nests in crags high up on mountains. When their young reach a certain age, the parents stir the nest, and throw the little ones out. A parent then swoops down under the frightened falling eaglet and flaps its mighty wings, creating an updraft that supports the eaglet so that it may learn to fly. This reminds me so much of God. He often “stirs” things up and throws me out of my comfortable nest. Though it’s terrifying, my panicked freefall is inevitably halted by the strong updraft of his ever-present help. In the end, the trauma strengthens me and teaches me to fly.

On Eagles Wings

On eyries high young eaglets rest
snug and sound within the nest
trial nor tempest doth beset
their safe domain.
For all is calm and all is well,
feathers soft do vain compel
to leave the circle known so well
for eagle’s wings.

Cruelly stirred, alarmed with fright
O’er the edge of dreadful height
falling down to certain plight
a fateful end.
Shattered dreams, confusion, shock
torn from safety of the rock
blind to see nor giving thought
to eagle’s wings.

Breath of wind begins to rise
pushing eaglet t’ward the skies
soaring now – hope realized
the joy begins.
Ever wise, not cruel but kind
knows that safe they’d never try
to reach beyond and learn to fly
on eagle’s wings.

[© 2008 Mary Kassian]

From the Bible….
“[The Lord] found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him.”
Deuteronomy 32:10-12 (ESV)

Do you have a story about a time when the Lord threw you out of your comfortable nest and taught you to fly? I’d love to hear about it. Share it in the comment box below.