Soaring like eagles

Once in a very long while, I see an eagle or two soaring in the downtown sky outside my window. That's right, beautiful bald eagles cruising over the city. When they appear, it is a treat that commands my undivided attention. Unlike seagulls, crows or other common birds, they rarely flap their wings during flight. They simply expand their wings and glide. Naturalists tell us that eagles depend on thermals (rising hot air from the earth) to fly; because their wingspan is so wide, flapping is extremely inefficient for them and it tires them out quickly. On the other hand, those same large wings allow them to soar over long distances and at great heights, as long as the thermal air condition is right. Eagles look for thermals before taking flight to avoid undue exhaustion.

There is a lesson we can learn from these creatures. From time to time, we feel tired as if we're running in place, going no where.  The Bible tells us that we have a thermal system we can rely upon; the words go like this: "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Feeling fatigued and tired of life? It's time to set our hopes on God; he is able to carry us to further and higher destinations than mere flapping of our wings will ever take us.