Eagles

I’m glad it’s winter. Well, not really, because I hate cold weather. I’m glad the trees are bare. That’s not really true, either, because spring is my favorite season. What I really like about having the leaves gone is that I get to watch the beautiful bald eagles that frequent the tall trees in our backyard.

They seem to have a couple of favorite branches from which they have a good view of the lake. Sometimes they’ll swoop down and, with their powerful talons, catch a little fish, then sit on the perch to enjoy lunch.

If they have snagged a very large fish, they can only get it onto the shore, where they eat their fill and leave the remainder for other creatures to finish. It takes four to five years before an eagle is graced by solid white head feathers and tail markings on its brown body. Without question, this glorious bird is the king of the sky, making the ducks and geese huddle when they see its shadow fly over! And no wonder, because its diving speed is 75–99 miles per hour (120–160 kilometers per hour).

It is a powerful flier that soars on thermal convection currents and can glide and flap at 35–43 miles per hour (56–70 kilometers per hour).

The eagle’s mature body can range from 28 to 40 inches (71–102 centimeters) in length. Now that’s really a big bird! But look at its wingspan: 5 feet 11 inches to 7 feet 7 inches (1.8–2.3 meters). Wow, did God make a beauty there! Look at this special imagery: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Exodus 19:4, NKJV).

When I see an eagle soaring higher and higher, I like to imagine God wants to get me closer to Himself! In fact, He is the One “who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5, NKJV).

Now with each birthday, wouldn’t it be great to feel a year younger? Maybe it’s Isaiah who really gives us the key to feeling spiritually regenerated: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV). For a spiritual high, as if on an eagle’s wings, let’s simply wait on the Lord!

Roxy Hoehn