Over my lifetime I have traveled a lot, flying friendly skies for work and leisure. This past weekend I took a long weekend trip to fly and visit family. The visit part was great … but the skies, after many years of not flying, weren’t as friendly as I remembered. Perhaps it’s the increased volume of air traffic. There were a lot of grouches on the planes and airports. All this to say it was not relaxing.
I read a short clip recently by Alisa Powers Martin about the eagle that reminded me of my recent experience. It also reminded me of what can cause a good trip to go sour.
“The only bird that dares to peck an eagle is the crow. He sits on his back and bites his neck. The eagle does not respond, nor fight with the crow; it does not spend time or energy on the crow. It just opens its wings and begins to rise higher in the heavens. The higher the flight, the harder it is for the crow to breathe and then the crow falls due to lack of oxygen. So learn from the eagle and don’t fight the crows. Just keep ascending. They might be along for the ride, but they’ll fall off.”
Eagles are amazing creatures. They can soar higher than any other bird (altitudes of 10,000 feet or more) and can soar in the air for hours riding on natural wind currents and thermal drafts. Their wingspan is massive. Their eyesight is pinpoint. In an instant they can swoop down from the top of a mountain to catch a fish at the top of a lake. Birds with telemetry on them have been known to fly 125 miles without landing. If that was flying within their own territory, where they do dynamic gliding rather than true flight, their speed is 20–30 miles an hour, so that would be 4–6 hours without landing.
Maybe my admiration for this incredible creature of God is one of my favorite scriptures (Isaiah 40:31): “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.”
Now I have hope … even I will run and never be weary and never grow faint. Watch out crows – you’re falling away!
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Learn more about Cary John Efurd Ministries by liking our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CJEMinistries) and downloading our FREE mobile app (get.theapp.co) from App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, allow notifications to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Cary John Efurd Ministries. Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com. Feel free to comment on her blog, The Second Mile, at www.debbyefurd.com .
