Taking Flight

Because sometimes life is complicated. No kidding. You can fluff it up, make it sound pretty, but at the core it's hard. The not so obvious challenges get you. Things you thought didn't bother you, bother you.

Patience. Tenacity. Resolve. Life takes it all and more. 

Look at the wooden eagle. Tied to the ground, it will never know the feeling to soar above the earth. It will never have that gleam of life sparkle from it's eye. It will never utter the eagle's wild call. But it has no cares, no perplexities, no worries, never a trial to overcome. Through torrential rains, violent winds, white-out snows, and the few rare times the sun beats down, it will faithfully command its post. Not because it wants to or because it feels that is its his calling, but because it is lifeless. It has no choice. So it stays. A memorial of all an eagle stands for, but none of those things itself.

A living eagle will have to face challenges. It will know the fight life takes. Somedays it will roost soaking wet, thoroughly exhausted from the days effort for survival. It will know the hardships of battling the against the wind, but it will have that spark of life, it will own the wild and untamed spirit. It will be able to soar in the heavens knowing it is free. Everything it does exemplifies the majesty of the Creator's hand. 

Life is a lot like these two eagles. When go along with the world we are lifeless, just like the wooden eagle. Sometimes it's easier, we are seldom labeled as different, seldom asked to make stand that will set us apart. However, when tied to this world, we will never have that spark of life, we will never know what it's like to soar. We will never be free. So we stand as a memorial of infinite possibilities, but none of those things ourselves. 

Then we have the living eagle, full of vigor, energy, and life. It doesn't mean it's life is easier, no in fact I would be so bold to say it's harder, but it is alive and free. 

We can be like this living eagle. We can have the freedom and security in knowing that each of us has a special purpose. Yes, there are hardships. There will be days when we go to bed mentally and physically exhausted, just plain worn out. Days when we're not sure how to carry on. Days when everything that's going on doesn't have a place and doesn't all make sense. But through everything, when our wings are weary, we can run to Him. We can let Him carry us. He'll take us above the storm. He's waiting... for y.o.u.

But then again, life is way different. Each of these eagles didn't have a choice. It couldn't choose to be alive or wooden. We have choice. You and I can choose to be a mere memorial of what life stands for, or we can choose to spread our wings and fly. We can be free! 

My mind is made up. I know that I have been called, I am chosen, and I will answer. So I spread my "wings". I begin my flight, uncertain of what waits ahead. My wings are shaky and weak, but I know He will come and pick me up. In fact, He will carry me.  

Because life is complicated; look to Him. I don't know what you're going through, but He does. He knows exactly what you're feeling. Let Him set you free. Let's spread our wings together. He will guide. Take that first jump. 

I'm flying.  Are you?

"Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go.” " 
Isaiah 30:21