Where the Eagles Fly

I recently read something that compared certain ways our lives can be lived to certain kinds of birds and how they live. I remembered reading a book about being single many years ago. I will try to paraphrase as best I can recollect but I think it is worth noting that it is so true and it is my hope and prayer that you find something in what I remember and how these thoughts come out that would help you in your flight. Many of us settle for flying in flocks. In fact many of us by nature find it much easier to just pick a spot and fly in formation and not get out of line. It is after all an act of courage to not only lead a formation but even harder to fly alone. We are not born to fly alone, and we must spend our lives learning to fly alone. We are born dependent on others, but we must learn to be dependent on God alone. No person will ever satisfy the needs that you have. God alone and HE is not human. He is God. He made us and as our creator He alone knows each of us and how we work and were meant to work. When we lean on others we should lean on them with no expectation other than that it is God alone Who will work through that person. and when we help someone we should realize it is never us who helps. It is only God alone who helps others through us. There is a direct relation to the height you will fly and the faith that you have in God. I remember the point being made, that as a single we were looking for an eagle but had to first become an eagle. I think this is true in every relationship and can be applied to overall peace and joy, not happiness as the earth tells us when we have all we think we want and all is good. That is not happiness. Happiness is truly being able to fly alone and at peace with God as the air beneath your wings and God as the source for all you are. It is imperative if you intend to soar to the heights the eagles soar that you learn to think like an eagle. To first understand what a eagle is, you have to know what a eagle is not. You must go to the lowest of lows and there we find the buzzards and vultures. We all know buzzards and vultures. They prey off the weak, the dead. They start out above at height that is still visible to us. Keep this in mind. The height in which eagles fly is higher than most can see. The buzzards and vultures circle there prey and slowly descend on them. Not all at once, because they still do not know if the kill is dead. Even still they land at some distance and slowly and conservatively approach and once they are sure, they begin in a pack to peck, and eat away until there is nothing left. We all have had those in our lives and we know what is left after they leave. They are gone when there is no more food left to feed upon. If you are single you will forever be left for dead if you associate with vultures and buzzards. If you are looking for successful relationships in life and successful friendships, you will forever be left empty when you look to others to fill you. Because the types of people who are usually quick to meet your needs are those who would seek to devour you and fill themselves. If you ever want to fly at the heights you were meant to fly at you must stay far away from the ground. When you are on the ground you are ever close to not moving, and when you are not moving you will be descended upon. No one will ever fulfill you the way God can. Our cups must be overflown and then and only then, can we have enough to share with others. You can never look to others to fill your cup. Learning to recognize those and not fly near the ground is our first step. But we must eat right? We have physical needs right. Well again to appreciate the eagles flight lets look at the eagles eating habits. Food is not required daily for their survival.They are at the top of the food chain. Now we want happiness, and we search for happiness and while most of us while at some points lay motionless we do not stay there for long. Most of us are smart enough to avoid the vultures. Where most of us fail is the middle of the road. We are like the chickens. Again to appreciate the eagle who we desire to be and to be with, we must again understand the chicken. Chickens by nature are crowd followers. If a chicken sees a bunch of chickens running across the chicken yard, he will take off after them. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know where they are going or why they are going there. He follows along because he doesn't want to miss out on anything the majority is doing. Chickens just naturally "squabble and fight" over things in the chicken yard. If one finds a nice juicy bug to eat, suddenly they all want it. They will chase each other all over the chicken yard, trying to take it away from each other. They are funny that way. They can walk all around a bug or a grasshopper and not pay any attention to it, but the moment one decides he wants it, at that moment, they all decide they want it and the chase is on. They have no interest in the heavens. They are content to live in the chicken yard, walking around with their eyes on the ground, scratching in the dirt looking for something to eat. Most of them will never try to fly. They are earthbound birds.Chickens must know what is next. They like predictability. They want comfort. Again, sounds like a lot of us, and where a lot of us stay. We desire better and believe there is better but never venture from the pin, because we know what is in the pin. Many of us see eagles and want to be eagles and be around eagles. While eagles do not fly in packs and need each other to survive, imagine two eagles together. What could they offer one another if they are both completely sustained and completed without the other. What kind of relationship would they have. This is why we must learn to fly where the eagles are. You can only fly where the eagles are by being an eagle. This is also why when you fly where eagles fly you do not see many eagles. Few choose the eagles heights. When you learn to fly where the eagles fly however you will find a different perspective of the world. The eagles know where the ground is, but they choose to go there. They are not bound to stay there. They live mostly off fish. That in and of itself is amazing since they can't swim. Never doubt, when you choose not to be in the company of the chickens and you are willing to fly high, God will provide you with eagles. We should never settle for anything less than being an eagle. When we settle for less than the best we limit ourselves. Everyone has the ability to be an eagle. There are many beautiful species of bird, who live quite content lives there is still something about even each of them I think is worth noticing in comparison to the eagle. Looking at them, they are individual each having a unique appearance or nature. Each serve a purpose. The beauty of a cardinal or the flight of a hummingbird. The woodpecker, the sound of an owl. The sparrow, the call of the parrot, a crow. The list goes on.The way they each have different characteristics about them. Looking at each bird, we see something it offers in the way of beauty and the way of existing. Within each species though there are identifiable traits, to be admired, but as birds see each other so should we see others, see them not as we see them, but knowing each is beautiful and for a purpose, but still worth noting the considerable difference when compared to the behavior and sheer majesty when compared to the eagle. I say that to say you can have a cardinal life, but a cardinal will never exist with the eagle. And an eagle will never fly with the cardinal or any bird. So if you want the eagles heights you still have to choose to fly alone. My point is consider the various social classes and the many social groups and choices we have to make among friends. Many groups look and appear nice and some are. Some serve great purposes and do great works, but still we should not seek to be followers. A peacock may be beautiful but it is still a peacock and a parakeet no matter how much it tried would never be a peacock. Only a parakeet. But does a parakeet try to be a peacock. Why then to we seek to be like others. Why as a child do we want to be like someone else, and why as adults do we judge by appearance. I would think the other birds are quite aware of the noticeable difference between the eagle. But does the eagle seem concerned. Consider this about the eagle, soaring in the atmosphere, effortlessly riding the wind currents high above the earth; majestic in appearance.Now as in any relationship those of us who have waited and focused on becoming eagles have found the rewards for finding eagles. They mate for life till death parts them. Again to appreciate the eagle lets understand their journey. Let me briefly share with you the parent eagles method of training their young to fly. The Mother eagle watches until the eaglets in the nest are fully feathered. When she thinks they have matured sufficiently she begins to "Stir the nest" With her strong beak she will start tearing out everything in the nest that makes it soft and cozy for her young. She removes all the padding of rabbit fur and animal skins, making the nest so uncomfortable and miserable her little ones don't want to stay in the nest any longer.She then begins the process of helping them develop strength in their wings. She hovers near the nest and begins flapping her wings furiously. As they watch her do this the little eaglets will begin to imitate the mother by flapping their wings also. They seem to know that this is what they are supposed to do. Just before she takes her eaglets out on their first solo flight, she will perch on the edge of the nest over her young and inspect them. Noticing that they have loose feathers sticking out all over them, she knows they must first be removed if the little eagles are ever to fly. So she begins to beat her wings, causing a mighty blast of wind to blow upon the eaglets. Soon all the loose feathers have been blown from them and they are ready for their flying lesson. Let me pause for just a moment and ask you these personal questions. Are you identifying with the little eaglets "stirring of the nest" experience? Lately, have you found yourself experiencing the discomforts of the stirring of your nest? Is there an awareness that something just isn't right, but you're not sure what it is? Is your comfort zone being threatened and are you a person who doesn't like changes? Are you uncomfortable and worried about it? Have you considered that just maybe - it's God stirring your nest? That it's His way of telling you that you've stayed in the nest too long and that He doesn't want His eaglets to be nest dwellers all their life. It's too confining - too limited - and too "O hum." God doesn't want His eaglets to be nest sitters. They were meant to fly. Sometimes, God has to tear up our nest to get us in the air. Now that we understand the eagle and their path from eaglet to eagle. I think it is worth comparing the path we must take and choose. If you are an eagle you will fly alone. As the nature, courage and strength of the eagle gives it the courage to soar by itself, so shall we. This does not mean we cannot have relationships are be friends with people. It simply means we will often have to make and act upon decisions that separate us from the pack if we are to reach higher heights than the people around us want to go. You may find some will not like you, and that you will go through lonely seasons in life. What do you want to be? Other birds fly in flocks, eagles fly alone. Being an eagle doesn't mean you will never go through crisis. Eagles spend a lot of time resting quietly in preparation because they use an abundance of energy while hunting. Only 1 out of 18 attacks are successful and their hunts are quite exhausting. But as an eagle returns alone to their nest to recuperate so shall we run to our solace and have our strength renewed by God. Do you realize that an eagle can effectively see a rabbit two miles away, swoop down on it’s prey at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour, snatch up its meal with it’s sharp strong talons, and then glide back to it’s nest at a leisurely 30 miles an hour? The bird can soar at altitudes of up to one-half mile high. Pretty amazing! Makes you think about a lot when you consider the view the chicken has from the pin and the view the eagle has from the sky. If we will choose the way of the eagle we will soar as the eagle and will find an eagle.