On a particularly stress filled day, I was being pulled in different ways, each wheel trying to be the squeakiest, vying for a limited amount of grease. As each fire settled back into embers, I broke away to take a walk.
The last few weeks have been rainy, then muddy, then cold, but today, the sun was shining and there was a crisp breeze floating around. I just needed some time with the Master.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. “ Romans 8:26
That’s good because I had run out of things to pray.
My empty gaze moved skyward to see a hawk flying, its silhouette offset against a background of light blue sky and soft white clouds, circling effortlessly on the gentle breeze. Its pattern grew wider and further away until it was out of my view. In the time I watched, it only flapped a wing once. The breeze was doing all the work.
The serenity of the image brought peace to my weary mind. Yet, the thought of being carried by the breath of God became a more poignant interpretation. Why was this hawk circling? Looking for food? Looking for a mate? Or maybe just enjoying the fact that it could fly. The hawk was doing what is was made to do, and most of the flight was aided by the Grace of God. Now I’m sure there was some work involved to catch that breeze, but after that, it was only a slight shift of its wings.
The hawk looked majestic in flight, but that was not always the case. Once upon a time, it was snuggled in a warm nest, peering out over the edge. Not until it was pushed, with the ground and certain death quickly approaching its tiny body, that its God given talent took over, and it flew.
Sometimes when we are facing a new challenge, we are content to peek over the edge of the nest, hoping to stay in our comfort zone. And when we get pushed, we don’t always take to flying right away. It takes multiple attempts, practice, and hard work to find the cool breeze that will carry us along our way.
As long as we are focused on our little corner of the nest, we fail to see the bigger sky that is waiting for us. We were also created to fly. And if we persevere through the headwinds, we will find the cool breeze of God’s Grace that will carry us higher and further than we could dream.
We simply need to shift our wings to let God’s Grace take us where He wills.
Enjoying the flight
And Blessed in Great Measure.
Leave a Reply