My wife and I were in Indiana, staying at our friend’s house on Morse Lake in Cicero. Sitting on their deck overlooking the water one morning, we were watching all the cool birds fly by. The various ducks, a King Fisher, Blue Herrin, Cormorants, and Egrets. And then an Eagle flies by and really catches your attention. There is something different and majestic about an eagle flying by, soaring like an eagle.
Soar – /sôr/ (verb): fly or rise high in the air.
- Also, to increase rapidly above the usual level.
It’s time to learn by taking a few lessons from the eagle.
Lesson #1:
Eagles are tenacious and can take advantage of challenges like storms to soar to greater heights.
You cannot reach greater heights and become stronger without the storms. We look at walking through the valley as something to be avoided at all costs. And if you do avoid the valleys of life, then you are a super-Christian.
The fact is, the total opposite is true. Without these times, which are unavoidable by the way, you won’t be able to stand strong when the time comes. The first chapter of James goes into some detail on this. Also, see an impactful post for more on this – The Strength of a Tree.
Lesson #2
Bald eagles have a 20/4 or a 20/5 vision. We have 20/20 meaning eagles can see four or five times farther than the average person. A bald eagle can spot prey the size of a rabbit three miles away! Poor bunny!
The higher you soar, meaning the closer you are to Christ, the better you will know the will of God and His Purpose for you. For more on this, see What is Your Purpose.
Lesson #3
Bald eagles soar 10,000 feet or more into the air, using thermal air currents to support their glide. This allows them to conserve energy. At 10,000 feet, you will not find pigeons, or many other birds for that matter. Dr. Myles Munroe says that eagles don’t mingle with pigeons. Pigeons scavenge on the ground and grumble and complain all day long. Eagles do not. They fly and make less noise, use less energy, and wait for opportunities even while gliding through any storms.
Great leaders are problem solvers, and they soar. They don’t complain as the pigeons do. They love to take on challenges as the eagle does when the storm comes or while they are going through it.
Lesson #4
It’s said that the only bird that dares to peck at an eagle is the crow. And while in flight! The eagle does not respond or fight with the crow. It does not spend time or energy on the crow while this is happening. Instead, it opens its wings and rises higher and higher into the heavens. The higher the flight, the harder it is for the crow to breathe. Eventually, the crow falls off due to a lack of oxygen. – source unknown
Here’s what we can learn from this. Don’t fight with the troublemakers or those who are against you – keep ascending. Do NOT descend to their level, or it will be a continual fight. And don’t give in to the distraction. Instead, keep your focus on things above and continue soaring to greater heights.
Foundational Scriptures for Today’s Lessons
Isaiah 40:31 ESV
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
I Peter 2:16 ESV
Live as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
John 8:32 ESV
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Ephesians 3:12 ESV
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Romans 12:21 ESV
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Take a moment to be encouraged by Meredith Andrew’s song, Soar…
Challenge of the Week
The challenge, of course, is to soar. Soar like an eagle. In the next week, what is that one essential action you can take that will allow you to soar like an eagle? If you don’t have one, let me suggest Lesson #4 from above. Don’t stoop to “their” level, but rise above! So be it.
