On Eagles Wings (with annoying crows)

By Sam Clear, Acting Director of the Office of Youth Evangelisation

This year I’m working two days a week for the Archdiocese of Hobart, and the rest of my week on the family farm in northern Tasmania. We’re currently cutting hay. I get really bad hay-fever. It’s a cruel mix. Through blurry eyes though I have spotted a few wedge tailed eagles soaring on the hayfield thermals.

Yes, they are enormous and quite awesome to watch, but there’s always something missing in the poetic descriptions of eagles; the crows. In fact, we don’t have crows in Tasmania, despite most people calling them that – they are forest ravens. I haven’t seen a single eagle ‘soaring majestically’ by itself. The ravens despise eagles and flock from everywhere to let them know that their presence isn’t welcome. Those ravens have some fight in them.

I’m constantly reminded of the prophet Isaiah writing that, “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,” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV), and, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself,” Exodus 19:4 (ESV).

While out on the farm I am reminded that being brought to God on eagle’s wings does not necessarily equate to an eradication of trials. In fact, we may even become a more obvious target. As we wait for the Lord, as we pray and spend time in His presence, we renew our strength, we are drawn from daily slavery to selfishness or loathing, towards God’s kingdom. As we are raised towards God on eagle’s wings there is a solidifying of our acceptance of being loved, and in understanding that we are loved, perseverance increases in us. Love propels perseverance.

Many years ago, I’d stopped the tractor while raking hay to watch a full-sized adult wedge tailed eagle glide past only twenty-odd metres above the paddock. Typically, it was being harassed by five or six ravens, but as one raven swooped in from above the eagle seemingly remembered who it was. It did something remarkable. The eagle tucked its wings in, catapulting into a full barrel-roll. It extended its talons as it rolled upside down, swatting forcefully at the raven, sending it and his chums scattering. Before completing the barrel-role, the eagle extended its wings and continued on effortlessly. Don’t forget who you are. You are loved.