Stirring It Up
I heard a sermon from TD Jakes in November that has stuck with me. In it he gave an illustration of an eagle building a nest for the eaglets to be born. The nest is nicely placed high with little room for error. The nest is made with all the sticks pointing outward. It is made for comfort for the young eaglet. The eagle readies the nest just in time for the arrival of the eaglets. The nest is the comfortable place as long as the eaglet is small. The eagle will begin to stir up the nest so that the sticks are now pointing inward as the eaglet becomes too large for the nest. This creates an environment that is less than suitable for comfort and more likely to cause the eaglet to hop out of the nest. However, once out of the nest, the eaglet is forced to live on the very edge of the cliff or fly.
I was interested in this topic as I began to notice how my life has been much like that of the eaglet. I had been living in my comfortable nest for too many years. Slowly, as I began to grow in my spiritual life, God began to stir up my nest. The first sign of growth was moving to a new city with a message on my heart – God had a plan for me in my new city. I moved to a new place and settled down again. I had another growth spurt, and the nest was stirred even more. Each time, the place of comfort became a place of discontent. The comfortable place was becoming too small for me as I was growing up. Eventually, I was hanging on to the ledge. It was either stay on the edge and eventually die; or take a step of faith and fly.
I chose to fly. One of the great things about eagle’s wings is this: they can travel great distances with little energy being expended. They are carried on the air current. They travel as far as a hummingbird. The hummingbird lives only about 18 months whereas the eagle lives for years. Sometimes I feel like the hummingbird flying with all my strength. I need to remember I have eagle’s wings. The Holy Spirit has provided the current; I am just along for the ride. I can be carried great distances, if I will allow the Holy Spirit to move me. God has stirred up my nest both physically and spiritually. I am no longer content to being as I was. I want more. I want greater distances. I want higher perspectives. I want His vision for my life. I want His wind beneath my wings. I want to soar to greater heights for His glory!
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)
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