Look to the center of my picture, do you see the hawk sailing in the sky?
For a little over a week now, Dave and I have been watching the hawks soaring above the mountain terrain. This happens most often in the mid-to-late afternoon. At times, there may be as many as twenty or more soaring effortlessly in their lazy circles.
We have talked with the folks we know asking if anyone knows why this happens, but no one does. And it’s not just unique to our mountain campground, when we went into town the other day we noticed the same thing happening over the pasturelands. They have peaked my curiosity.
Some of them have even come so low as to skim the tree tops right beside our RV. Their soaring is silent and they seem to exert no energy at all. Completely different from the crows and ravens who make a loud and disturbing “whoop, whoop, whoop” as the flap their wings with much deliberate movement as they seek to attain altitude.
I even tried to do a search on why hawks soar together in circles. It was not an exhaustive search but I found that when one hawk finds a warm air thermal and lets it lift him up, others will notice and come join him in his flight.
Who teaches the hawks and the eagles that they can soar in the heights? I wonder, are these “training flights” for their upcoming migration to the warmer climates? Are these conditioning flights, similar to what marathon runners do when they are in training for an upcoming race? Are they increasing their endurance?
The Bible makes many comparisons about the Lord sheltering us under the shadow of His wings, protecting us, keeping us from harm. It also says He cares for the birds and we are much more valuable to Him than they are so we can be confident that He will provide for us.
“The Lord chose his people to be his own. The people of Jacob belong to him. 10 “The Lord found them in the desert, in an empty, windy land. He surrounded them and watched over them. He protected them like the pupil of his eye,11 like an eagle when she makes her young leave the nest to fly. She stays close to them, ready to help. She spreads her wings to catch them when they fall and carries them to a safe place. 12 The Lord alone led his people. They had no help from any foreign god.” Deuteronomy 32:9-12 ERV
The Lord chose the nation of Israel as His own but He has also chosen us. His protection for us will be the same as what they experienced. The Lord is there to catch us when we start to fall and carry us to safety.
It’s the Lord who provides the thermals that cause the hawks to soar. His word gives us what we need to soar, with renewed strength.
“Surely you know the truth. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever!
He created all the faraway places on earth. He does not get tired and weary. You cannot learn all he knows. 29 He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it.
30 Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.” Isaiah 40:28-31 ERV
Are you weary? Go to the Lord – He will renew your strength and teach you how to soar!