Not another Buzzard

My family is blessed to live about 20 minutes from the nearest "real" town. In this setting, I've learned from those that have spent their lives among the trees to pay more attention to what's happening. To watch the birds. Pay attention to the flowers. Feel changes in the air.

I've noticed a flock of ravens that passed over my house morning and evening for quite a while. The calls of birds have become familiar... and I've even discovered that Steller's Jays will make the call of a hawk or other bird of prey to intimidate nearby birds (or perhaps warn them of a threat). A friend pointed out how you can feel sudden changes in the barometric pressure... and that can forewarn of a sudden shower or sun break. 

A couple of years ago, in late Spring, I was in my front lawn. I enjoyed the chattering of the little birds. The morning ravens had passed by and a crow was shouting from the top of a tall tree. Suddenly, I saw an enormous dark bird emerge in a low lazy circle over that same tree. It was a buzzard. And it brought friends. There were five large buzzards circling very low over my home... riding a thermal slowly to the Southwest. 

Suddenly the crow made a racket, jumped out of his tree and started swooping down at one the large birds. A Steller's Jay began making it's telltale mocking call of a bird of prey from the old apple tree in front of my house. All the little birds went silent. Then I saw it. 

One of the buzzards was not a buzzard. It was an eagle with it's pure white head and matching tail feathers. 

It was a beautiful moment. There was an eagle soaring just over my head making slow circles over my house. Then I started to notice things. 

The crow ignored the buzzards and dove vengefully at the eagle. The jay wasn't making a buzzard call (whatever that would be), but the cry of an eagle. The smaller birds may have simply gone silent because of the large passing shadows.... but they knew something important was happening... and they should be nervous. 

Everyone knew that an eagle was flying over... everyone knew what that bird was. Everyone was in awe (except, perhaps, for the oblivious buzzards).... and the eagle herself. 

The eagle was just riding the wind. No different than the buzzards around her.... but it seemed the whole world was against her. The stupid crow swooping and pecking; "You don't belong here! Get outa here!". The mocking jay bird down in that tree; "Ooooohh... I see you up there! Hey, listen, I can sound JUST LIKE YOU! You think you're hot stuff don't you!"

I imagine the eagle suddenly coming unglued, "COME ON! I'M JUST TRYING TO FLY HERE!!  LEAVE ME ALONE!!! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!?"

It was a problem of understanding. Everyone knew exactly what the eagle was... except the eagle herself. Maybe no one ever told her. Perhaps she just hadn't taken any real risks yet. Or sadly, was settling to be an above-average buzzard.  

When you're just trying to make it through life, but everything is against you. You might want to ask the question, "Who am I again?" You are the eagle. The little birds see you a mile away and are instinctively terrified. The big, lazy, birds ignore you as long as you don't do anything sudden.... happy to see you picked on as they glide along in peace. 

The enemy knows who you are, even if you've forgotten. If you belong to Jesus, then you are the righteous redeemed. You overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. You are a saint. Purified and empowered by the Creator of everything.... to take back what the devil has stolen. 

.... Not one should be lost. 

Revelation 12:11 

1 Corinthians 1:2 

Acts 1:8 

John 10:10ff 

John 6:39