God’s Eagle Christians

I close with this poem by Bill Harvey.

Eagle Free

An eaglet in its downy nest surveyed the scene below

And asked with animated zest, "Oh Mother, I would know...

Will I someday begin to fly as high and far as you?"

The answer came, "Of course you’ll fly, for that’s what eagles do."

Highborn you are and high you’ll stay, and higher still you’ll go,

And never know an earthbound day, nor crawling to and fro,

Now dashing down, now soaring high...Now floating on the air.

Now flying where you will to fly. Now free to do and dare.

I’ll take the down from out the nest and let the thorns protrude.

I’ll let the thorns disturb your rest and halt your nesting mood

Then soon you’ll climb upon the edge and stretch your pinions out

You’ll totter on the eerie ledge and ponder space and doubt,

Then with a wing I’ll knock you off to flounder-flap and fly

And with a swoop, I’ll pick you up and never mind your cry

I’ll put you on the perch again, then knock you off the nest

To see if you will stand the strain and stand the acid test.

I’ll give you opportunity to prove that you can fly.

And then a final chance to see if you will fly or die.

I’d rather rugged, jagged rocks would claim you as their own

Then bear the taunts, and jeers, and mocks that say you’ve never flown.

But fly you must, and fly you will, and conquer gravity.

And know the zephyr’s golden thrill and fly for all to see.

My eagle child, this word I give: keep looking to the sky.

For though an eagle flies to live - an eagle lives to fly.