Lessons From The Nest

Every day, I sit in my office and look out toward a lake in the distance.

Near that lake is an eagle's nest.

Over time, watching those eagles has become one of my favorite parts of the day.

Sometimes I see one sitting in the nest with its head held high, seemingly watching everything around it. Other times, I watch it spread its wings and soar into the sky. I've seen it circle high above the lake, patiently scanning the water below. Then, almost without warning, it folds its wings, dives hundreds of feet toward the surface, and emerges moments later with a fish firmly gripped in its claws.

I never seem to get tired of watching.

The more I observe those eagles, the more I realize they have been teaching me lessons about life, faith, patience, and purpose.

The Eagle Knows When to Wait

One thing I've noticed is that eagles don't seem to be in a hurry.

There are days when I look out and see an eagle sitting quietly in the nest. It isn't flying. It isn't hunting. It isn't moving much at all.

It's simply waiting.

In a world that constantly tells us to hurry, produce, and accomplish more, the eagle reminds me that waiting is not weakness.

Some of God's greatest work happens while we're waiting.

Waiting for answers.

Waiting for opportunities.

Waiting for direction.

Waiting for God to open the next door.

I've learned that just because nothing appears to be happening doesn't mean nothing is happening.

The eagle knows when it's time to fly, and it knows when it's time to stay in the nest.

Wisdom often means knowing the difference.

The Eagle Sees What Others Cannot

When I watch the eagle circle the lake, I'm amazed by its vision.

From hundreds of feet in the air, it can see what most creatures below never notice.

While others are focused on what's directly in front of them, the eagle sees the bigger picture.

Life has taught me how easy it is to become consumed by today's problems.

A difficult conversation.

An unexpected bill.

A setback.

A disappointment.

When I focus only on what's happening right in front of me, I can lose sight of what God is doing in the larger story.

The eagle reminds me to lift my eyes higher.

God sees what I cannot.

He sees tomorrow while I'm worried about today.

He sees the solution while I'm focused on the problem.

Perspective changes everything.

The Eagle Commits Fully

One of the most impressive things I've witnessed is watching an eagle hunt.

It circles.

It watches.

It waits.

Then, when the moment comes, it commits completely.

It doesn't dive halfway.

It doesn't second-guess itself halfway down.

It doesn't pull back because it's afraid of failure.

It sees its target and goes all in.

That challenges me.

There have been times in my life when I knew what I needed to do but hesitated because of fear, uncertainty, or overthinking.

The eagle reminds me that there are moments when preparation ends and action begins.

Faith often requires a step.

Dreams require action.

Opportunities require courage.

At some point, we must stop circling and start diving.

The Eagle Doesn't Let the Storm Define It

I've often heard how eagles use the wind from storms to rise higher.

Most birds seek shelter.

The eagle uses the storm to gain altitude.

I've certainly experienced storms in life.

The loss of my daughter Kailyn.

Financial challenges.

Disappointments.

Seasons when I didn't understand what God was doing.

Those storms were not easy.

I would never choose them.

Yet some of the deepest lessons, strongest faith, and greatest growth came through those difficult seasons.

The storm that could have destroyed me became the very thing God used to strengthen me.

Like the eagle, we can allow adversity to lift us higher rather than push us lower.

The Eagle Stays Focused

When an eagle locks onto a fish in the lake, it isn't distracted by everything else around it.

Its focus is singular.

That is becoming increasingly rare in our world.

We live surrounded by distractions.

Notifications.

News.

Social media.

Opinions.

Opportunities.

Noise.

The eagle reminds me that success is not about doing everything.

Success is about doing the right things.

The people who make the greatest impact are often the people who know what matters most and refuse to be distracted from it.

The Eagle Was Created to Soar

Perhaps the lesson I take away most often as I watch those eagles is this:

They were created to soar.

They weren't designed to spend their lives scratching around on the ground.

They were made for the sky.

In the same way, I believe God created each of us with purpose.

Too many people settle for less than what God intended.

They live beneath their calling.

They allow fear, doubt, regret, or comfort to keep them grounded.

But God calls us higher.

Not higher in pride.

Higher in faith.

Higher in purpose.

Higher in trust.

Higher in our relationship with Him.

My Final Thoughts

Tomorrow morning, I'll probably sit in my office once again and glance toward that nest.

Maybe the eagle will be sitting quietly.

Maybe it will be soaring high above the lake.

Maybe I'll watch it dive once again and emerge with a fish in its claws.

Either way, I know I'll be reminded of something important.

Life is not about rushing.

It's not about worrying.

It's not about living with our eyes fixed on the ground.

Like the eagle, we were created to lift our eyes higher, trust God's timing, stay focused on our purpose, and rise above the storms that come our way.

Every day, those eagles remind me of a simple truth:

When we trust God, we can soar higher than we ever imagined.