Speak Lord; I’m Listening – Daily Bite-Size Encouragement – Day 19

Bald Eagles Fly Effortlessly

Seeing an eagle fly is impressive! “Young eagles are dark brown until they are five years old and acquire their characteristic coloring.” [BE]

The adult is a remarkable bird weighing fourteen pounds with a wingspan of eight feet. Their rich brown feathers with accompanying snow-white head and tail feathers make them stand out anywhere they fly. Eagles make flying seem effortless. “Bald eagles are such majestic, awe-inspiring creatures when in flight.” [SM]

You can watch a detailed slo-mo video of an eagle in flight which is stunning.

Eagle Territory

One of the best places to observe bald eagles is in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. “The Chilkat Valley is the year-round home for approximately 400 eagles with more than 80 nests in the preserve itself. From October to February, more than 3,000 eagles congregate to feed on spawning salmon. The combination of open water and plentiful food brings large concentrations of eagles into the Chilkat Valley from October through February.” [BE]

Based on research, if we make an effort to visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Alaska, we will be well rewarded with some fantastic sights of bald eagles resting in trees, witness eagles in flight, and even see them eating salmon. It sounds like an amazing adventure!

Eagle Symbolism

“Eagle symbolism and meaning include loyalty, devotion, freedom, truth, honor, and hope. Many cultures see the eagle as the king of all birds. Eagles are symbols of freedom and independence as eagles can soar to 10,000 feet, and, when diving, they can achieve speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. They embody an existence without restrictions, borders, or limitations. The eagle symbolizes unparalleled bravery and honor, as well as vision and intuition.” [UG]

“If you see an eagle, it’s a reminder that the Divine exists in everything – all that we are, all that we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel – has an element of the sacred in it.” ~Kristen M. Stanton

America’s symbol

The bald eagle became the United States national bird in 1782, when it was placed with outspread wings on the Great Seal of our country. The United States Congress made the bald eagle our national symbol in 1789. [ABE]

The bald eagle was chosen because it is indigenous to North America and because worldwide, it symbolizes highly admirable qualities, including courage, strength, immortality, and freedom. The United States of America was started because people wanted to live freely from persecution.” [UG]

 “The Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolizes the strength and freedom of America.” ~President John F. Kennedy to the Audubon Society

“The eagle appears on the president’s flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia, and billions of one-dollar bills.” [ABE]

Eagle Strength

God’s Word states that those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength and mount up on wings like eagles. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” [Isaiah 40:28-31 NASB]

Let us make every effort to wait upon the Lord so that we can mount up like an eagle and soar ‘without restrictions, border, or limitations’ and embody ‘courage, strength, and freedom’ that comes by the Spirit of God.

Recommendations:

Name Above All Other Names Name Above All Other Names – Strength with Dignity

Complete in Christ Complete in Christ – Strength with Dignity

References:

Bald and Golden Eagles – Midwest Region [BE]. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/Nhistory/biologue.html

Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve [CE]. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Parks-and-Public-Lands/Chilkat-Bald-Eagle-Preserve.aspx

Detailed Slo-Mo of Eagle in Flight (1000fps)[SM]. Published on YouTube on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miWBKSszEIw

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Stanton, Kristen M. Eagle Symbolism, Meaning & The Eagle Spirit Animal. Published in UniGude [UG] on June 16, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.uniguide.com/eagle-meaning-symbolism-spirit-animal-guide/

The American Bald Eagle [ABE]. Celebrating America’s Freedoms by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/eagle.pdf

Bible Scriptures were retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://www.biblegateway.com #bgbg2 #BibleGateway