As we get ready to celebrate the ending of this yearĀ and the beginning of a new year, a lot of thoughts have been swirling through my head. It is the time to make plans for our lives and businesses, to create new goals and make resolutions. Ā Even though I know you can make a fresh start any day of the year, there is just something about standing at the edge of new year and seeing that big, blank canvas in front of you. It is both invigorating and frightening.

I was reminded of a show I watched a few months ago (probably on PBS) about eagles. It was fascinating to learn more about these majestic creatures. One thing that stuck with me was that moment when the baby eagles finally take their first flight from the nest. It is breathtaking to watch them realize that they have the ability to not just fly but to soar and glide so beautifully through the sky.

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image source: graphicstock.com

 

The eagles do not just sit in the nest for a few months then one day have the ability to fly. For months they hop around the nest, moving their wings, building up their strength, gaining coordination. They look a bit silly as they flap around in the nest, jumping up and down, flopping around, going up and down, up and down. Eventually they are able to get a little air and rise up above the nest, sometimes even to the next tree branch. They may venture out a little past their nest at this point but not for long. They come back to the safety of the nest for a while longer.Ā It takes time to build their wings, to grow the ability to be able to fly.

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One day they realize that are not meant to stay in the safety of that nest or in that tree. They have seen others soaring, gliding and flying and they just know it is time for them to do the same. Ā They stand on the edge of the nest, spread their wings and then they fly just as majestically as all the other eagles they have been watching. Ā It is in their nature, it is what God created them to do.

By Ryan McFarland (originally posted to Flickr as Bald Eagle) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Ryan McFarland (originally posted to Flickr as Bald Eagle) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Our own humanĀ lives seems to mirror this at times. It is so much easier to stay where we are,Ā to hop around, get a little air, experience a little joy, a little success then let ourselves slip back into the comfort of our own nests. WeĀ watch as others live joyful, happy, thriving lives and fly through their own skies and wonder why can’t we do the same. Ā We have these dreams, these goals and we go through our own experiences that prepare us to fly too. We know in our hearts, just like the eagles do, that we are meant for bigger and better things.

As weĀ stand on the edge of theĀ nest today looking out at the beauty of the new year that is stretched out before us, let usĀ summon the courage inside so weĀ can also take that first flight. Ā We have been building up ourĀ wings long enough. We have been watching others experience the best of life for farĀ too long. Ā It is in our nature to fly, to soar, to thrive, that is what God created us to do. In the new year, let’s take that leap. It’s time, we are ready to fly…

Time to Fly Quote

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