Upheld In Eagle’s Wings

All Day Frost

The hoarfrost has settled in for the last few days. When the sun peeks out when portions of fog lift, the landscape is full of evergreen trees and bushes standing in all their green and frosty glory.

As I write this, patches of fog have drifted in and out all day. Sunrays have reached through the clouds like golden fingers, then disappeared in swirling cotton gray. The frosted landscape remains unchanged. It is beautiful. No one paints like God, right?

As I stare out the window, I see an eagle in my mind. It’s actually a painting, done by an earthly artist. The backdrop of this painting is a day like the one I see out my window. I suddenly realized that most of the time, when the fog moves in on the snow, this painting is in the back of my mind.

The Painting

One Christmas, years ago, my daughter and her new husband came to visit. He likes to shop. Strange, right? Most men would rather do anything but shop, but there it is. We went to the mall. It was Christmas, after all.

One store, located in a corner, was art gallery. We browsed for quite a while. In fact, it was one of those times when the moment just holds you in place. My son-in-law likes the bears and cougars and bucks, especially if the bucks are in the middle of a stream and locking horns. He stared at those life-like portrayals for a long time.

But I kept coming back to this picture of an eagle flying in a foggy snow day. Most of the time, eagles are flying high in pictures, with their majestic wings spread out as they soar. Or they are just above the water with a fish in their talons, wingspans wide.

But rarely is one shown flying with his wings downward. I wonder why? Perhaps it is because we have in mind that eagles should be soaring. But if they propel themselves through the air, they must flap their huge wings at some point. The frost on this bird’s feathers adds a touch of whimsy.

The eagle looks determined. He is going somewhere. Maybe he is in a hurry. Maybe he is scouting for dinner for a hungry family back at the nest. He must brave the sight-limiting fog. Or do eagle eyes adjust and look right through fog?

Borne On Eagle’s Wings

The power in this bird makes me rejoice. It reminds me of the strength of God. I don’t really know why I see the Spirit of God when I look at this painting, but I surely do. And foggy snow days bring me right back here.

I could not afford this painting. I don’t think my son-in-law could, either. But he bought it for Christmas for me that year. Maybe he was trying to impress his new mother-in-law, but it doesn’t matter.

It’s the reminder that keeps me praying for him.

We are borne on the wings of eagles, right to the heart of God.

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” (Exodus 19:4).