What If I fall?.....But, What If I Fly?

Do you know how mother eagles teach their babies to fly? It's quite a painful process really, and if I were a baby eagle I would probably be scarred for life! But, there is some genius behind it. It starts out fairly normal, the mother eagle makes an extravagant nest full of feathers and comfort just for her babies! The eggs lounge around in this comfy bed until they hatch, and then the baby eagles get to enjoy the comfort for a little while. After some time spent amongst the cuddly feathers and other eagles, the mother begins to remove feathers every day. Little by little she removes them until the nest becomes unbearable to sit in. The babies venture over to the side of the nest and peer out into the vast skyline before them. Then, they do the unthinkable, they jump. With no skill, no experience, no lessons, they just use all of their strength and jump right out of their cozy little nest. And, they fall, then they fall some more, and then they keep falling, until they are so close to the ground that they've decided jumping probably wasn't the best idea. As soon as they get close enough to think all hope is lost, their mother sweeps in lifting the baby up and encouraging it to spread its wings. This is the first time the baby experiences true soaring!

The past month or so I've experienced this process for myself. I was doing great in my little nest, full of comfort and no change of scenery. But, then God began to work in me, plucking away at every little feather fastened in my bubble. Until I was forced to step up and out of that comfort zone. I sat on the edge for a while, mourning the fact that I lost feathers that I had held so dear for the past year. Then, with no way of turning back I jumped. I began to fall, I fell fast, and I was terrified beyond words. But, as I fell I had time to think. I thought of all the feathers that had been removed, both good and bad. My good habits, my bad ones, the ones I ignored and the ones I cherished. How God took them all and flipped them around so I could see them more clearly. I learned as I fell, then I realized that after learning more about myself and my surroundings, I needed to heal and to fly. But, as I kept falling rapidly I knew that I still needed some time to heal before I took off. That's when God flew in and caught me with His own wings. Now, I'm healing and learning to fly all at once. And I wouldn't change it for the world! 

So, dear friends, don't get comfortable in your feathers. Don't stand on the edge too long, and don't be afraid to fall. Because chances are, once you begin to fall, then you truly learn how to fly!