As an eagle stirs up its nest, and hovers over its young; as it spreads its wings, takes them up, and bears them aloft on its pinions, the Lord alone guides God’s people. (Deuteronomy 32: 11-12)

Deuteronomy’s author uses this image of an eagle teaching its young to fly as an image of God. The adult eagle nudges the youngster out of the nest, and the eaglet falls like a rock. The older bird catches the eaglet and carries the young one on its wings, back to the nest. Time after time this occurs until the eaglet learns to spread its wings and fly on its own.

Like the young eagles, others in the Bible are pushed out of their familiar and safe nests to learn new ways. Peter, with his established fishing business, wife and home, was nudged in a new direction when his brother Andrew introduced him to Jesus. Saul, later known as Paul, was pushed out of his self-righteousness and religious exclusivity into a whole new life as he was confronted by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.

Through Bible study, prayer and worship, God challenges us to move out of our nests of complacency. We learn then to truly love and serve others and freely extend God’s grace to the world.

Blessed Creator, nudge us this day out of our comfort zones. Give us wings that enable us to soar as You would have us do!