Rev. Pete Hyde serves as chaplain with the South Walton Fire District
The morning was still and serene. The sun had been up an hour or so and the air was thick with gulf humidity. The bay stretched out before us like a sheet of mirrored glass pushing its way into infinity as we backed the trailer into the water to launch the jet skis. We put on our life vests and headed out for a few hours on the water.
Other than the passing of an occasional car the morning was quiet. The silence as broken by the whistle of an osprey circling gently, yet intently about a hundred yards out into the bay. The morning hunt was on. Almost in the same location the surface of the water suddenly churned. Dorsal fins pierced the surface and circled with knife-like precision. A pod of dolphins had rounded up a school of fish and were enjoying their breakfast.
The osprey, seizing the opportunity, whistled, tucked her wings to her side and began a quick dive. About halfway to the water she pulled up. An answer to her whistle was heard. Above her circled two smaller ospreys. This morning’s hunt was not just about breakfast. School had started. It was time for the kids to learn how to hunt and begin to fend for themselves. Another whistle came from atop a mast of an old sailboat listing to one side and full of the brown brackish water of the bay. Dad was supervising. (That’s what dads do you know. They leave the hard work to Mom and stand off at a distance to make sure the job is being done right.)
The dolphins ate their fill of breakfast and the water returned to a mirror-like shine. The three ospreys circled and whistled to one another. Mom would tuck her wings and begin a dive. The children would watch and learn. Each time she would pull up. They needed to watch and learn and do it on their own. She couldn’t do it for them anymore. It was time.
Finally, one of the young birds tucked its wings and streaked downward piercing the calm surface, shattering the mirror of the surface with a big splash. It came up empty handed. A whistle of encouragement came from atop the sailboat mast. Mom called back to him and Dad became silent. The other young osprey made a circle, tucked its wings and headed toward the water. Just at the surface of the water, it pulled up just slicing the top of the water with its talons. Mom whistled. It whistled back.
The scene played out for a few minutes. Circle, tuck, dive. Circle, tuck, dive. Each time with no results. Mom let out a series of whistles. Was she impatient or had she noticed that her children had enough disappointment today? Who knows.
She came in low across the water at high speed and effortlessly climbed into a graceful circle. In moment her wings were tucked as she rocketed downward, broke the surface of the water with a huge splash and came up with a fish almost as long as she was. With her wet wings struggling hard against the weight of the water and the fish, she whistled, turned the fish in the direction of her flight to decrease the drag and headed toward an unseen nest. The young ones followed at a distance. Dad left his perch and followed behind.
I was reminded of one of my favorite scriptures. “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up on wings as eagles.” God, through his Spirit, circles above us and around us watching as any loving parent watches their children. He lets us stumble, fail and fall. But God is always near and will whistle encouragement to us, swoop down when we have had enough, catch us on his wings and bring back into his arms when we have strayed too far or struggled too much.
Whatever your struggle today, know that: God will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of God and hold you in the palm of his hand.” Amen.
Author: Sowal Editor
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