Dealing With the Crows
…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
In May 2014, California-based photographer Phoo Chan captured a once-in-a-lifetime series of photos of a crow landing on an eagle in mid-air. The pictures went viral for the National Geographic featured cameraman.
The crow is one of the few birds who will go up against an eagle. It will sit on the raptor’s back and peck away at its neck in an attempt to influence its behavior.
The amazing thing about these pictures is that the eagle seemed to be unfazed. It didn’t waste time or energy on that pesky bird. Why?
Because the eagle knows a key truth about itself and its adversary. An eagle’s lung capacity enables it to easily fly above ten thousand feet. Crows, on the other hand, get dizzy and faint around seven thousand feet.
So, the eagle simply adjusts its wings and begins to fly higher. The crow then becomes a non-issue.
Life's Crows
As interesting as this is in the natural realm, there’s a spiritual lesson to be learned. All of us have to periodically deal with “crows.”
There are the crows of criticism. Pastors face these all the time. The crows sneer that an audacious dream is foolish. Peck, peck, peck. Or that a new strategy is doomed to failure. Peck, peck, peck. At times the pecking seems unending.
However, all the rest of us face our fair share of crows. For example, in these uncertain financial times, there’s the crow of anxiety. Peck, peck, peck. “You won’t have enough.”
Amidst the challenge to parent well these days there’s the crow of inadequacy. Peck, peck, peck. “You can’t do this.”
When our bodies begin to fail us there’s the crow of dependency. Peck, peck, peck. “You’re not only helpless, but you’re also hopeless.”
You can try to deny the reality of such crows. Or you can seek to argue against such crows. But they stubbornly refuse to release you.
Soar Like Eagles
So what do you do when plagued by crows? Scripture offers some wise counsel.
“…but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Do you see that word, “hope”? It can also be translated “wait.” Which is why some translations render the phrase, “but those who wait for the Lord.”
The Hebrew word used there is qavah and it’s used forty-seven times in the Old Testament. It literally means “to braid or twist, as a rope.” The idea is that when we wait or hope in faith, our weakness is braided together with God’s strength. It’s this which allows us to soar on wings like eagles.
Let me encourage you to learn from our feathered friend. When you find yourself targeted by crows, don’t frustrate yourself trying to rid yourself of them or reason with them. Simply spread your wings of faith and take those critters to new heights.
Trust in the Lord. Hope in the Lord. Wait for the Lord. And, as you do, see if those crows won’t fade away.
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