Some thoughts on flying....

Ornithologists say birds have three methods of flight. The first is flapping-keeping their wings in constant motion to counteract gravity. Hummingbirds can flap up to seventy times per second. Flapping keeps you in the air, but it is a lot of work. Flapping is an awkward, clumsy business.

A second method is gliding. Here the bird builds up enough speed, then coasts downward a while. It is much more graceful than flapping, but unfortunately it does not get the bird very far. Reality in the form of gravity sets in quickly. Gliding is nice, but it does not last.

Then there is the third way- soaring. Only a few birds, like eagles are capable of this. Eagles' wings' are so strong that they are capable of catching rising currents of warm air -thermal winds that go straight up from the earth-and without moving a feather can soar up to great heights. Eagles have been clocked at up to 80 m.p.h. without flapping at all. They just soar on invisible columns of rising air.

Isaiah says that for those who wait on the Lord, times will come when they soar. Sometime in your life you will be in an era of spiritual soaring. Maybe you are there right now. You find yourself simply borne up by God's power. God is answering prayers with extravagant generosity, using you in ways that you leave you astonished. Be grateful for these times. Identify them and be very diligent in them, build on them, and enjoy the ride.

Sometimes we are not soaring, but we are able to run and not grow weary. Life isn't effortless, you aren't seeing a lot of miracles or changes and you have to do some flapping. During this time you need to keep running-obeying, giving, praying and serving. Just keep on running.

The third condition that Isaiah describes is not soaring, or running but walking without fainting...continually putting one foot in front of the the other. We cannot run-because of doubt or fatigue, or failure. or pain but those are the time that not fainting is good. It is a time of total reliance on the Lord knowing that God is good all the time.