"Get Out of the Nest!" by Dan McDonald

From the time an eagle is an embryo safe inside its egg to the time of its departure from home, the nest provides a place of love, security and freedom. The mother and father, mates for life by the way, nurture and guard their young until they know their baby is safe to take its first flight, usually around 10 - 13 weeks after birth. The eaglet often gets comfortable in the nest and would just stay there and let its parents keep feeding it. But the parents know unless their young (which now is the same size as they are) gets out on its own, it will not survive the brutality of the wild. So when the time comes, the adult eagles fly over the nest, hear their child call for food, but do not provide any for it. The eaglet grows thinner, and often pulls meat scraps from the "old" carcasses lying around in the nest. It may even capture a live bug or two - its first kill! It still does not venture outside the safety of the nest, however. So, many times, the mother will have to come and remove all the "soft" stuff from the nest exposing only sharp sticks making the nest an uncomfortable place to be. Stories have been told of mother eagles actually pushing their young out, forcing them to fly...or fall - not to worry, though; the FATHER is always close by to provide security in case the young is not strong enough on its first few flights. But eventually, usually six to nine weeks after it learns to fly and hunt its own food, the eaglet leaves the nest for good....... Our Father, God Jehovah provides comfortable places for us to live, dwell, learn, serve, exist for a while. Then, when it is time, He gently tells us to "Go. I have more for you to do besides sit, soak, and sour!" Well, we eventually get so comfortable in our little nests (church seats) that we forget about His call. So He must urge us in other ways, sometimes painful, much like the mother eagle and its little fledgling. As Christians we often lack faith on our part to "take flight." But, we must remember that the Father is ALWAYS near watching every move we make...ready to protect, keep, shelter, and help should his little ones need it. Comfort is good, but not at the expense of losing God's very best for us. So, spread those wings and fly - and for heaven's sake, get out of the nest!