The Eagle

Watching and Listening Intently for the God Glimmers in Times of Stress

I wasn’t sure what I would post in this Sunday slot but my hospital reflection reminded me of how well God cares for me in ways I do not expect. It is never a big monumental thing and could be easily missed if I wasn’t paying attention. I never doubt but that it is God giving me a glimmer of hope.

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

(Oops, I forgot to post this today. Scott was released from the hospital last night. I will provide an update on that tomorrow in the RockWall Cottage Chronicles.)

Since childhood, I have loved the biblical story of Elijah and the ravens. That may be why my God Glimmers often come in the form of birds—just like Elijah.

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” (1 Kings 17:2 NIV)

On Friday—while still in the hospital—we received exciting news about something unrelated to Scott’s illness that has weighed heavily on our family for almost a year. It had become more concerning with every passing month and when we received a text with good news we felt that additional layer of stress lift off of us.

I leaned back in the chair and looked out the hospital window, where to my surprise an eagle was floating in circles above the city. At first, I thought it was a hawk, which also would have had great meaning, but that would not have had the impact of the eagle because I so rarely spot them. The majestic eagle circled several times and was gone.

Birds often come to check on me in times of distress. The most memorable time was when a difficult memory surfaced while sitting in my car at the Garden of the Gods. I told this story in Brave but did not mention the blue bird that came and sat on the fence in front of my car, tilted her head, and then flew to the picnic table where I had sat processing with my therapist during an “out of the office” therapy session a few weeks earlier. I understood I needed to call for help.*

There have been seagulls, California scrub jays, geese, and many others. All came with a message of hope in distress. The eagle was different because it arrived in the sky to join in my celebration. It gave me hope that Scott’s struggles could also find resolution. I am looking for another God Glimmer on that front also!

*I may have described this differently in other writings. One of the reasons I was able to heal the extensive trauma I experienced was that my therapist—though always with professional boundaries and research-based practices in her therapy choices—did often step outside of traditional boxes. I am thankful to see this happening more and more often as what is required to heal trauma is better understood. I also know that, as she approached retirement, she had the expertise, experience, wisdom, time, and flexibility to invest more deeply in my healing than is possible for most busy practitioners. This is part of my motivation to pay her care forward. Not all are as blessed as I was.