It’s Sunday afternoon. I’m super grumpy. It has been a long week, full of meetings, sermon-writing, and garden work. I haven’t been sleeping well, either, which makes the fatigue more acute. Which, of course, means it’s been the perfect week to take out all my brothers’ files to review their list of infractions and add new ones (or repeats of the old ones) to my churning miasma of resentment. And, of course, we had to stand in the glaring sun for our Christmas picture. Now when everyone examines it, all they’ll see is my squinting eyes. Because, of course, I’m the one they’re looking for in the photo.
So, when I pull out of the Monastery parking lot 20 minutes later than I’d intended, I’m primed for a fight. At the end of the driveway there are three SUVs. On the grass nearby I see three people surrounding a large wooden crate with a few holes in it. I’m immediately suspicious. Who are these people, and what are they doing–without permission–at my monastery?
I roll down my window, and because I’m the Guestmaster and also Southern (when it’s convenient), I ask in a voice much more neutral than my insides, “hey, what’s going on here?” One of the men turns to me with a big smile on his face and says, “we’re about to release a bald eagle.”
Just like that, I’m immediately present in the moment. No fatigue. No resentments. No suspicion. I get out of the car and walk over to them. They tell me that someone found a bald eagle at the Black Creek nature preserve just north of us. She’d eaten a mouse that had been poisoned, and they took her in to help her recover. Now they’re releasing her back into the wild. They’d picked our place because it’s right on the river and has a large open space where they could let her out to soar.
I pull out my camera, because even though I’m too cool to take pictures of everything, I know I have to get this on film. The other man reaches down and gently lifts the lid on the box. An enormous huddle of brown feathers leaps up and out of the crate. She’s all power and muscle and somehow also so light. She’s off and away. The whole thing takes 10 seconds. And I’m amazed and giddy with the wonder of it all.
(video here: https://fb.watch/gfvZiaoLmm/)
There is so much space outside my head and my heart. It’s all just there, waiting, patient, and wild. Why, then do I spend so much time walking around with my head down, staring at my list of grudges and counting off the ways I could have done a better job running the world, if only I’d been given the opportunity?
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements–surely you know! Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes its nest on high? Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
No, indeed.
I’ve always found God’s response to Job’s suffering to be a bit of a cop-out. But the gift of that beautiful, soaring bird at the nadir of my grumpy fatigue was just that sort of response. I’m hardly Job, of course. And yet, standing five feet away from the wildness of the world God has made, nothing from my week mattered. I became small in that moment, in the best possible way. I no longer needed to be separate.
It feels amazing to be a part of this world God has made. And it feels acutely miserable to stand outside of it all with that list of infractions. And still, so often there I am, glasses perched on the edge of my nose, eyes narrowed in judgment, pen scratching away on my little list of grievances. And all the time there are eagles, and maples, and the laughter of my brothers jostling one another as I squint into the sun. If I have eyes to see, and ears to hear, and a mouth to give praise. If, indeed.
A Little Fire 
Brother Aidan…I have for some years now enjoyed reading your blog. Thank you for sharing your life, your insights, your ongoing work of being human in this world, living out the Light and Love of our Father in daily community, seeking to reflect Christ in your life and writings. I truly appreciate your beautifully crafted words. Blessings to you and may you soar on wings like an eagle today! May you run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.🙏💖
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Jen, thank you so much for your kind words!
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Beautiful, Aidan!
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Thanks, Melissa!
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Well said. I watched the video of that eagle being released and just the beauty of that just takes my breath away. I guess the Holy Spirit has a way of reminding us what’s really important.
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Oh, yes–the Spirit is always nudging!
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Thank you Brother Aidan. Just the reminder I needed. Thank you for listening to the Lord and writing it down!
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Thanks for reading, Cheryl!
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Bravo. I had to laugh, but it was out of familiarity. Thanks!
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Laughter is good for the soul, Alex. Glad to help!
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Thank you for capturing this beautiful moment and sharing. What a wonderful reminder/gift from the Holy Spirit.
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Thanks for reading, Rhonda!
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As one who is never judgmental, I can’t relate. I think I hear my wife laughing in the background. Count me as a member of the faultfinders Hall of Fame, Brother.
As usual love your blog and loved the video. OK with you if I share it with my parish in my weekly email?
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HAHA! Thanks, Kurt. Yes, you’re most welcome to share this (or any) post. See you next week!
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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Wow. This was so me. So grateful for the times that God has thrown something in my way – maybe just a fresh bloom of a beautiful flower, or a chance meeting with someone I haven’t seen for years – to get me out of my own grumpy, resentment-filled self. That you witnessed such a moment of the eagle’s flight – and shred with us – tells me God is working with and in you. Thank you. Aidan
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Thank you, Aidan. I joined the grumpy club decades ago. But I’m thankful for brilliant fall color and glimpses of bald eagles soaring to bring me toward peace.
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Amen, Chris!
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“It feels amazing to be a part of this world God has made. And it feels acutely miserable to stand outside of it all with that list of infractions.” Yes it does. Thanks for the reminder of both the beauty to be found and the misery we inflict on ourselves and others when we forget that we’re part of all that beauty.
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Thanks, Kelly!
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Aidan,
This post is like looking in the mirror for me! Your revelations – this and many others – set me free and I am ever so grateful…
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Thank you, Judith!
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An exercise I learned in college: When I am on a walk, look at the ground before me and take note of the way my thoughts are running. Then, look up at the clouds or tops of trees, and perform the same analysis. Interesting difference. It will encourage you to spend more time looking up.
Thank you for your writing!
-David
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That’s a great idea!
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Sometimes God uses words to teach us; sometimes he uses eagles.
Thank you, Brother Aidan, for another powerful and beautiful piece that teaches us what is really important.
I just threw away my list of grievances.
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I love that–I want to throw away my list, too!
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