New Life

This spring and summer we have been able to witness something amazing - something that not everyone gets to see or would even take the time to notice.  We live 45 minutes from a beautiful lake called Merritt in the heart of the Sandhills of Nebraska.  Something that most people don't know about the region is that it sits on top of the Ogallala aquifer and that the area is dotted with rivers, streams, and lakes of all shapes and sizes.  There is a "wetland" area that is located in the valley just to the south of Merritt lake.  In this valley is a large tree that contains a huge nest.  That roost/nest belongs to an American Bald Eagle pair and this spring we noticed the pair sitting on the nest and guarding it.  Over the last few months we have watched mom and dad tend to their eggs within that nest and then hatch them out.  Over time as the two babies have grown we have been able to see them peeking their heads out of the top of the nest, witnessed one of the parents feeding the chicks, and most recently saw the almost grown chicks sitting on the edge of the nest.  As an amateur photographer it has been extremely fun and exciting to stop and take photographs of these events every time we drive by the nest.  The babies are now about the size of their parents, but are dark brown in color.  After some research I discovered that these "babies" will stay brown for about 2 years and so it will be hard to distinguish them from their cousins the golden eagle.  At about 2 years old is when their head feathers will begin to take on the white color of a bald eagle.  It will be interesting to watch these babies continue to grow into adults.  Because eagles are highly territorial, they will most likely stay in the area for years to come and I can't wait to continue to document their process of growth and maturity.  What I am reminded of as I have witnessed this transformation from tiny fuzzy chicks to almost adult size birds is the fact that we as God's children are also in a process of transformation.  God works to transform out hearts, minds, souls as we spend time in relationship with him.  It is a process - we don't arrive and everything is done - as with any process we continue to grow and change.  Our goal is to remain faithful and remain in touch with our Heavenly Parent so we can grow into what God has called us to be.       

Incredible Moments

This past week I had the opportunity to see several friends and colleagues of mine at a Clergy Conference.  In order to do that I had to travel to a location that is 3 hours away.  Not too long a drive and as usual the camera was in tow.  I love moments when nature surprises me and this trip did not disappoint.  I was gifted with 12 incredible moments of surprise, when I spotted 12 bald eagles along my route.  Two were near the North Platte River, one was at the South Platte River.  Two were sitting in a field eating from a carcass, two were in the midst of battle over territory and it was amazing to watch their mid-flight drama.  From that point on - each individual sighting that brought me to the number 12 was just as awe inspiring and incredible.  Eagles are such big and yet graceful birds - to watch one soaring in the air is peaceful, captivating, and invigorating all at the same time.  To discover fledglings in the nest (which my HH and I have done on three occasions now) is an exhilarating bonus as you watch new life grow and eventually leave the nest (immature eagles are very large like their parents but are all brown for awhile - it takes them several months to develop the white head and tail feathers of an adult).  Thank you Lord for blessing me with not just one incredible moment but with 12.  What a joy!