THE EAGLE OR THE OYSTER?
God created the oyster, secure and still
In a shell that shelters, a haven at will.
A house to protect him from enemies near,
He just opens his shell, and food will appear.
God created the eagle, with skies so wide,
Unlimited space, where dreams reside.
He builds his nest on the highest peak,
Where storms threaten, fierce and bleak.
The oyster is freed from want, a life at ease,
A peaceful existence, beneath the seas.
For food, the eagle flies through wind and rain,
Facing the elements, ever bearing the strain.
Which life inspires you, and stirs your soul,
What dreams for your children, what is your goal?
The life of the oyster, safe and sound,
Or the flight of the eagle, ever unbound?
So ask yourself, and those you love,
What calls your spirit, what dreams rise above?
To live in comfort, or to dare and roam,
To find your place, and to make it your home.
By Medard Laz From A Poem a Day to Pray
“DOLLY, I THINK YOU UNDERSTOOD ME BETTER THAN MOST THEOLOGIANS!” JESUS
My Commentary:
This poem asks a question that reaches far beyond oysters and eagles: Do we want a life built primarily around comfort, or a life willing to risk something for a greater purpose?
There is nothing wrong with security. We all need a safe place to rest. But Christianity was never intended to be a religion of comfortable shells. Jesus continually called people out of what was familiar and into something greater.
He called Peter out of his fishing boat. He called Matthew away from his tax table. He sent His disciples onto uncertain roads with little more than faith. Again and again, Jesus seemed to say, “Come. There is more for you.”
The eagle is a beautiful image of that kind of faith. It must leave the safety of its nest. It encounters wind, rain, and storms. Yet those same powerful wings that must battle the wind also enable it to soar.
Sometimes the storms of life do the same for us. Difficulties can develop courage. Failure can teach perseverance. Sacrifice can deepen love. Faith can grow strongest when life is no longer easy.
We naturally want to protect our children and grandchildren from hardship. But perhaps our greatest gift is not to remove every obstacle. It is to give them roots strong enough to hold them and wings strong enough to fly.
There is one line that says it beautifully: “Jesus loves you the way you are, but not too much to leave you that way.”
Christ accepts us completely, but He also calls us forward.
He does not merely offer us a shell in which to hide.
He gives us wings.
And then He whispers:
“Do not be afraid. Fly.”
Think of a time when Jesus said to YOU, “Do not be afraid. Fly.” Consider all the fear you felt inside of you.
