Shaking the Nest

When Matt and I officially decided we were going to make a major life change, we began considering the various ways we could document our journey. Along with social media, we decided to create this website where we could share our unconventional journey with some of our friends and family who don’t have social media while also serving as a family diary of sorts. Soon after, we took a very clumsy leap into the world of blogging and web design. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised to discover my husband is a terrific writer and creative! After reading his first blog post “Voices in My Head” I felt compelled to also share my perspective on our situation. Yet, the idea of writing an actual blog post on an actual website felt very intimidating (even though its likely just family reading this- hey Mom!) Plus, ya know, there’s the whole Mom to a 2 and 5-year-old thing- doesn’t leave much time for thinking let alone writing! So, I just sat on the idea wondering how long I could go without actually contributing anything to our website. Then, I remembered something I had recently read that really hit home and gave a tangible frame of reference to my thoughts. So here goes…

Did you know that when a mother eagle feels it is time for her babies to start flying she will begin to shake their nest? This might not surprise you since eagles are typically personified as fierce, independent creatures, but this stirred something in me and I was compelled to research further.

What I found that isn’ as well known is how they vigilantly and tenderly nurture their chicks early on. During the incubation period the mother and father take turns staying with the eggs providing warmth and protection. The other parent provides food and uses their broader vantage point to keep a watchful eye. This pattern continues even after the chicks have hatched.

Beyond just protection and survival, eagles are sure to stay in constant contact with their young for another reason- imprinting. Imprinting is the process by which an animal gains its sense of identity. Through imprinting the parent eagles are teaching their young essential life skills they will need to imitate later if they hope to survive.

As their chicks grow, eagles will gradually start exposing them to various challenges. They begin leaving for longer periods of time- although never far off. Instead of dropping shredded food directly in their mouths they make them walk about the nest to find and shred their own food. This progresses to the eagle hovering over the nest hanging the food just out of reach which compels the chicks to flap their wings and attempt to grasp the food. All of this awkward flapping and foraging strengthens the chicks’ wings, preparing them for flight.

Despite these efforts, chicks will still not choose to leave the comforts of their nest on their own, even though they possess the necessary skills. The parents must expose them to more intense hunger, frustration, fear, and discomfort. They begin to return to the nest less often with less food, and when they do return, they thrash around removing the comfortable lining- they shake the nest. The bewildered chicks then begin to branch out of the nest testing out their wings in desperation. Although the chicks don’t understand it, their parents are giving them the gift of flight- the gift of life.

Where am I going with this?

I believe that faith for humans is like flight for eagles- essential to survive and thrive.

[If you are reading this and aren’t a believer, please don’t give up on me yet. I promise there is something here for you too!]

So why are we humans so prone to satisfying our selfish desires instead of leaning into our struggles and trusting our Heavenly Father? Remember what I said earlier about imprinting? In God’s original design, he created humans for the purpose of having an up close, intimate relationship with him. However, God also allowed us free will- after all, how much does the love of another really mean if they have no choice? Unfortunately for us, our good old ancestors Adam and Eve chose sin. You all know the story. Because God is absolutely pure and holy, sin cannot exist in his presence. Thus, humans were banished from the Garden and their perfect relationship with God was severed. God could no longer “imprint” on his children. Instead, we began to conform to the patterns of the world. Since then, God has been at work to redeem us so we can live together once more in a new heaven and new earth. As part of his plan, God sent his only son Jesus to live as a human and die to pay the price for all of our sins. But Jesus didn’t stay in the grave, he conquered death and rose again! Before returning to heaven to sit at his father’s right hand, Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit to dwell inside his believers. This means the same power that created all things and rose Jesus from the dead now lives inside anyone who claims Jesus as their savior. That is mind blowing! This also means that when we read His Word, converse with Him in prayer, and listen for the Holy Spirit’s direction- God once again has the ability to imprint on his children. When we draw closer to God, we can overcome the desires of the flesh and reclaim our true identity as children of God.

Like a parent eagle tenderly meeting every need, God hovers over us, protects us, provides for our every need, and never, ever leaves or forsakes us. Yet, what are we to think when we don’t feel protected, we are barely getting by, and God feels distant? The truth is that our heavenly father loves us too much to allow us to live peaceful, quiet, comfortable lives. He has a specific plan and purpose for you! But how can you even begin to listen and trust God if you don’t know him, or worse have decided you don’t need him? As painful, bewildering, and unfair as it may seem,

God sometimes allows trials to enter our lives so that as we struggle, our wings of faith grow strong. Our suffering produces endurance, character, and hope (Rom. 5:3). In his faithfulness to us, God prepares us to take flight.

I give all this backstory as a set-up for why this eagle analogy hit so close to home for me. [If you’ve hung in there this long, thank you and don’t worry, I’m about to land this plane!] I can’t really think of any better way to say it than the words I read in Melanie Shankle’s book, “Church of the Small Things.” In describing a major life change for their family she recalls,

“Our familiar little nest was being shaken because God was calling us out of our comfort zone. It was one of those times when you’re either going to allow God to help you fly, or you’re going to fall flat on your face.”

Wow. Yes. This describes the stirring both Matt and began feeling separately even before we were ready to admit it out loud to each other. God was leading us toward a new path- down a narrow road. What does it mean to journey the narrow road? This idea comes directly from one of Jesus’ sermons in Matthew 7:13-14.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

It means a willingness to listen for and follow the Holy Spirit’s prompts even when it goes against what is popular, defies logic, and means turning off cruise control and taking a hair pin turn onto a path full of obstacles. But with each obstacle we overcome we are left with a stronger Faith and deeper Joy than we could have ever found on the easy road. I have been saying to Matt, “I know our new lifestyle is going to be hard, messy, and stressful at times. But I think it’s going to be a good hard.” You know what I mean? Like the way you feel after a grueling hike, all-day service project, or mission trip where you slept on the dirt. It’s knowing that no matter how crazy our kids can be at times, that we will never look back and regret having invested this time with them. I contrast this with the hard we sometimes feel now which I would describe as more of the hamster-wheel-hard. It’s still challenging but with little variety, change of scenery, or real passion. It’s the hard that leaves you with only fleeting rewards instead of eternal joy.

I also want to be clear that the narrow road will look different for all of us so please for heaven’s sake don’t hear that I’m suggesting everyone sell their possessions and live in an RV! God has created us all to serve a unique purpose and the key is to be constantly moving towards this whether you live in a mansion or under a bridge. Stay alert and tuned-in to the frequency of the Holy Spirit. Be faithful in even the smallest things and it will add up to a life of purpose.

Maybe your narrow road is to decline that promotion because even though it would provide more comforts for your family it would mean less time together. It might mean saying no to your community’s expectations to sign your kids up for all the prestigious sports clubs in exchange for investing in a life group through your church. Maybe God wants you to keep your kids in the under-privileged school instead of working extra to send them on an hour commute to a private one. It could be God is urging you to fulfill a calling by returning to work when society is pressuring you to stay at home with the kids. It can even be as small as passing when the girls at work invite you out to a movie or activity that would be dishonoring to your husband. Or maybe it’s even simpler. Maybe your narrow road is to stay right where you are when it seems so much easier to quit or leave.

So after reading this you might be inclined to ask yourself,

“What nest of complacency is God working to shake me from?”

I would advise you to pray, get to know God, and know he seeks relationship not religion. Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit. Life is so much more fruitful if you work with Him instead of resist Him. See your struggles as opportunities that strengthen your wings of faith and prepare you to SOAR. There is room for YOU on the narrow road, will you join us?