Jump. Wait. Soar.

We had a lovely nature hike – listening to low vibrating song of bullfrogs, admiring lily pad blooms, and tromping between shade and sun – and now, all three kiddos and their trail mix were packed back into the car. It was time to head home.

As my minivan headed out the parking lot, we spotted an impressive red tail hawk perched atop a lamp post. We pulled over to get a good look at him – and he looked back at us attentively. I grabbed my camera off the seat next to me, rolled down the window and rolled the car forward a few more feet … The big bird cocked his head to the side (probably to hear us all the better), then pointed his beak and an intense stare in our direction. He must have felt prompted to fly with my black camera/weapon pointed at him; yet he paused before takeoff and seemed to say, “I’m watching you … now you watch this!”

Then that majestic bird lifted his wings, fixed his gaze forward and jumped. There was a moment when that was all it was – a jump. After a split second, then the wind caught hold and his wings’ underside filled with air and he set to motion.

He flew … while my camera clicked.
Staring at these beautiful images for the next few days has set my mind (and heart) to motion as well.

There are times in our lives when we must jump too. Times when we’ve felt the promptings to do better, to be better, to do something specific, or to leave a specific something behind. And in those times, there are crucial points – even defining moments – when we must lift our wings, fix our gaze forward and jump.

I can think of such times in my life; and the trepidation and fluttering heart returns with my memory. It feels scary and/or exciting … because it’s a big deal … because it’s real …. And so is He. If we have faith in Him, He will not leave us hanging, but will give us the lift we need.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint,” (Isaiah 40:31).

Look closely at those words: “wait upon the Lord.” I’ve been hearing the word “wait” a lot lately. We’ve been “waiting” this week … and the more we wait, the more I realize that it is not an idle, passive and perched position – it is an action requiring great faith. In my mind’s eye, “wait upon the Lord” showcases in that moment right after the jump – that split second when you’re airborne and anticipating the underside of those wings to fill with air. “Waiting upon the Lord” is trusting in His lift to swell – and it requires the jump first.

That split second of waiting can feel like a long time to us humans. But He is there. He will do just as He says. He promises to give the strength we need. We “shall run, and not be weary” He says; we “shall walk and not faint.” That’s not always a physical strength or a temporal strength … it’s not always the picture perfect ending we hoped for … but it is His lift and He will take us in the direction He wants us to go.

With Him, we will fly.
We will have eternal blue skies to soar through.

So, here’s my question: Right before you jump, what is the pep talk you tell yourself?
Please share – because maybe your words are just the pep talk a fellow flier needs right now.