The eagle's nest
Have you ever been in a situation that no longer seemed a comfortable fit, yet you were reluctant to leave it? There’s a passage in the Bible that speaks to the heart at a time like this: “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him” (Deuteronomy 32:11, 12 ).
When I read those verses recently, I asked myself why stirring a nest—any nest, including my own—would make a difference. One answer is that whatever stirs us up can also motivate us to move forward, to grow. And even if we are a bit wobbly on our wings as we move into new territory, we can trust the Bible’s promise that our divine Mother will carry us on Her wings as we learn to fly.
Some time ago, I experienced a nest-stirring that resulted in great spiritual growth. Shortly after college graduation, I began dating one of my close friends. We quickly fell into a routine of spending most of our free time together. After a while, the relationship began to feel stagnant. We both wanted to grow as people and be of service to humanity, but we were going about it in different ways that weren’t blending well. Our conversations became tense and uncomfortable.
I learned day by day to companion with God and look to Him to meet my needs.
One day it occurred to both of us that we were miserable and unsatisfied. Yet, even though we felt something needed to change, we continued the same routine. Neither of us knew many people in the area, so it was easier to continue interacting with each other rather than to find new friends. The longer we stayed together, though, the more obvious it became that the relationship was unsustainable. Finally, when the discomfort of being together outweighed the fear of the unknown, we decided to go our separate ways.
Apprehensive about the future, I now faced a life filled with free time and no close friends. Yearning for help and comfort, I turned to God. A desire to be and do good permeated my prayers. I took to heart Mary Baker Eddy’s counsel in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds” (p. 4 ).
Keeping my motive to bless others at the forefront of my thought, I refused to lapse into old ways of thinking and acting. I trusted that God would provide opportunities for me to put into practice my desire to be kinder and more thoughtful. I also trusted God to take care of my friend. I let go of a sense of personal responsibility for him and entrusted his well-being to the same divine Mind, God, that was teaching me how to move forward.
With this humble approach, I learned day by day to companion with God and look to Him to meet my needs. Soon people began inviting me to different activities, and a satisfying social life unfolded. Best of all, immense spiritual growth followed as I was placed in friendships that taught me how to be more honest, loving, and unselfed. Those close to me who didn’t even know about the recent events in my life commented on the favorable changes they observed in my character.
Looking back on the experience now, I can see that neither the discomfort of a stagnant situation nor the uncertainty about a new future was something I needed to fear. The same ever-present, all-loving Mother, God, who “stirs the nest” also flutters over us, lifts us up, and leads us forward into fresh new views of Her kingdom.
