March 21, 2025
It's that time of year again. Lent? Sure. March Madness? Always entertaining. But what I'm talking about is my Jackie and Shadow obsess....er, interest. Jackie and Shadow are a bald eagle pair who live in Big Bear Valley, California, inside the San Bernardino National Forest. A nonprofit organization called Friends of Big Bear Valley has offered 24-hour livestream footage of their nest for the last seven years, and late winter / early spring is an exciting time at the nest: egg-laying and hatching time!
Last year, Jackie laid three eggs that did not ever hatch, though she sat on them for 80 days, long past the 35-day incubation period for Bald Eagle eggs. This year, she again laid three eggs, all of which hatched right on schedule. Sadly, one of the chicks did not make it through a subsequent snowstorm that brought two feet of snow to the area, but the other two chicks are thriving. Hearing Jackie and Shadow squawk over their chicks is like watching proud parents. Seeing them feed their little ones, with tiny necks wobbling to keep their beaks open, is pure joy. Their teamwork, feeding and guarding their chicks day and night, is powerful and beautiful. The nest itself is majestic and watching their movements in and out of it is calming and peaceful.
Our national life has been chaotic lately, with uncertainties fueling fear and a lot to worry about. I feel it, and many of you have shared that you're feeling it too—body, mind, and spirit. While stress and anxiety is a natural response to turmoil, it's crucial that we balance ourselves with things that bring life. Jesus promises, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Though it's not always easy, I find comfort in the reminder that the world is bigger and more beautiful than my worries. There are always examples of strength, hope, and joy to be found. There is always peace to be found. For me, Jackie and Shadow are a living, squawking, life-affirming, reminder
My prayer for you this week is that the peace Jesus spoke of settles in your heart. It's not the absence of challenges, but a peace that assures you that no matter what comes, all shall be well. The peace of wild things. The peace of perspective. The peace that passes all understanding.