Lessons that one can learn from an eagle

Eagles are among the most amazing creatures that God created. Solomon himself wrote in Proverbs, “There be three things which be too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air…” (Prov. 30:18-19).

Eagles are among the largest and most powerful birds in the world. Eagles are wise they are careful to avoid danger, unless they come too close to its nest, and pose a threat to their young. Eagles have been noted as symbols of strength, bravery and courage. Eagles and hawks are said to have the keenest sight of all, and can sight their prey while soaring high in the sky.

So what does this teach us? Firstly, Eagle has the longest life span it can live up to 70 years, but to reach this age the Eagle must make a hard decision. In its 40’s it’s long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey, which serves as food. It’s long and sharp beak become bent. It’s old aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers become stuck to it’s chest and make it difficult to fly. Then the Eagle is left with only two decisions: to die or to go through a painful process of change for 150 days.

So, the Eagle fly to a mountain top. There the Eagle knocks its beak against a mountain top until it plucks it out. After plucking it out the Eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and it will then pluck out its talons. When it’s new talons grow back, the Eagle starts plucking out its old-aged feathers.  After 5 months the Eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for 30 more years.

For us to live long we need to constantly change our way of life. Change is needed in order to survive; to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions; and o free from past burdens.

Secondly, an eagle never eats dead meat. In other words, an eagle does not scavenge. It only eats the meat from the prey it kills itself. Eagles eat raw and fresh meat what a great act of true leadership. A true leader spends time with people who are vibrant and liberal in thinking. You have to be with people who can think, make informed decisions and take actions. These are the people who bring changes to the society. They are lively and active people. Go out and look for them.

Thirdly, an eagle will never surrender to the size or strength of its prey. It will always give a fight to win its prey or regain its territory. No matter what the size of that person or what weapon they maybe holding, you would attack them without thought or regard for yourself. It wouldn’t even dawn on you to be afraid because your instinct is to protect that which you love and cherish.

Lastly, watch an eagle when a storm comes. When other birds fly away from the storm with fear, an eagle spreads its mighty wings and uses the current to soar to greater heights. The eagle takes advantage of the very storm that lesser birds fear and head for cover. Challenges in the life of a leader are many. These are the storm we must face as leaders to rise to greater heights. Like an eagle, a leader can only rise to greater heights if he takes up the challenges head on without running away from it.

Eagles are full of life and are visionary but they find time to look back at their life and re-energize themselves, So begin today to learn from the eagle’s way of life.