Just

I caught myself saying something absolutely ridiculous yesterday.  When it came out of my mouth, I was stunned.  I was up in
the mountains (Andes – Peru) enjoying a day of new discovery and adventure.  I had been scanning the sky because I had been told that a Great Condor had been spotted in this area.  Then I saw a really large bird soaring above the peaks. 
“Look!  Is that it? Whatever it is, it has a huge wingspan.” Then it swooped down and turned so that we got a better look and I said, in my best disappointed-voice, “Oh. Never mind.  It’s just an eagle.”  

Just. 
When did something so majestic become “just an eagle” to me?  I caught myself immediately, and I have been so disappointed in myself ever since. When did I begin ranking God’s creation and God’s creatures as better or worse, more important or
less interesting? There had been a time in my life when I searched the skies for precisely what I saw yesterday – for eagles soaring in the mountains.  I distinctly remember when I discovered a huge eagle in the mountains in Wyoming bringing her catch to the nest.  Majestic! So incredible!  Or when I spotted a bald eagle flying along the banks of the lake.  So the question beckons… how did yesterday’s eagle become “just an eagle”?

Maybe because we see so many eagles in our life now.  We live in an area on the mountain that has lots of wind and updrafts.  Consequently, on most any given day, we see several different kinds of eagles flying overhead.  They catch the updrafts from the canyon and appear to float or hover overhead for hours.  It’s an amazing sight, really.  The closest thing I ever saw in Texas was when a group of buzzards would circle, and there was something not very appealing about that.  But eagles soaring above us in the mountains… that’s incredible!  We also have falcons and owls living near us.  The falcons like to hang out in the area behind our house, or in the small canyon directly in front of us.  The owl visits us in the night, calling with his very special, very
soothing “whoo, whoo, purrrrrrrrrr”.  I don’t know what kind he is yet, but I love that he has a purr at the end on his call. On many occasions, his song has gently rocked me back to sleep in the middle of the night.

I’m trying to get over my actions of yesterday.  I’m trying to remember how all of God’s creatures are unique and special
and worthy. And I’m especially praying that I never have this same flippant attitude about people, as though some rank higher or more special or important.  How would I feel if I walked in the room and the crowd gasped with excitement, then said, “Oh. 
It’s justLaurie.”  As humans, it could happen.  We live in cultures that rank others, that hold higher or lower expectations for others, and that deem some more worthy than others.  I’m not saying it should be that way, I’m just saying that it happens.  It is another ugly part of sin – judgment of others.  But
in the Kingdom?  No, I think we can
rest assured that our Father is watching us and He is saying, “How
majestic!  How incredible!  I’m so glad I saw her in action
today. 
Beautiful!”