Have you ever seen a hawk in action? They roam the airways always attentive to what matters most to them – prey. We have a couple of resident hawks on our property. I had the privilege of witnessing a hawk swoop down to capture a snake. Suspicious of my presence, he perched on a tree branch – snake secure in his claws – watching me attentively. Dog leash in one hand, iPhone in the other, I managed to take a picture before he flew away. Not the best picture in the world but I was trying to hold steady as Beagle Bailey kept tugging at the leash in search of rabbits.
My brief adventure launched a series of thoughts about the power of focus
. There is Power in a Made Up Mind. It’s instinctive in nature but requires intention on our part.
Advice from a Hawk
“Soar to new heights
Be a keen observer
Swoop down on opportunities
Rise above it all
Spread your wings
Find a field that suits you
The sky’s the limit!” ~ Ilan Shamir
Addicted to adventure – the call of a robust challenge – I sometimes lose track of my calling. Am I called to the adventure of it all? Will any goal do? Like the super hero do I think “Here I am to save the day!”? Much like the hawk, I circle the situation – consider my options and formulate a plan of attack. Unlike the hawk I sometimes swoop down on opportunities that are not meant for me. Just because the situation calls for a leader, doesn’t mean I’m the leader of choice. Ouch!
“Rise above it all” models the Hawk. Rise above the fear of failure, opinions of others, the voices in your head. When your God-given life purpose calls, Go! Swoop down with all your skills, talents and resources. Take hold of that which God has prepared for you.
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” ~ Acts 20:24 (NKJV)
I suspect that you, my faithful reader, may also be experiencing a similar call to action. As I venture out, I move writing to the top of my priorities. What is God calling you to move up to the #1 position? Have you been swooping down to tackle someone else’s calling? Is it time to mind your own calling?
Maggie Sabatier-Smith
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