We lived on the border of Tigard and Tualatin for almost five years. South on the 99 from where we lived was the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Lily and I started going there in 2005 and we went as often as we could. We saw all kinds of birds, squirrels, frogs, snakes, hawks and deer, but I always wanted to see a bald eagle. The majesty, power and beauty of bald eagles leave me in awe. I collected many different sizes of porcelain eagles for years until our recent move.
My oldest son Tom has been to the Tualatin Reserve only a handful of times, but he said he saw a bald eagle there. What? Is that fair?
He said he decided he wanted to go there early one morning and take pictures. I asked him why he didn't come and get me and he said he didn't know I got up a little after five every morning. Anyway, he told me he got pictures and I asked to copy them. They are in the slide show below.
I've been to that Reserve dozens and dozens of time, but I never saw a bald eagle! Is life really unfair or does it just seem to be? Those on the hilltop always say they got there through perseverance and hard work and I'm sure that was part of it, but Tom seeing that bald eagle had nothing to do with perseverance or hard work. Isn't life a lot like that? He just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Do you ever wonder if things are going to happen and the only variable is who they will happen too?
If you believe in providence is it all about who or is it all about what? Can the variable be both who and what? That eagle was going to be there regardless of who showed up and whether or not they brought a camera. There's something to be said about not only bringing a camera, but making sure the batteries are fresh.
Jesus said the poor we will always have with us. Is it because they did not try hard enough or maybe because they failed to keep trying? Are there other factors that neither democracy nor socialism can heal? Is there something inherent about life that none of us can do anything about except to do the best we can, till death finds us still trying to put one foot in front of the other? Why do so many circumstances beyond our control separate us from one another? Can we become enemies because of geography?
We have many methods of artificial measurement to separate ourselves from one another. Inevitably I wonder if the whole point of life is whether or not we will reach out to one another and shoulder one another's burden, or whether we will thank God that we are not like the wounded and go on with our own life. After all, there's more to life than who sees the eagle.
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