Making of an Eagle

The Making of an Eagle is an interesting topic to explore. It may possibly lead to the understanding of drawing inspiration for generational thinkers and younger ones to learn to take off with quantum amount of energy. It may educate the younger generation to learn about certain sterling qualities that would help them to endure, to be bold, to be determined, to be focused and to be courageous. It may also lay the paradigm for success. The Eagle belongs to the classes of Birds that are called carnivorous-meaning flesh eaters. It does not eat what other animals have killed. It prefers to kill by itself. Has it ever occurred to you as to why are the most dignified, industrious and great nations of the world used the symbols of Eagle on their national flags, currency, passport and official documents? More closely to our nation Nigeria is the use of the symbol of an eagle in our Armed Forces ranks and on the logo of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Other birds could have been used, but their symbols would not portray what that of the eagle symbolises. There is more to an eagle than other birds. The main issue about the eagle is that, it is a strong and powerful bird. It looks brave, strong and bold. That is the very reason why nations of the world used it; for it signifies strength, power, bravery, courage, wisdom and sharp.

The Eagle

The eagle is among the strongest and most powerful birds ever known. It flies above the tallest trees and makes its nest at the peak of the trees. The eagle can fly for a long period of time without flapping its wings. It has the keenest eye sight (together with the hawk) which enables it to sight its prey while soaring high in the sky. The eagle has been noted as a symbol of strength, bravery, zeal and courage. It is wise and careful not to fall into danger unless someone or something comes close to its territory, posing threats on its young ones. The eagle, like the weaver bird, can make its nest facing downward to shield it from rain. There are several types of Eagles; The Bald Eagles and The Dark Brown Eagles. The former are commonly found in North America and Canada. Precisely in Alaska. An adult eagle has white heads and tails with dark brown feathers  that covers the body and wings. Their legs and beaks are bright yellow. They live near sea and river side for they love to eat fish. They feed on flesh, raw meat, rodents, reptiles, snakes, rabbits and amphibians. They have a life span of 28 years in the wild and 36 years in captivity. They never attack other birds.

It may interest you to know that Eagles are referred to as the kings and leaders of all the birds of the air. They eat raw and fresh meat; and not what has been killed and left over by other animals. The eagle will never surrender to the size of its prey nor its strength. It always gives a fight to win its prey over or regain its territory. During a storm, when other birds fly away with fright, The eagle spreads its wings widely and uses the current to soar to greater heights. This means it takes advantage of the very storm that other birds fear and head for cover as a challenge. It is also very determined and focused. It can carry a young goat or even a baby and fly away to the skies, making the prey scared and easy to kill. Its strategy in fight is that it takes away the prey into the sky dispossessing the prey from its natural habitat to fear and easy to kill. What a strategy! and What a wisdom!

Characteristics of the Eagle

It is interesting to note that the eagle possesses certain unique characteristics that are not found in other birds. It endures storms and pain. It is never afraid as it faces its fears and uses them as a challenge, It is brave, courageous, strong, wise. It is careful not to get into danger. It never and hardly gives up and always optimistic to win. Other features are

–               It is determined, zealous and focused

–               It soars above great heights and can fly hundred miles per day

–               It is independent and self- reliant

–               It sees far beyond its surrounding

–               It is never intimidated by other animals

–               It fights hard until it gets what it wants

–               It doesn’t always reside in comfort zones

–               It is neither idle nor lazy.

With the above cited characteristics, I guess you should begin to think and understand what it takes to be an eagle. Any child or an adult who desires to be great must learn from the eagle. He must first of all be determined, focused and ready to leave his comfort zone to achieve success. You must have an ordeal to thrive, persevere and not give up easily. Robert Shuller in his book titled Tough Times Never Last says “When the going gets tough it is the tough that gets going” What that means is the fact that difficult times are temporary but the person who is determine will succeed.

What the Eagle Symbolises Biblically

The scripture is not ignorant about the existence of other birds aside the eagle, it does have some like the Dove in Song of Songs 2:12,14; Falcon in Deut.14:13; Hawk in Isa. 34:11; Quail in Num.11:31-32, Raven in Gen 8:7etc. However, the scripture used three most significant birds as symbols: The Dove symbolises mourning in Isa.38:14; Renewal in Isa. 59:11; Holy Spirit in Matt.3:16; Innocence and harmless in Matt.10:16. It is also a symbol of peace. Nigeria, in most of its Independence Day Celebration let free of caged Doves to fly freely into the sky- signifying peace and freedom. The next bird is the Sparrow which is the tiniest birds of all. The scripture symbol for God’s Protecting Care in Psalm84:3; Matt.10:29-31. The Eagle champions all for its great significance and usage. It symbolizes deliverance in Exodus 19:4, when God spoke to Israel to consider how he took them high on eagle wings to redeem them from Pharoah and his host of armies. Others include the following:

–               It symbolises power and might (Jeremiah 4:13; Ezekiel 17:3,4 Deuteronomy 32:11, Revelation 12:14)

–               It symbolises youthfulness (Psalm 103:5, Isaiah 40:31)

–               It symbolises glory (Ezekiel 1:10,13, Revelation 4:7,8,9)

–               It symbolises resurrection in the Gospel of John

The Eagles are the great teachers. We all know great teachers, the one who magically brought books to life, the one who helped us turn letters A, B, C, D,  E,  into words, into sentences and stories we could tell. The one who teaches us how to count, multiply, divide, carry over, add and subtract, the one who is always patient enough to stay behind until we understood, the one who stands out with uson the fields in the rain, the one who takes time to see us till he learned our names and temperament, the one who generally uses his/ her resources to ensure we become great in our various endeavors. The one who passionately disciplines us to remove all forms of foolishness in us and make us better persons, the one who prepares us for the open and wider world. The one who sees the potentials in us and encourages, instructs, inspires and guides us into fulfilling our dreams. The one who simplifies difficult equations, algebra, geometry, summary, comprehension, Electricity in Physics, chemical reactions in Chemistry and questions in our various subjects to our understanding. The one who never envies us but watches us with an eagle eye to become greater than he/she is. The one who is always there to assist us with our assignments and class work. To all great teachers across this land, colleges, schools, institutions, there’s nothing much we can do to express our gratitude to you. Many indeed cannot pay you. Even in thankless situations, you offer the best and train us the hard way to be the best we can be. I join with others around the world today to say thank you.

Academics

The academic is the most given priority, the child is exposed to multiple subjects to learn and submits assignments. These subjects run across board from JSS1to SS1 before separating them to science, technology, social science, and arts. The child now reads with all seriousness and deep fear not to be demoted but to be promoted to the next class. As learning continuous, the child is beginning to think on what career he/she would love to embark in the future. The child knows his/her ability yet parents forced on the child to do what they want at the expanse of the child’s wish. This affects the child negatively. He may not fulfill his desired dreams. If you asked a child what he/she wants to read before WAEC/ NECO Examinations, if he/she is a science student the answer is always Medicine and if he/she is an Arts student the answer is always Law. They need to know that it takes a great deal of study and sacrifices to be a doctor, or an engineer, or a lawyer. None of them would want to become a teacher or a pastor, in fact some parents will dismiss such intention. Yet they want to be taught by teachers. I call on parents to be flexible and understand their child’s future career and encourage the child to forge ahead with what he/she wants to do in the future.

After the toiling, teaching and training, the child now is about to be exposed to the wider world. A different world outside the school environment with its uncertainties. A world that looks very bleak and demanding. The world of ups and downs. The world of nudity and sex, the world of drug addicts, the world of kidnappers, the world of violence and End-Sars, the world of Boko-Haram, the world of youth gangsterism and the world of smokers. The world of drunkards, and the world of wild parties. The world of pleasures. The world of give and take. What a world that awaits you, my child. With all the wild world and its woes, is there any hope? Yes! There is hope indeed. The next phase is set for your solution.

Phase IV: Spirituality.

Parents and teachers do not give much attention to this side of the training. If the child is trained only on the academics, he cannot succeed to the fulness of life. He will be like the Ephraim cake with one side baked with the other side unbaked. The quality of spiritual life is the foundation for every lasting success. It is the springboard for successful learning. Man was created with a vacuum within him that only God can fit in for him to be a complete spiritual person. Man is indeed a spiritual being. And so both the physical and spiritual aspect of man must be trained or balanced. With this mind set when the child is enrolled to tertiary institution, he/she can now study without wavering or entangled him/her self to things that would drift his/her attention from study even when persuaded by friends. For a child to succeed in life he must not lean on his/her understanding but must trust God by faith. Jesus, when he was 12 years old, he grew in stature and wisdom, in other words he grew physically in stature, mentally in wisdom and spiritually in favour with God and man. This is the bottom line. Parents, we cannot substitute this with anything, be it money, wealth, cars, house, etc. When you educate a child, you have given him all.

CONCLUSION

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have examined the eagle in its natural state, its unique characteristics, how it operates and the sterling qualities it possesses. We discovered that it is a bird that is strong, brave, bold, not easily given in, endures, wise and careful not to fall into danger. I think this is the link we want our graduating students to possess. Sooner or later these eaglets with be Doctors, Engineers, Pilots, Architects, Nurses, Lawyers, Pastors, Teachers, Journalists, Business Merchants, etc. I challenge you all to return to God to derive the biblical basis and principles of living that is informative, educative and transformative that will be able to change our world of art, technology, education, social sciences, religion and politics. May God bless our service to him and humanity, Nigeria our inheritance and our amiable teachers, guardians and parents.

Rev Philip AsuraNggada, Ph.D is with the Department of Religion and Philosophy, University of Jos