the Dragonfly and the Hawk

Several years ago, I was experiencing what some would describe as "burn-out." I was at a point in my ministry where I felt that I was spinning my wheels. I was expending a lot of energy, emotion and time in doing pastor-stuff, but wasn't experiencing fulfillment nor seeing tangible results. So I took a couple of days to getaway at a nearby church camp to spend some time alone with God. I needed to re-charge my ministry batteries.

One afternoon, I was sitting by a small pond on the campgrounds enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and the beauty of nature on a breezy spring day. My attention was captured by a dragonfly as it buzzed from one blade of tall grass to another at a frenetic pace. This small little insect was beating its wings a thousand times a minute as it jetted here and there in the pursuit of what dragonflies do. I told God, "That's me, Lord."

It's not difficult when you are involved in ministry as a pastor or layperson to find yourself pulled in a multitude of directions, with weight of the world on your shoulders, and never enough time to finish everything that needs to be done. It's easy to be busy and go to bed at night feeling that you have accomplished nothing. There will come those times when the The Enemy will whisper in your ear, "What good are you doing?" Discouragement and doubt of your calling begin make you think you are a failure. We become like that poor dragonfly working so hard and enjoying it less.

While face to face with my "dragonfly" image, I was startled by a shadow that passed over me. I looked up and saw a hawk with its wings outstretched soaring in the sky above the pond. I watched this hawk for at least half hour, as he circled the campground, rising and diving among the clouds on that breezy day. Do you know what I noticed...he never flapped his wings. Not once. He just allowed the wind currents to lift and propel him effortlessly on what had to be a great day to be a hawk.It was then that my eyes welled with tears and I said to God, "Lord, I want to be like that hawk."

That's when God spoke familiar but forgotten words to my heart.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

God never intended for our lives and ministry to be lived out in our own strength. He desires that we trust in Him to provide the purpose, plan and the power to live for Him. We become like the dragonfly when we do things ourselves. We soar like eagles when allow Him to be wind beneath our wings.