My family warned me I’d become addicted.  And I did.

Along with thousands of other people, I’ve become addicted to watching the “Bald Eagle Live Cam” on the internet.  There’s a camera fixed high up in a tree in Hanover, Pennsylvania over the nest of an eagle family – dad, mom and two “eglets”.    Every day we get to see the magnificent birds watch over their young ones, flying in a variety of interesting morsels for them to eat.  I’ve seen them bring in fish that are still flapping, a squirrel for breakfast and even a skunk.  Fortunately, I didn’t see that one distributed live.

Here’s the link if you want to see it for yourself.  Warning: It IS addicting.

http://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/bald-eagle-live-cam

The viewer comments are always interesting.  So many people are worried about the sibling rivalry between the two baby eglets.  They “bonk” each other (apparently an eagle term) and fight, sometimes for no reason, sometimes over the food.  Sensitive and justice-seeking people write in about how awful it is to watch them fight and how unfair it is and why don’t the parents intervene.

They don’t because the best thing for the babies is to let them learn to fight for food and survival now so that they’ll survive in the wild when they’re on their own.  I learned that from another viewer.

Interesting.  It’s not unfair.  It’s preparing them for the battles down the road.

And isn’t that the way it seems for us sometimes?  We wonder why God doesn’t intervene in some of our situations.  We wonder why we have to fight the same battles over and over again, when we know He could very easily step in and make everything “fair”.

Just like those big eagle parents, He knows that we need to learn to fight through.  We need to not give up when life “bonks” us on the head, when things aren’t working out the way we think they should.  God knows that each time we fight our natural inclination to either give up or cry “unfair!”, our faith is getting stronger and we’re better prepared for the battles down the road.

Watch that eagle nest for awhile.  And let it be a reminder to fight through – especially through the “bonks”.

Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. James 1:2-4 (The Living Bible)

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job 23:10

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:7