The Lazy Eagle

Flying without Fear

Today I have a very interesting story to tell you about an animal. Can you guess what animal it is? It has feathers on its body, it can fly very high in the sky, it goes 'screech', 'screech'.....can you guess? That's right! It's an eagle. An eagle is a very special kind of bird. It can see very far and it has very, very wide wings that helps him fly high in the sky.

Once upon a time, there were a mummy eagle and daddy eagle who live in a very comfortable, cozy nest up on a high cliff. The nest was twenty feet long, eight feet wide, and four feet deep. It was big! They covered the bottom of the nest with twigs and thorns and then layered it with grass and soft feathers. One day, mummy eagle became pregnant. She was very happy and excited and so was Daddy Eagle.

One fine morning, mummy eagle laid two eggs. Inside the first egg was a little girl eagle named Annabel. She was a very active girl and couldn't wait to get out of the shell so that she can see the world. She kicked and scratched and clawed until she broke out of her shell. Hi mummy! I'm Annabel! Oh..I can't wait to explore the world. Where am I? When can learn how to fly?

Inside the second egg was a little boy eagle named Adam. Adam loves to be inside the warm, cozy shell. He doesn't like to be disturb, he just like to sleep the whole day long. But of course, he grew bigger and bigger and very soon, the shell crack and Adam slowly crawel out. Hmmm...hello dad, hello mum....yawn, yawn...I'm hungry, can you bring me some worms?

Annabel and Adam were very different from each other. Annabel was always busy, and she was already learning how to fly. Adam was happy to lay around in the nest and all he wanted to do was eat and sleep.

One day, Mummy eagle told them a story about a champion flyer eagle. Eagles were born to fly and only a few eagle become champion flyers, she said. The true champion flyer learns to master the wind. The wind is the champion's best friend. If you love the wind and make it a part of you, it will lift you and carry you places you can't go by yourself. Eagles are Kings and Queens of the sky. You have a strong body. You can fly to the top...never stop...you can be majestic, great, magnificent.....

Annabel's eyes was almost popping with excitement when she heard mummy eagle's story. Ohhh..I want to fly like that! But Adam, oh dear...he wasn't really very interested at all. What a waste of time. Why should I work so hard to fly when I can lay in my cozy comfortable nest all day long? Silly Annabel....!!

One day, mummy eagle said, Adam...I want you to climb on my back and go flying with me. Adam ( look disgusted and horrified)...Huh? What for, mummy? I'm very hungry and tired. I was just going to have a nap.

Mummy eagle put on a fierce face..Adam, I want you to do as I say. I promise you won't regret this.

Adam knew when his mummy is in that mood, he better obey so he said...OK...but when I get back, you must reward me with a nice, juicy worm.

So, they went for a ride. Adam held on tight to his mummy's back. The higher they got, the tighter Adam held on. Suddenly, mummy eagle folded her wings and turn upside down. Adam screamed and couldn't hold on. He fell...wheeee......thousands of feet towards the ground. He was so scared...he kicked his feet, he flapped his wings wildly, and even try yapping his jaw but nothing he tried would work. He couldn't fly and was going to hit the ground!

But, just before he hit the ground, mummy eagle came swooping down and caught Adam and carried him to safety.

Meanwhile, daddy eagle was back at the nest, taking out all the feathers and the grass.The nest was left with twigs and thorns. When Adam came back from his flying adventure, he was shocked. Oh no...what happen to the nice comfortable nest? I can't sleep in this poky, sticky nest. Daddy said, it's time for you to leave the nest and take care of yourself. Think about who you are, who you can be, and who you want to be. Think of yourself flying high in the sky. Try to do things you have never done before, and realize the potential in yourself.

Adam sat in the uncomfortable nest thinking what to do. There was no place to sit without getting his bottom stuck by a thorn and there was no food to eat. Finally Adam decided to do the only thing he can do. I guess I must learn to fly if I want to find food to eat. He climbed on mummy eagle's back once again and together they jumped off the edge of the nest.

Are you ready, ask mummy? In a trembling voice, Adam said yes and mummy once again folded her wings and turned upside down. Adam fell.....oh no...here we go again....Then he heard mummy's voice calling...Adam, remember the wind is your friend, spread your wings and fly. Adam cried...I can't, I can't! Mummy eagle called back...Yes, you can. Spread your wings and fly. Adam stretched out his wings. He felt the wind lifting him higher and higher. He was a bit scared at first, but he couldn't believe how fun it was. He could see so many things. He dived, he twisted, he flipped...I am flying, I am actually flying...Whopppeeee....this is the greatest experience of my life.

All the time, he was lying around the nest, being lazy and bored, he had the power in him to fly through the air and see so many wonderful things. He felt very strong and beautiful. Adam grew to be a magnificent eagle. His wings were strong and powerful, and he was no longer afraid to fly high in the sky. He was very thankful and grateful that he listen to his mummy and daddy eagle. Otherwise, he would still be lying around the nest, probably very fat and never get to see anything more than the nest.

I told you this story so that we can learn a lesson out of this. Have you had to do something you are afraid of? Some of you here started std 1 this year. You probably feel a bit nervous of going to a new school. Oh...what happen if I get lost, or nobody wants to be my friend? Some of you have important exams to take, school exams, piano exams...some maybe moving to a new place...some may be thinking about playing a musical instrument for church....Everyone has had the experience of feeling scared when they have to do something they haven't done before. Just like Adam the eagle. But the lesson here is that we must not let our fear stop us from doing the new thing, because if we never try, we will never get to experience how fun it can be to do new things. You'll find out so much more about the world around you and how enjoyable it can be. Once you try, you'll be surprise how much fun it can be. So, never be afraid to try new things. God is always there for to take care of us , just like mummy eagle was always there to save Adam when he fell.