Eagle's Wings in Auburn

I remember seeing a bald eagle as a kid on our drive up to Big Bear Mountain, but never up close except of course in the Zoo.

Today, I saw one in the park behind my house! This hungry eage was so patient as he scoped out his dinner among the man ducks and fish in our local lake. As he sat in the tree, a small aggressive bird would dive bomb this majestic eagle and the eagle was hardly disturbed. After some time, we saw this great bird launch himself from the tall pine tree, and then move swiftly toward a group of ducks. "Not the baby ducks!" I thought. I shouted to a lady with her 5 year old, "Look! A bald eagle!" With a splash, and loud squawk of the ducks, the huge eagle skidded the water and came out with its meal.

As he flew overhead of me, I saw the fish in his claws. Wow! Up he flew. 2 nagging birds followed him, trying to get at the fish. Undisturbed it seemed, the eagle flew in large circles higher and higher. The 2 birds kept pestering him, but this eagle went higher and higher, slowly but surely.

When he reached so high that I couldn't see the bold yellow beak or white tail anymore, the one black bird gave up, but the second kept at this bird at least 6x the size of him. Unfesterd, the eagle just kept going round and round, higher and high until it was too high for the little black bird. It was so high that all I saw was a black dot in the sky flowing on the surf of the wind- so calmly and confidently-- safe and satisfied with his catch.


It was a great lesson from God for all of us watching on the shore. When troubles or our enemies attack us, they are no match if we just stay focussed on our goal of being fed, and faithful to feed those we are responsible for. When we are being pursued, just go higher and higher and higher until the enemy can't breathe the air we are breathing and fall away without even our efforts.

Eagles also represent revival and renewal when they visit us. I pray that Auburn, along with your cities experience a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit during this Easter Season!

Unexpected Unity

I was recently invited to join a University prayer gathering at a local Christian University in Rocklin, CA. After the prayer, one of the lovely young students was telling my friend Pam about how she attended a Catholic Mass and had such an awful experience. My friend casually looked over to me, because she knew this was a divine set up that I would 'happen" to be there at that moment.

The young lady spoke about how her major is inter-cultural studies and she wanted to experience a Mass because Pam told her how she attended a Mass and someone (ME!) explained it all to her so clearly and she "loved it!" This sweet girl had quite the opposite experience and began crying. She even left her phone in the pew and returned 2 minutes later to find it gone. She was told by the person handing out bulletins that there was nothing they could do but to call the office on Monday. Poor girl!

When she was done unloading upon Pam, I looked at her, opened my arms and said, "I am SO sorry you had that experience. I am Catholic, and I want to ask your forgiveness. That is not the heart of our Church." We talked and wept for a few minutes. She couldn't believe this was happening. Healing and unity flowed.

A wise Lithuanian Bishop once told a group of us, "God wants to build community through love. If there is no love, He will build it through suffering." Let us reach out in love to those who are visiting our parishes, our work places, our social groups we attend and make them feel very welcome. It's a new day-- a new season in the world when fear and self protection seems to be increasing all around us. Let's walk in the opposite spirit and be friendly and genuine in the market places. You and I can make a difference!