Eagles Soar...and Sometimes Crash

A few nights ago I was getting ready for bed when my dog was acting funny. "What Basco?" I said to him. I followed him out of the bedroom trying to figure out what this anxious animal was trying to tell me. Then he led me to my "office" where my computer is. He opened the door with his nose and settled down on the floor beside my desk. Well, I turned my computer on wondering if there was something I should look at. Okay, you may think I'm crazy but remember the post below this one. I'm always open to signs, okay? I never overlook things that could lead me to an answer especially when I'm seeking them. Well, I go to www.yahoo.com to check my e-mail when I come across a very unusual story.

According to a news story on www.yahoo.com a golden eagle crashed into the windshield of a tractor-trailor in Nevada. While the two drivers, one dosing off on the passenger seat, drove on U.S. Interstate 80 an eagle crashed into the windshield landing on the floor. The men, including the officer who arrived at the scene were so taken aback by the unusual situation that they waited for a specialist from a nearby Wildlife Center to care for the bird who had a swollen head. The eagle was apparently "feisty" and upset for his unexpected fall and crash. The owner of the trucking company was quoted as saying, "Never in trucking history." : )

I thought this story was amusing. Here are these two tough guys driving their tractor-trailor when out of nowwhere they're startled by none other than a big beautiful eagle who literally crashes into them. As they went about their business on an ordinary day the last thing they expected was this beautiful endangered bird, that you have to travel to Alaska to get a really great shot of to suddenly end up in their truck. How hysterical!

The reason why I was touched by this story is that I have always loved eagles. My life verse is actually Isaiah 40:31, "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 be faint." This passage has been a source of hope and encouragement to me for years. And just recently as I have encountered some difficult situations in my life I have revisited this verse and its meaning. It never seizes to renew hope in me.

Reading this story brought a smile upon my face. It was sort of a "wink" for me. After reading it and e-mailing it to myself I went back to my bedroom where I settled quietly to bed and Basco lay contently on the floor beside me. Now, how's that for a sign! : )

I Believe in Signs

“During times of great uncertainty, coincidences are signs of comfort and personal reassurance.”
-Squire Rushnell, “When God Winks”

I believe in signs. I believe that sometimes God uses signs or coincidences in our lives to get our attention. The quote above is from a book written by author Squire Rushnell, called “When God Winks.” The book holds stories of coincidences in ordinary lives as well as in the lives of celebrities. The author explains coincidences as a wink from God meant to encourage and guide. I believe that there are times when God will go the extra mile to get an important message across to us. In a loud world God will use silent clues to communicate with us.

Hollywood has played with this notion as well. In the 1997 movie, “Fools Rush In” starring Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry, Hayek’s character believes in signs. Perry’s character is skeptical until he begins to see signs after she has left him. As he walks down the street searching for Isabel he hears a priest say, “There are signs everywhere.” After this he encounters a series of events that make him a believer in signs. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the ring of the bell signifies Clarence getting his wings. In “Patch Adams” the butterflies represent the woman whom Patch Adams loved who passed away. Signs are everywhere if we choose to pay attention.

For instance, when I was graduating from college and making major decisions about my future I called a friend whom mentioned to me a school in Virgina Beach that I was already doing some research on. I remembered her telling me about this school years ago and it seemed to have the programs I was looking for. Well, I continued to play with this idea as I began to see more and more about Virginia. I ran into a girl who I hadn’t seen in a long time and she happened to be wearing a shirt that said Virginia Beach on it. More “signs” continued to play out in my life as I decided to apply to the school. I was accepted and low and behold I met my husband who happened to have parallel dreams as me. How’s that for direction.

These sorts of things happen all of the time in my life. Like a friend that I had in college that was from Queens like me, whose mother’s name was also Elsa, who was also very petite and who had scoliosis like me. Another coincidence in my life was when I took a magazine writing class in college, which was taught by a woman who looked just like my 5th grade teacher who inspired me to write. On a class trip we went to Manhattan to see a scriptwriter by the name Linda Seger, my maiden name was Seijas. I ended up concentrating in script/scriptwriting in grad school.

Before I met my husband it seemed that every man that I came in contact his name started with the letter “J.” I told my sister that I was going to marry a man whose name began with “J.” I kept meeting these “J” guys so often that I called it the “J factor.” Low and behold after entering school in Virgina I met a man by the name of Joshua. We got married in 2006. God has a funny way of directing our path.

I like a quote I heard on the show, “Touched by an Angel,” that said, “A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous." The next time you see a coincidence or a series of signs in your life don’t just write them off. Play close attention because God may be trying to tell you something. Don't miss out on your wink. WINK.