Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, August 18, 2024
I can understand how we overlooked this sculpture as we drove in and out of town a few times, even though it’s 18 feet tall and weighs over 5,000 pounds. It’s located in the center of a traffic circle, and you have to keep your wits about you, and your eyes darting left and right for other vehicles, as you navigate such a roundabout. Tall trees obscure the sculpture from one angle, as well.
It was only when we took an after-breakfast walk through town that we suddenly saw it, and stared. I sputtered, “Is that wood or metal?” followed by recognition, “It’s an eagles’ nest!”
My husband ventured across the street during a traffic lull for a closer look and called back, “It’s metal.” I like how it looks like a huge nest of bleached beachcombed driftwood, though.
Curious to know more, I searched and found the artwork was installed near the entrance to Anacortes, Washington in early 2015. The sculptor’s name is Merrillee Moore, and she named her stainless steel sculpture “Aerie.”
Consulting several dictionaries, I discovered they all agree that an aerie is the nest of a large bird of prey, especially an eagle, located high on a cliff or a mountaintop. Or, in this case, located at sea level, in a traffic circle.
Moore said that she “sees the empty nest as a welcoming presence and a ‘symbol of home.’ ”
I wonder if any birds have ever decided that “Aerie” would make a good home. It seems inviting to me, and ready-made, but I don’t have a birds’ eye view of it as a desirable domicile. Although a high and lofty perch is apparently one of their prerequisites, so 18 feet may not be lofty enough.
Jesus mentioned nests once, in this poignant comment recorded by both Matthew and Luke:
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57, 58 NKJV)
That’s the only mention of nests in the entire New Testament, Jesus talking about His homelessness. I think He wanted to be sure this would-be disciple understood what it would really be like to follow Him. I also think Jesus knew that day by day He was making His home in the hearts of those who heard Him gladly.
Remember how Jesus responded one day when He was told His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him?
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12: 48-50 NKJV)
In my younger years when I read these verses I thought Jesus sounded dismissive of His mother and brothers – maybe even a bit rude to them. I don’t hear that now. I think He wanted His listeners to realize their own potential close relationship to Him, and to His Heavenly Father.
What would it have been like to have been in that crowd, when Jesus expanded their understanding of who was family to Him? What a thrill to hear Him call me His sister!
And yet that’s what He calls me today, here and now! It reminds me of a children’s song I learned a long time ago:
God is my Father,
Jesus is my Brother,
And the blessed Holy Spirit is my Guide.
The devil’s no relation,
‘Cause I’m a new creation,
I’m a part of the family of God.
A small song with a big boost of encouragement as we begin again with this brand-new week. No matter what last week was like, we start over, knowing we are God’s beloved family members.
So as we fly out into this week, may it be on eagle’s wings!
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV)