Soaring on Wings Like Eagles

 

Have you know known, Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint and strength to the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strengths; 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

Isaiah’s words speak directly to weary hearts. The prophet was writing to people who knew hardship and uncertainty. They longed for deliverance and wondered if God had forgotten them. Into that weariness, God offered a promise: those who place their hope in the Lord will find renewed strength.

Notice that Isaiah does not promise that the journey will be easy. He does not say that God’s people will never grow tired or face challenges. Instead, he promises that God will sustain them through those difficulties. Strength is renewed not because the road disappears, but because God walks beside us on it.

For LGBTQ+ Christians, this promise can be especially meaningful. Many of us have spent years hearing voices that told us we were not enough, that we did not belong, or that God could not love us as we are. Yet Scripture tells a different story. The psalmist reminds us, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Our worth is not determined by the opinions of others but by the God who created us.

When we grow weary from defending our dignity or seeking acceptance, we can remember Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Christ does not place additional burdens upon us; he offers rest, grace, and belonging.

The Apostle Paul also reminds us that God’s power is revealed through human weakness: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The struggles we face do not separate us from God. Instead, they can become places where God’s sustaining presence is most clearly experienced.

Pride Month is a celebration of authenticity, courage, and resilience. It is a testimony to generations of LGBTQ+ people who kept moving forward despite opposition and fear. Like Isaiah’s vision of soaring eagles, we are reminded that God gives us the strength to rise above the forces that seek to diminish us.

And as we journey together, we remember Paul’s assurance that “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). In God’s family, our differences do not divide us; they enrich the beautiful diversity of creation.

Wherever you find yourself today—celebrating, struggling, healing, or simply trying to keep moving forward—know that God has not abandoned you. The same God who strengthened the weary exiles, welcomed the outcast, and raised Christ from the dead continues to renew and sustain God’s people.

You may be tired. You may be discouraged. But you are not alone. God is with you, renewing your strength for the journey ahead.

Pic of the Day

Moment of Zen: Pride 🏳️‍🌈

Pic of the Day

A Long Friday

It’s finally Friday, but instead of my usual work-from-home Friday, I’ll be at the museum today. I have a tour to give this morning. Normally, I look forward to giving tours, but I’m not particularly looking forward to this one. Part of the reason is that I’m still dealing with a migraine. The other reason is that it’s a long tour. Earlier this week, on Tuesday evening, I gave three tours back-to-back over a two-hour period. Today it’s just one group, but it will still be two hours—an hour in the museum followed by another hour in the basement collections.

The one advantage is that it’s a small group, so I won’t have to project my voice the way I do for larger tours. I can speak in a normal conversational tone, which should make things a little easier. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’m also not the biggest fan of the teacher bringing the group. Hopefully, the students will make up for that.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when I’m actively giving a tour, I can usually set the migraine aside for a while. Focusing on the visitors, the artifacts, and the stories helps me push through the pain. The downside is that once the tour is over, I usually crash, and the migraine comes back even stronger. If that happens today, I should be able to head home afterward, which is something I’m definitely looking forward to.

I don’t have any real plans for the weekend, and honestly, that sounds perfect. I need the chance to rest and hopefully get this migraine under control. If I’m feeling well enough, I may drive up to Burlington to see Grogu and the Mandalorian, but that will depend entirely on how I’m feeling.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Sunday marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and there will be Pride celebrations and parades taking place across the country this weekend. If you attend one, have fun, celebrate safely, and take a moment to remember those who came before us—the LGBTQ+ people who were forced to hide who they were, who risked everything to live authentically, and whose courage made it possible for so many of us to celebrate openly today. We owe them a debt of gratitude that should never be forgotten.

Pic of the Day

Migraine Morning

This will be short because I woke up with a migraine and am heading back to bed as soon as I finish writing. I got up long enough to feed Isabella, send a text to my boss, and put together this post.

Some mornings are just like that. The best thing I can do is listen to my body, take my medication, and rest. Hopefully, a few more hours of sleep will help, and I’ll be feeling better later today. Until then, Isabella has been fed, work has been notified, and I’ve done the one thing I wanted to accomplish this morning.

Now, it’s back to bed.

Pic of the Day

A Half Day

I worked late last night giving tours to kids attending a camp on campus this week. It was after 9:00 p.m. by the time I got home, which meant it took me a while to wind down for the night. Even Isabella seemed to notice. She let me sleep a little later than usual this morning, a rare gift from a cat who normally believes that breakfast should be served at precisely the same time every day.

I’d really like to go back to sleep for a while, but I know that’s probably not going to happen. Once I’m awake enough to feed Isabella, my day has effectively begun. She may return to one of her favorite napping spots, but she has made it very clear that I should remain awake and available. Instead of trying to go back to sleep, I’ll make a cup of coffee and something for breakfast before it’s time for me to stop eating and drinking because of the ultrasound.

The good news is that I’m working from home today, even though I’ll be back at the museum tomorrow and again on Friday, which is usually my work-from-home day. Today will only be a half day, though, since this afternoon I’ll make the trip up to Burlington for my biannual liver ultrasound.

Fortunately, my recent bloodwork showed that my liver has remained stable and has not gotten any worse. That’s always encouraging news. Even so, my doctor continues to order an ultrasound every six months to screen for liver cancer or any other signs that my condition may be progressing. It’s one of those appointments I never particularly look forward to, but I’m grateful that we keep a close eye on things. Catching a problem early is always better than discovering it too late.

For now, though, I’m going to enjoy a quiet morning at home, get some work done, and spend a little time with Isabella before heading north. Some days are busy, some days are routine, and some days are simply about being thankful for good test results and another ordinary day.

Pic of the Day