Lessons From The Eagle

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Happy Sunday friends

Today's service was a lengthy one being the first in March this year. I'm stressed out but still thought of dropping this.

An ability to soar is not a gift... it is an art. It's not natural, it's cultivated. It's what a master falconer imparts to his eagle during the art of partnership called training.

It is the shared understanding, focus and discipline of the two species such that when the master whistles, the eagle gets off to hunt and the two share the food equally. It is a relationship of perfectly equal partners working together in perfect harmony until it is time to rest because they are but one.

The eagle is grateful for her ability to soar because it is her gift from her master. And being a loyal friend, she shows gratitude by protecting him and making him proud every day.

This story must be woven into our spirit and DNA as human.

If you’re reading this, it means you’re a part of the tribe of believers. All stories have to start somewhere, and this is mine. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something significant with my life. I was a curious kid and remember questioning "why?" a lot as I grew up. It wasn't until I was an adult that my life began to click and make sense. That's when I knew exactly what my story was going to be – making others smile, one good deed at a time.

My name is EhmDee, and last year I started a movement called #KissesForEqualPay, where I gave out free kisses in NYC to men who believed in the cause. Thousands of men came by to participate and spread the word of gender equality via the website, empowering both women and men to hold companies accountable for equal pay and fair treatment.

When a female eagle sees a male eagle that she is interested in, she will fly over to him and then perform a series of aerial figure eights (or "cartwheels") above the male. These "cartwheels" show the male that she is no longer available for breeding with other males and are a sign of courtship. When you think about eagles, you likely picture a majestic bird soaring above a body of water. But in the spring, eagles are one of the most fascinating animals to watch on land.

If the male eagle is away from his territory (hunting or roosting), the female eagle would wait on top of the nest. If she saw a large bird approaching, she would stare at it, which is an act of hostility, and emit a very noticeable rattle from her throat. This was a warning. If the intruder ignored the warning, she would pursue it, continuing to rattle, until she got close enough for a kill.

If the intruder was another female eagle, she would often fly to another nearby perch and sit down. The intruder could then be allowed into the territory without conflict, since both females were mated.

If the intruder was a potential mate, courtship ensued with displays and duets that included mutual calling and stretching tall before locking talons and throwing themselves into the air together. They would separate before touching down, however.