There are multiple metaphors and stories that are appropriate illustrations regarding an eagle, but I will settle for one.  There is a story of the Duke of Ellington when he was at his parish church one Sunday for communion.  His highness was at the altar to receive the wafer and wine when an older, very poor man came and knelt down beside the Duke.  There broke out a muffled commotion in the auditorium and one of the elders of the church came up to the poor man and whispered in his ear, “to arise and move away from the Duke until he has received the bread and wine.”

It is said that the eagle eye and quick ear of the Duke heard what was said and understood the real meaning of that situation. He took the old man’s hand and told him stay with the words: “Do not move; we are equal here.”

One of the qualities of humility is that there is no hierarchy in the kingdom of God. The last shall be first, the first shall be last; sit at the back of the table and you might be invited to the front; Jesus ate and served the disenfranchised, the misfits, the sick, and touched the needy.  May our Eagle at the garden area along with the statue Rachel weeping for the children continue to remind us to mount up with the wings of an eagle and protect those to whom we have been given to serve.