Barnyard Hen or Eagle?

I was recently reading The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva and came across this quote:

“Don’t fly like a barnyard hen when you can soar like an eagle.”

That quote instantly made me think of this beautiful verse from Isaiah:

“…but those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
†Isaiah 40:31

It’s funny how Scripture and inspiring quotes tend to take me on a little If You Give a Mouse a Cookie journey. (Ever been there?!) But since we’ve landed here, let’s talk about these verses and St. Escriva’s wise words.

When we had chickens, one of my favorite things to do was watch our chickens scratch around the yard. They would walk with such purpose, always on the hunt for a little bug or seed that I’d completely miss because I was not paying close attention. They’re quick about eating too—sometimes a little too quick, snatching it up before another hen can steal it away.

But let me tell you, they’re also big ol’ chickens. The smallest noise or shadow sends them running, wings flapping awkwardly as they half-fly across the yard in a panic. And don’t get me started on the Guinea Hens—loud, frantic, dramatic! One gets spooked, and suddenly the whole crew is in chaos…and I loved it!

When I read St. Escriva’s words, I couldn’t help but picture those noisy, terrified barnyard hens.

But then I thought about hawks—the ones I see around our place all the time. I know the quote above mentions eagles, but I’ll be honest: I’ve never seen an eagle up close (unless PBS Nature counts). But hawks? I see them often around the farm, usually sitting on an old fence post.

Watching the hawks is a completely opposite experience to watching the chickens. They’re calm, composed, and focused. I can drive the tractor right past one sitting on a fence post, and it won’t budge. It waits patiently, knowing the rumble of the tractor might scare up a tasty rabbit or field rat.

I’ll never forget this one day about twenty years ago. It was windy—a strong north wind in the fall—and I noticed a hawk hovering low to the ground, maybe only four or five feet up. He faced into the wind, flapping just enough to keep himself steady. He didn’t let the wind toss him around. Instead, he used it to stay exactly where he wanted to be, laser-focused on finding his next meal.

What a difference from the chickens! Both search for food daily, but while chickens let fear drive them into frantic chaos, the hawk waits, calm and steady, even in challenging conditions.

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
†Matthew 6:26

Here’s the thing: hawks know when to fly and when to sit still. They don’t waste energy running after every shadow or noise. They face the wind, use it to their advantage, and stay focused on what matters.

So what about us?

When life sends a scared “Chicken Little” running past us, do we follow the panic? Or do we sit still, assess the situation, and wait on God? Do we let fear scatter us, or do we trust that staying put—even when it’s uncomfortable—can lead to the nourishment we need?

For me, this lesson hit home when I started learning to take my thoughts captive. For the longest time, I let any negative thought barge in, settle down, and invite its buddies over for a torment party. Sometimes, just the thought of a scary thought was enough to send me running.

But as I grew in God’s Word, I learned to stay still, wait, and trust Him. Instead of letting every thought knock me off balance, I started noticing them—like that big green John Deere mowing by—but not letting them scare me off my post. Running would only make me miss out on the opportunity to live a fully human life–joys and sorrows, or the peace that comes from resting in God’s presence.

And when fear creeps in, I remind myself:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”
†Philippians 4:6-7

Here’s the truth:

When we wait on God, He renews our strength.

When we have to fly, we don’t need to panic and flap aimlessly like scared chickens. We can face the wind, let it steady and even lift us above the chaos, and keep our eyes on the nourishment and stability God has for us.

So, what will it be today? Running like a frightened hen or soaring like a hawk?

I know which one I want to be.

Scripture References:
Isaiah 40:31
Matthew 6:26
Philippians 4:6-7

You might also enjoy:

Embracing the Promises of Patience
How Scripture Transformed My Life
Emotional Strength and the Bible