THE MIRACLE OF THE BALD EAGLE

"We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are."
~Anais Nin

Recently, on a rather mild December evening, Darren*, Ellen* and their son, Justin* sat with me in my office, sharing the story of David,* their son and brother, who had recently died. As traumatic and devastating a loss as this was, the family had somehow found the resources needed to help them deal with the loss of David. Fortunately, each of them had experienced some form of communication in the form of signs from David, enabling them to balance their pain with a sense of peace.

One of the most meaningful signs for them was the sighting of a bald eagle. According to Darren, he had decided, mid-morning, to take their dog for a walk. While Darren casually strolled through the woods, leash in hand, he could not help but notice the crunching sounds of the fallen leaves beneath his feet that seemed to cut through the silence. Suddenly, his attention was drawn upwards where he observed a large bald eagle flying over the nearby creek and heading south. Somehow, he knew there was something significant about this occurrence, though, at the time, he did not know just what that was. He made a mental note of wanting to share this with David later in the day.

Shortly after arriving home, David came running down the stairs and out the door, saying that he had an errand to run. After a few hours, Darren and his family had begun to notice that it was getting late and David had not come home. They tried calling him but there was no answer. As the hours passed, their concerns mounted. They called friends who went in search of David. The following day, their worst fears were confirmed by the police who came to their home to let the family know that they had found his body.

There are no words to adequately convey the pain of learning your child, no matter what the age, has died. Yet, what I have witnessed is that when parents' grief is accompanied by indications that their child is still with them, there is some easing of their pain. According to his parents, David lived as a spiritual being. He recognized that he was a part of something much greater than himself.

Native Americans view the eagle as a symbol of one’s connection with spirit and of the right to be free. David's parents strongly felt that the eagle Darren had witnessed was intentionally flying down the creek toward the spot where David had died, in order to pick up his soul and carry it away so that he could be free. When Darren and Ellen shared theses thoughts at David's funeral, many of the guests reported their own sightings of a bald eagle!

What is even more interesting is that when David's dad met with a Native American Shaman (medicine woman) in the weeks following David's death, she confirmed what Darren had suspected -- that, indeed, the eagle came specifically, as divine spiritual energy, to carry away David's soul, providing him with the freedom he desired.

One other sign touched the family. When Ellen was curled up in bed, with her cat cuddling next to her, she suddenly had the sense that David was right there, via her cat, with her. She turned to her cat and asked, "Are you watching over me?" The answer came quickly as she heard the wind chimes begin to ring, as if in answer to her question. With this, she felt reassured that David was there with her...Again, a small event to some, but to Ellen and Darren, this came with huge meaning, the gift of hope and reassurance.

"Out of difficulties grow miracles"
 ~Jean de la Bruyere