They called as I walked the dogs. Chittered as I filled the wheelbarrow with firewood. Soared overhead in mating aerials.

Finally, I relented. Erased calendar scribblings. Rescheduled everything.

A sapphire February day beckoned—and eagles were posing.

When God’s your stylist.

“But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool . . . And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.”

—Matthew 5:34, 36

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Remodeled. (Bald eagles’ nest. See this year’s addition?)

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

—Mark 2:22

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When going bald is the very best thing.

(Adolescent baldie).

“Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

—Psalm 103:1-5

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Some were a little shy.

And behind them all, a bigger picture.

.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.”

—Psalm 121

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