This story is special. It is so very special because it is His story that has taken a couple years to unfold in my life.
Part I: It begins with my most favorite time in college, fall of ’06. God challenged me in mighty ways that year–ways that were ever so uncomfortable, but bitter sweet as I look back on them now. Known as the girl with the “bubble” around her, motivated by fear, a friend sought to help me. My help came in a little plastic bag around my doorknob. It was left for me to find when I came home from class. I opened it immediately & inside was a stuffed chicken! Not a real chicken, but a stuffed animal chicken. With the chicken came a note with this verse;
“But those who hope in the LORD will
renew their strength
They will soar on wings like eagles
they will run & not grow weary
they will walk & not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Not
too long after, friends from my home church visited me, where
an ornament was placed around his neck & the Chicken that was
supposed to be an Eagle earned the name, “Cheagle“.
Part II: The next year, I could not keep Cheagle any longer and had to throw it away. Not knowing how stupid of a thing that was for me to do. This was because, over my summer, it all came flooding back. A
place that I loved which on numerous occasions, housed memories of the
only home I could retreat to–or rather, run to–suddenly became the
one place in the world I would never want to go back to. On that rock, on that day, I looked up at the sky & saw an Eagle flying. In my despair, I was reminded of the verse I was given. Flying was worth it…so I was told. I let my guard down & got burned for it. I heard nothing…just thought to myself exactly this, “I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
Part III: Then, last weekend while I was playing catch with my new friend, I looked up & guess what I saw? I saw an Eagle soaring. I froze for a couple seconds & could not take my eyes away. It was as if God had lifted my chin up in just the right moment to see wings spanned wide. A “hello” moment from God Himself. I smiled. I cannot think of that verse without remembering my dear friend & how he used Cheagle to point me to the Cross. The timing was nothing less than perfect. This was the weekend I met some of my fellow WorldRacers. People I will spend a year of my life with…my soon to be new family!
The cool thing, this is only a taste of what is to come. Who knew God would use a silly, stuffed animal named Cheagle, for His renown.
