As I worked at my desk, in my peripheral vision I saw a huge shadow glide across the roof of the wing next to me. I looked up in time to watch a hawk glide to a tree about 300 feet away.

A clear picture out the window was not possible, so I stepped out side, armed with my camera. I quietly moved up some stairs and up the hill to the south, my socked feet begging to not find cactus on the desert floor.

Finally, I was within 30 feet of this beautiful creature. He seemed content to pose for me for a while before gliding back to the north, toward a patio area behind our house where we feed smaller birds.

I crept silently until I discovered him sitting on the roof peak.

Once again, he seemed quite content to pose for me from nearly 30 feet up.

“This is my domain and I’m on the lookout” was the look in his eye as he peered around from side to side.

Suddenly, he crouched and sprung to the air. He flew down over the roof and by the time I saw him again a few seconds later he was soaring gracefully through the sky directly overhead.

It quickly became apparent he had either injured his left wing or simply lost a chunk of feathers. here he flies to the southwest with the sun in his face, glistening over his shoulders.

Here he’s tilted so the sun highlights his underside.

It didn’t take long to realize he was not alone. This guy joined in the air dance. The two soared around me for about five minutes before disappearing from sight.

They are such beautiful, graceful animals. And they have a wonderful example for us.

They live their lives, seemingly without a care in the world. They know they will have food when they need it. Of course, being on the high end of the food chain helps their attitude there. What if we could live without a care in the world? What if we could be content knowing that what we need will be there when it’s needed?

These great birds perch somewhere high to survey their kingdom. We are wise to observe what is going on around us…with attentiveness, discernment and lack of judgment. Simply see things as they are.

Hawks soar to great heights with ease. When we allow ourselves to be completely who we are, we may just find ourselves soaring over all life’s trivial problems with ease.

It’s time for us each to consider our own divinely appointed ability to soar through life.

Top photo available for purchase as prints, canvas, acrylics, and note cards.