Isaiah 40: On Wings of Eagles
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
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Native people have countless stories of literally being lifted up on eagles’ wings. One is the story of Billy Mills, the only American who has ever won Olympic gold in the 10,000 meter race.
Mr. Mills is Oglala Sioux. His tribal name is Tamakoce Te'Hila. After losing both parents he turned to running to heal his own soul. After training his whole life and coming close to Olympic victories, his body began to defeat him. He developed hypo glycemia, and low blood sugar prevented him from finishing races.
In the 1964 Olympics he had run a world record pace, but two other runners were still faster than him. His vision began to fail and his limbs grew numb. He was ready to give up. Then he saw an eagle on another runner’s jersey, and he felt his father’s spirit urging him on. He knew the ancestors were counting on him, and that he would never be this close to victory again.
“At that moment I felt that my father was helping me fly,” Mills said. Dick Bank, one of the television announcers, grabbed the microphone screaming “Look at Mills! Look at Mills!”
Billy Mills crossed the finish line first in 28:24 – 46 seconds faster than he had ever run that distance.
After the race Mills went back to find the runner who had an eagle on his jersey. He wanted to thank that man for helping him to find his own eagles wings. But there was no eagle to be found on anyones’ shirt. It was a vision.
“Just” a vision? Those wings gave hime the courage to say, “I can win! I can win! I can win!”
Click here to listen to Mr. Miles tell the story in his own words:
Or, to hear the final seconds of the race, you can check this out. With just 20 seconds to go, Billy mills has fallen out of sight of the camera. Then Dick Bank starts to scream!
If God can give eagles’ wings to those who need them most, what power can God give you today?
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O Creator, when my eyes fail and my limbs are numb, lift me up on eagles’ wings. Let me hear my Father cheering me on.