“Chapin Turkeys, Chapin Eagles, and Chapin Buzzards”  11-20-11 (Caleb Hamby) Prov. 30:17-19; Isaiah 40:30-31

There are three really big birds around Chapin.  From a distance- when they are on the ground- they may look similar. I am talking about Chapin Turkeys, Chapin Eagles, and Chapin Buzzards.   The Bible speaks a lot about birds- and they also speak of trying not to be vulture-like but eagle-like.  These birds are around our area, and I think they symbolize people.  If you were a bird, what would you like to be like?  Intellectually we choose the eagle.  Yet, it appears that some choose to be buzzards over eagles every day. 

      I can tell you this- more likely if you see a big bird on the road- it is probably not an eagle and not a turkey, but  a buzzard(actually they are turkey vultures).  If you see a big bird flying high above you- probably not a turkey and probably not an eagle, but probably a buzzard.  Buzzards are Chapin’s clean-up crew.   Most often you will find them around some ditch- and they eat dead animals.  When you look close, they are not a pretty sight.  Most do not aspire to be like a buzzard, and they are the most common huge bird around Chapin.

     Then there are turkeys.  Every now and then I see a turkey.  They are a lot more common around here than some places, but they are still fairly rare.   I have been told that tame turkeys are dumb and lethargic, but wild turkeys are smart, and know how to run away.  Turkey hunting takes a lot of skill- you have to be very, very quiet, use camouflage well, stay downwind, and make the right kind of call.  Turkeys are a lot more majestic than a buzzard.  They don’t eat dead animals as a regular habit. But turkeys are still turkeys.  Turkeys live in fear and worry- they are skiddish birds- in contrast to the eagle’s fearlessness.   A turkey is a step up from a buzzard, but they are still not eagles.

      Then there are Chapin eagles.   Real eagles are rare indeed and beautiful.  There are only a handful around, but they are around.  There are only 200 eagle’s nests in S.C. They see with a vision that you and I can only dream of 8x that of the human eye.  They have a wonderful perspective high above that of buzzards and turkeys.   The eagle is known by many as the king of birds.  It is known as an international sign of freedom, the good life, strength and authority.  The Chapin Elementary students are called “eaglets.”  Chapin Middle and High School are eagles. There is Eagle Point, Eagle Nest, Eagle Business Machines, Eagle construction, Eagle Hair salon, many want to be associated with the name “eagle.” 

     THANKFULNESS- How does this apply to thanksgiving?  The turkey-vulture or buzzard is not a gracious bird.    The turkey vulture- looks like a turkey- which is why they are called turkey vultures.  I have mistaken turkey vultures for turkeys and turkeys for turkey vultures.   But, it you get close- there is no mistake.  The turkey vulture defends itself by stinking.  Nobody wants to get near them.  They do not fight- their defense mechanism is to regurgitate on you!    There are people who live for themselves.  There are plenty of those people.  They will fight each other like buzzards fighting for the scraps.  We are not called to live like buzzards.  Did you know a buzzard will eat so much that it can’t fly- and become itself prey.  I have to admit I have done that at Thanksgiving- maybe you have too.   The eagle eats enough. Part of the problem we are in with the recession is we cannot seem to say no.  We go into debt to buy things because they are on sale, and then find we have bought way too much that was on sale and our credit cards are maxed out.  Then when a real emergency comes along- the car breaks down, or someone goes to the doctor we are stuck.  Some of you will be vulture like on Black Friday.  There are always stories every Friday after Thanksgiving of people who push others down, get hurt going through doors, pulling at sales items.  That, is vulture-like, and not Christian-like!  Vultures eat for today- they do not build nests, they do not leave food.  Buzzards are the opposite of the spirit of thanksgiving.   Turkeys seem to always show up at Thanksgiving and are the center of attention and meals.  Not too many people eat eagle- they are on the no hunting list.  
     STRENGTH AND SPIRITUAL FOOD- Buzzards eat anything in front of them.  Turkeys are a little more picky.  But eagles choose their diet and then they go out and hunt for it- may be fish, may be bird, but they decide their menu- if they do not get it, they choose a new menu the next day.
1 Peter 2 says “rid yourselves of all evil and deceit and like newborn babies crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Feed yourself on the scriptures, prayer, and worship.  Watch what you take into your life.  Do not just watch whatever is on TV  because it is there or because you can.  Do not waste your life  because you can.   Buzzards take whatever is in front of them.  Do not live like them.  Do not live in fear or worry as a turkey.  But wait as an eagle.  The Bible says “They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”  Where do you find your strength?  The vulture finds its strength in the death of others.  Turkeys seem to find strength in numbers.  The eagle doesn’t mind soaring by itself some times.  Christians are to find their strength in God.  When Christ died on the cross, he died alone, but He died with tremendous strength and courage.

     SHARING- Buzzards do not share.  In fact they fight with each other over food.  When it is time for the buzzard to have its young- they do not build a nest- they would rather eat than build their homes.  The male leaves the female completely on her own.   Turkeys are a little bit better.  But male turkeys are philanderers- flitting from one hen to the other.  The eagle mates for life and the male helps the female- feeding her while she sits on the nest, and bringing toys up for the young to play with after they are born.  Eagles give and share and take care of each other- in contrast to the fighting vultures or the “what’s in-it-for-me” turkeys.   The mother eagle will pluck eagle down from her own body to layer her next.   Buzzards lay an egg in a tree stump. 
Christians are called to not be hoarders, or selfish, but people who share and give recognizing that all that we have is a gift from God.  Freely we have received, therefore we freely give.  We remember the example of Jesus Christ who though He was rich became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.
Today is Stewardship Sunday.  We are called to bring our gifts, our time and talent sheets, and our pledge cards up front.   We do so not in living for the moment as a vulture, or in fear of the future like a turkey, but trusting in God. 

We cannot on our own successfully consistently choose to be less vulture like and more eagle-like. Only God can change our nature. We must ask God to come into our hearts through Jesus and change us. 

Ben Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, wanted the turkey and not the eagle to symbolize America.  Turkeys are more plentiful, more of a native, and would attack a red coat.  But turkeys can be skiddish, worriers, and philanderers.   Eagles are rare, mate for life, share with each other, do not leave their partner- are loyal, and when an eagle soars it points to the power , majesty, beauty and freedom of God. This thanksgiving- do not mistake a turkey for a buzzard or an eagle.  Think too, of how you want to live your life- not like a buzzard or a turkey- but soaring, free, sharing, like an eagle.