Are You Exposed and Balancing on a Ledge?
Le Domaine D'Arnheim by Rene Maglette
At first sight of this painting your eyes go to the nest with two eggs perched precariously on the thin ledge of a wall. Although the day is still and bright you feel that a gust of wind or a bump would send the eggs flying over the side to their doom. The two eggs don't even know there might be danger ahead. After all, two smashed eggs at the bottom -- who would notice or care?
From the two eggs your eyes go quickly up the mountain to the top, directly above the eggs. It's at the top that your eyes refocus. An eagle seems to be there with his whole wing span being the mountain itself. His ominous presence provides a background of protection and strength for the exposed eggs.
When I first saw this painting it was a picture to me of the many times in our lives when we feel like an exposed egg balancing on a ledge. Just when we think everything is all safe and secure something happens that leaves us vulnerable and unprotected; our parents die, our spouse leaves, the stock market fails or our job is eliminated.
The fact that there are two eggs is significant. We may feel alone in our vulnerable state but there is always someone else in the same nest with you -- someone that is going through what you are.
The eagle seems to represent the God of the universe that is at the top looking down. You'll notice the stone eagle is fixed in place. His head will not turn or His eyes close. The eagle has his eye on that nest in the same way that God has His eye on you and I. "He who keeps you will not slumber or sleep, but will watch over you day and night." (Psalm 121)
The wing span of the eagle is the sheer strength of the mountain and is a fitting representation of our Father's protective care over his children. "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4