“He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.”

~ Psalms 91:4

When I saw what I had captured in this photo, tears flooded my eyes.

The thunder, lighting and heavy rains had just blown over remote Lost Lake in the highlands of beautiful Okanogan County in Washington. The lake is only one of a few in Washington State that is a home to the Common Loon. It was a special treat when I discovered a couple of loons had just weathered the storm and were floating peacefully in the light rain.

I had been watching them for an hour at a distance from the dry comfort of the truck during the storm. I also observed a bald eagle perched in the same area of the lake. Whenever it changed perches, the loons would go crazy sounding their alarm, heads held high on alert. At one point the eagle flew over the truck and I could not see where it landed. I dozed off waiting out the storm.

When I awoke I saw a commotion near the shore close to where I was parked. I couldn’t see clearly because of bushes on the shoreline, but apparently the eagle had landed on shore and one of the loons was charging over to displace the eagle. The eagle took off over the water. To my amazement, the fierce loon gave chase! As the eagle started low over the water, the loon lifted a few inches out of the water, neck out stretched and used his wings to fly and paddle at the same time in pursuit of the eagle. There was a great deal of splashing and alarm sounding and eventually the eagle lifted and flew out of range and perched in a distant tree.

I had spent the morning photographing loons and their new chicks in a couple other lakes. So, I was quite certain this couple had young as well. I was hoping to see the chicks as I launched out with the kayak.

It didn’t take long to see that indeed there was a young one tucked underneath the wings of one of the parents. I took a few photos in the light rain and enjoyed watching the couple interact, but never really could see the chick clearly.

Often, when shooting wildlife, it’s easy to miss small details when looking through the camera view finder, keeping the subject in focus, pointing the kayak in the right direction, and being careful not to drop anything valuable overboard. So when I got home and opened this photo, I was pleasantly surprised that I had captured this beautiful moment.

Psalm 91:4 immediately came to mind and the Lord spoke His truth to me. I could see myself as the chick in the image and tears of gratefulness for the tender mercy and love of my Heavenly Father flooded me. It was an intimate relational moment I had with the Lord and a deep satisfaction and assurance of His unwavering love and protective promises reinforced the truth of our relationship and future. In these perilous times there is no other place to be, but under the protective wings of the Almighty.

The loonlet stayed dry, warm, and safe under the wings of its parent in the midst of the storm and in the face of a viable and threatening predator (the eagle).

There are dangers and threats all around us and they seem to be increasing. Heavenly Father is the protector of my soul. No one or thing can steal, kill, or destroy what Jesus has purchased with His very life. Nothing can separate me from His love. I have found refuge under His wings!

“And I [Jesus] give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

~ John 10:28-29