In the desolate western provinces of Mongolia, eagle hunters are trying to preserve an age-old craft, using eagles to hunt for food.

The eagle hunters inhabit a remote and barren landscape. There is no greenery, just brown and snow white plains amidst a freezing minus 40-degree climate. In my own travels I have experienced 32 degrees below zero and that was painfully cold. I can’t imagine living day and night in the Mongolian climate with no heating, no electricity and no running water.  But that’s me.  There are many people who live in these areas and it is their home.

The story of the eagle hunters was captured magnificently in a recent documentary film. The hunters keep an eagle from birth, train it and then use the bird for hunting.  Eventually, when the eagle is about five years of age, it is set free.

I found it fascinating to watch how the eagle was trained to block out surrounding noise and listen only to its owner’s voice. The eagle then does what comes naturally. Making a beeline toward a moving target, often a fox, in the distance, the eagle keeps a sharp focus to stay on course and catch its prey. A magnificent act.

Similarly, we need to stay on track when we have a target to reach.  Like the eagle, the size or importance of the objective should not determine our level of commitment. Rather, we should give the best of ourselves to all the things we seek to achieve.  We should always stay the course and walk the straight line in getting to our target.

Our world and our lives are full of distractions which limit our achievements and prevent us from being the best of who we can be. I encourage you to stay the course, always.

Anomi