The Sloth, the Horse, and the Eagle: A Lesson in True Strength

One day, deep in a vast and vibrant forest, a sloth, a horse, and an eagle gathered at the edge of a great river. Each had come to boast of their worth and to prove they were the greatest among creatures.

The Sloth: Wise & Patient One

The sloth, hanging lazily from a low branch, yawned and stretched. “I have mastered the art of patience,” he said sluggishly. “While others exhaust themselves chasing after the wind, I rest. Why should I toil when the earth provides? Surely, I am the wisest among us.”

The horse snorted. “You are not wise; you are lazy. You waste the days given to you, and in the end, you will have nothing.”

The eagle, perched on a high rock, observed in silence. The horse was right, for the sloth resembled the servant in the parable of the talents—the one who buried his master’s gift instead of using it. The sloth, though content in his comfort, would one day be left with nothing. Didn't he understand that those who do not labor in faith will reap emptiness?

The Horse: Self-Sufficient Strength

The horse, strong and proud, stomped his hooves with such authority. “I am the greatest among us! I run with power, pulling the weight of many. I am relied upon by man and beast alike. Strength belongs to those who work hard for it! I have no need of anything beyond my own might.”

The sloth mumbled, “Perhaps, but all that running is exhausting.”

The eagle tilted his head. “You trust in your strength, but have you not heard? Strength fades, and the mighty fall. You run with a herd, yet even the swiftest grow weary.”

Indeed, the horse was like those who put their trust in their own abilities rather than in the One who gives strength. The eagle knew the horse, though powerful, would one day tire in his own strength.

The Eagle: Strength through Trust & Grace

The eagle then spread his wings, gazing toward the heavens. “You both look to yourselves, but I look to the wind beneath my wings. I do not flap endlessly, nor do I cling to the earth in laziness. I soar by the power that lifts me, and I see beyond what lies before me. I follow the wind, for it knows the way.”

The sloth clinging to his branch, unwilling to move, blinked at the thought of moving. The horse, standing firm in his strength, flicked his tail. “You say you are lifted, but by what? You cannot see the wind. Why would you give your strength to something you can not see?" The eagle replied confidently, "I know its presence and I hear its sound. I may not know where it comes from or where it goes; I trust it to carry me where I am meant to go. "

As the eagle lifted off the branch of the sloth, he soared into the sky being carried by the unseen force that gave him direction. Being lifted higher, he called out to both the sloth and the horse, “It is those who wait upon the Lord that renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…” 

And with that, he disappeared into the heavens, rising above all, strong not by his own power, but by the unseen force the horse could not see and the sloth bothered not to be moved by.

The Truth Revealed

The eagle did not struggle as the horse did. Nor did he waste his days as the sloth did. He rose higher, and soared, knowing that true strength came not from himself, but from the One who lifted him.

True greatness is not found in laziness, or self-reliance, but in surrendering to the One who provides strength, wisdom, and purpose through His spirit.

Which one do you identify with? The sloth, the horse, or the eagle? Share your comments below.

Scriptures for Reflection: Matthew 25:26-27; Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 40:30-31;John 3:8;

 Zechariah 4:6;  Isaiah 40:31; 1 Corinthians 15:10;James 4:6-7