Patience is a Virtue

©2010 Bill Werle
Acrylic 16" x 20" canvas

Wolf Lodge Bay at the northeast end of Lake Couer D' Alene is a congregating spot for Bald and Golden eagles every Nov. & Dec. This also coincides with the spawning of Kokanee salmon in that part of the lake.

The trees these days are filled with these large birds. Their amazing eyesight allows them to spot the kokanee from their perch in the trees on the ridge surrounding the bay which is an extraordinary feat, since almost all fish are counter-shaded, meaning they are darker on top and harder to see from above. There has been more than one year where I've sat for over an hour watching an eagle that was in a lower tree scanning the lake.

Patience. A virtue lost on a lot of people these days if not society as a whole. These birds survive on patience and survival means a successful life to an eagle.

Good things come to those who wait. Sometimes results aren't immediate or gratification has to be delayed. It's astounding how this concept is lost on a lot of people. In an era of succumbing to every whim and desire instantly with no care or thought to consequences we could take a lesson from the eagle.

If we put the time in, put the effort in, and yes, this means dealing with the harshness of the winters in our lives, we survive successfully.

Patience IS a virtue.