I was listening to a dove cooing this morning. A soft, soothing call. They're making a nest right now. So cute to watch. Those, and the Honey Eaters, are my most frequent garden visitors here. Plus a sassy little Willie Wagtail or two! And the occasional Rainbow Lorikeets and Ring Necked Parrots. But back to those doves...
I remembered how the Holy Spirit descended like a dove to rest on Jesus as he came up from baptism, and I began to wonder what it was about doves that made him come in this form. So I began to do some reading about doves.
Doves are pretty much widespread throughout the world. As such, they symbolise a connected world - something that almost everyone knows and can relate to. They are known for their gentleness and faithful partnerships - often staying with their mate for life. With their partner, they are loving and supportive, sharing the tasks of parenting young, and caressing and cooing to their chosen one. They symbolise love and connected harmony.
The first real story from the Bible that brings them to our attention is where Noah sends out a dove to see if the earth has become habitable again after the flood. On the second attempt, the dove returns with an olive branch in its beak - a promise of new life, fresh starts, hope! This symbol has become synonymous with innocence and peace to us.
They are next really noticed as one of the sacrificial gifts one could offer to atone for wrong doing. This offering was available to the poorest of the poor, as doves are prolific breeders and flourish in most environments. This hope was not out of reach for anyone! And as this dove descended on Jesus, it was highly symbolic of the the role he was moving into.
Doves are also amazing navigators! They can find their way home across hundreds of kilometres! Even blindfolded! Researchers are still somewhat puzzled about how they do it, with theories about using the earth's magnetic fields, positioning of the sun, and their excellent vision pinpointing landmarks. However it works, they know their way home, and have powerful wings to take them there. And they stubbornly pursue that goal, with few pauses to rest, until they arrive there.
Knowing this skill, they have been used throughout the centuries to carry messages with haste! News about Olympic victories travelled the world this way before TV became a thing 😄. And strategic information reached its destination about 95% of the time during the war, leading to enemy plans being undermined, and battles won! They were such small and rapid flyers that they couldn't be shot down! Birds of prey had to be employed to deal with them! These amazing little birds helped to win the war!
What a awesome little bird - for one so common and often overlooked! And many reasons why this became the symbol resting on Jesus as he began his march towards breaking the power of death here! Such a beautiful symbol of the power of something so gentle and innocent, and what it can accomplish.
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