Good Time to Think About Doves

THE DOVE IN OUR COURTYARD

By Ben B. Boothe, Sr., Publisher, www.bootheglobalperspectives.com

This dove has “claimed” the Boothe courtyard, and I took this photo today.

When I was a child sitting in the back yard with my grandmother in O'Donnell, Texas, a dove flew over, circled our yard and landed on a tree branch above us. “Oh that is good luck!” Grandma cried out.

My mother also would exclaim what good luck it was when a dove dropped by our house.

This was in contrast to my uncles, and my dad, who were more likely to say, “Clean your shotgun, dove season is tomorrow, and we will catch them near the pond at sunset.” On those occasions the dove would fly in fast and circle the pond, then flutter down near the water’s edge for a drink. It was not considered sporting to shoot a bird on the ground, but if you could hit a fast-flying dove in the air, you were considered a marksman because they flew faster than quail, pheasant or duck. 

I have pondered why part of us loves the dove.

It represents spiritual connotations for some, good luck for others, and a marksmanship challenge for yet others. The appearance of the dove is beautiful, peaceful. They stand straight and tall. They seem regal.  There is something magical and majestic about the dove.

After we returned from our Saturday hunting outings, on Sunday morning we might hear a verse of the Christian Bible (or the Hebrew Tora) from the pulpit like Genisis 8:11: "And when the dove came to Noah toward evening, behold in her beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth.”

But the dove is considered special in other ways.

The Talmud compares the spirit of God to a dove that hovers over the face of the waters.

In Paganism, the goddesses Atargatis, Ishtar, Innanna, Astarte and Aphrodite are all depicted with doves.

The legendary queen Semiramis was raised by doves. They connected her to the goddesses.

Christianity uses a dove and olive branch as a symbol of peace, relating it to baptism. This image was carved on their sepulchers.

Christianity also calls the dove a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:22).

Politics:  The dove is a symbol of peace and a hawk the symbol of war.

I asked my wife, who was born in Persia (Iran) about doves, and she said, “Oh, a dove is good luck and blessings for your home.”

On and on it goes.

What I know, is that in my home two doves have taken residence within four feet of my bedroom window to the courtyard. These two birds actually stand and lean on each other, as they make that beautiful dove cooing sound.  It is a joyful, peaceful, delightful thing to behold. Look at this photo:  

 

 

So the next time you visit the Boothe Casa, you may awake to the cooing of the Mourning Dove. What a way to start the day!   Ben Boothe  800 More Articles, Boothe Global Perspectives