It was nothing much really, yet it left an indelible imprint on my mind. I had been resting quietly in my easy chair by the window, submitted to my heavenly calling to, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a NIV). Suddenly, a lone dove landed quietly on the windowsill, just inches from me. Instantly, I felt a surge of warm comfort enveloping me. In that still moment, I seemed to have experienced the God of the universe come ever so close beside me. I cannot forget this — both the gentle dove that I saw and the comfort that I sensed. I cherish that brief visitation as my very own personal video clip from God to tuck away into my memory.

Since then, I’ve been replaying that clip. Each time, the surge of comforting warmth is reawakened. Each time, new thoughts come to my mind. I think of how a dove was seen descending softly on Jesus:

“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'” (Luke 3:21-22 NIV)

It was God’s Spirit validating His Son. Imagine! That is the very same Spirit Whom the heavenly Father bestows on us, His loved ones. It’s the same Spirit Who lands softly at our side, assuring us of His comforting presence, even while He is working within our hearts to convict us of and liberate us from our sinful ways.

This morning, in reliving that little video, I think of the mellow cooing of doves which I occasionally hear arising from somewhere in our quiet neighbourhood. Those mournful sounds make me think of God’s gentle Spirit empathizing in mournful harmony with human sorrow — both personal sorrow and the sorrow that enshrouds our broken world today.

Surely, the great I AM is amongst us, and with tender cooing sounds, He is calling to each of us: “Be still and know that I am God.” He is calling us to know His peace — deep within.

Prayer: Gentle Dove from heaven, lure our obsessed minds away from those noisy, frantic anxieties which weigh on us, and lead us beside quiet waters where we may be reawakened to Your ever-present lovingkindness. Amen.

Diane Eaton
Paisley, Ontario, Canada

Reprinted from PresbyCan daily devotionals with author’s permission.