One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. -Luke 3:21 – 22
Mrs. Ruth Unruh was my favorite teacher of all time. She was in her early 60’s when I was in her third grade class. She was a tough, no nonsense lady who made learning more of an event than an obligation.
Early in my third grade year, Mrs. Unruh decided our class would benefit from a class pet. We were all so excited! Our little third grade voices started shouting out unsolicited suggestions. We wanted something cute and furry, that we could hold and pass around the class. However, Mrs. Unruh, in all her wisdom, ruled out things like ferrets and bats. Little did we know, she had already made her selection.
The next day she brought in a large cage covered with a blanket. We could hear the mystery animal cooing from inside. She set the cage down on her teaching table and lifted the blanket to reveal two doves underneath. The doves were a creamy gray color with a few dark feathers around the base of their wings and neck. We all “ooed” and “aahhed.” Mrs. Unruh explained how to care for the birds and what our responsibilities would be. Then she told us one last thing, “It will take time to get used to the cooing. At first it will be distracting, but after a while it will be comforting and normal.”
She was right! For days we were distracted by the constant noise from the doves’ cage. Who knew that birds could make so much noise?! But as the year progressed, we got used the comforting coo’s from our feathered friends. When school came to a close that year, I remember missing the underlying sound that I’d grown to love.
As I’ve grown in my study of the Bible, I’ve come to appreciate the symbolism of the Holy Spirit being revealed in the form of a dove. Each time I read the scriptures that reference this, I’m reminded of that constant cooing in my third grade classroom. The Holy Spirit is intended to be our Constant Companion, the very real Presence of God in our lives. When we become aware of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it can take some getting used to. The more time we spend with the Holy Spirit, the more comforting and normal it becomes. What a joy it would be to live a world where people experiencing the Presence of the Holy Spirit is ‘normal.’ It is my prayer today that you will ask God to make you aware of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in your life and that it will become increasingly ‘normal’.
Stephanie Greenwald, Director of Worship
