It was an ordinary day and an ordinary drive to the office. I was jamming to worship songs, banging to the beat on the steering wheel waiting for the light to turn green. After what seemed like several minutes longer than necessary, finally the light turned green. As my 3yo granddaughter likes to remind me, green means GO! So I took my left turn and that’s when it happened. I almost hit a dove! There it was hovering right in front of my car windshield, beckoning me to notice it. As soon as I noticed it’s pure white feathers on its outstretched wings, it flew away. It happened so quickly, I had nearly forgotten the experience when I arrived at the office.

There were the usual ‘Good Morning’ greetings and ‘how are you doing?’ niceties until I stopped before a fellow believer. She stood there looking at me slightly puzzled. “What happened to you?” she asked. “What do you mean?” I asked, quietly wondering if I forgot to brush my hair? Match my clothes?

“There’s a glow, a sparkle in your eye today,” she commented. “Well, I know I’m not pregnant, and I didn’t spray myself with glitter today, so it must be the Florida humidity,” I sputtered out, completely forgetting my earlier experience as I approached the activities for the day.

A few days later, a personal attack on my character sent me to my knees seeking the Lord’s peace and wisdom.  Through the tears and fumbled prayers, I heard the Lord ask in a gentle whisper, “Do you remember the dove from the other day?”

“You mean the one I almost hit? Yes, yes I remember it just hovering till I noticed it before it flew away,” I stuttered.

“Dear child, how many white doves have you seen in the wild, especially while driving? Do you think it a mere coincidence that a white dove would hover before you and fly away with no consequence? I knew the personal attack was coming, I sent the dove as a reminder of My presence over you and in you. Learn to laugh with Me child- sit in the joys and blessings I have prepared you for and prepared for you. The enemy is going to try and steal your joy, try to distract you, but keep your eyes looking for Me. I see you, I hear you, and I am rejoicing over you but you can’t hear My rejoicing over the noisy clutter of your day.”

My dear friends, I don’t know what you’re dealing with today, but I know that the Lord knows and is present with you. I am certain that He has even sent you your own ‘dove’ maybe in the form of a kind word from a friend, a smile from a stranger, or even a rainbow in the storm clouds surrounding you. Don’t let the busy of your day rush you to the next thing before you see the ‘dove’ hovering in front of you waiting for you to see it. Maybe those several unnecessary minutes are necessary to get your attention long enough to hear Him.

"For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

-Zephaniah 3:17