As I continued to watch this gorgeous feathered friend through the glass, I decided to name her Delilah, even though I was quite aware that it could be a male dove. Delilah appeared to have a great sense of fashion (speaking of the purple and black feather boa, of course!) and did not appear to have a care in the world. One could assume that she had the perfect dove life. But, I started to wonder about how old Delilah was, and about where she had flown in her lifetime. Was this her hometown? What life experiences would she tell me about if she could talk to me? Had she ever been in love? Had another dove ever hurt her? What dove drama had been a part of her life?
It may seem ridiculous to spend time pondering dove dilemmas. And, I don't know that anyone gathers dove data such as that. But, is it possible that we could be a lot like that dove? The very one who appears to have it all together with her high sense of fashion may be the one who is dying on the inside due to physical, emotional, or spiritual struggles.
We have all heard the old saying about not judging a book by its cover. But, do we heed that advice? It is so easy to be guilty of jumping to conclusions based on the outward appearance..."Oh, she has it all. She's thin, intelligent, has perfect children, and an adoring husband." But, if we were behind closed doors, we might learn that things are not always as they seem to be on the surface.
The person who appears to be well nourished may be absolutely starving on the inside. And, that internal "hunger" cannot be satisfied with food that is humanly prepared for the physical body. Only God can satisfy the hunger and thirst that have not been previously satisfied by any other means. Ask the Samaritan woman. She must have been a physically attractive woman, as she had been married many times, and was currently with a man who was not her husband. But, she was spiritually starving.
My mind wanders to the death of a movie "legend" during the last week. She was known for her physical beauty, and had been married multiple times. She had all of the material possessions that she could ever want in this world. But, I wonder if she was starving on the inside as the Samaritan woman was until she met Jesus.
To satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst, we must meet Jesus. And, we must accept the life-giving food and water that He offers so freely to us. The best part is His promise that we will never hunger or thirst again. And, Jesus is faithful to keep His promises.
"Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me 'til I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole."
"His eye is on the sparrow (and the dove!), and I know He watches me."
