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Editorial from Volume I, Issue IV, 2006 |
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Dove of Peace I once heard of two armies that were about to go into battle in early times. They had been camped in one place for several weeks, refusing to talk and preparing for battle. Finally, the preparations were done and the time had come. They would meet on the battle field. The morning of the first day of the war, one of the leaders began to put his battle gear on to meet the enemy. But when he reached for his helmet, a dove had built a nest. He lifted the helmet, but the dove sat tight, refusing to leave her newly hatched and very naked babies. This stopped the general. He held the helmet gently and watched the dove as it coaxed the two baby birds beneath her breast to drink some crop milk. He thought of his two babes at home, one still suckling from his wife's breast. Tears came to his eyes. He set the helmet down and dropped to his knees. When he lifted his head, the male dove had joined the female on the nest in the helmet. The male fed the female and they cooed to each other. Inside the helmet of war, there was peace. There was love. There was hope. When the general rose, he proclaimed to his troops that they would not fight that day. Instead he marched onto the field alone to meet the opposing general. And they talked instead of fighting. They reached a compromise. The war was done. No young men died that day. Peace reigned, and love, and hope. I don't know if the story is true or not, but what a lesson it is for all of us - especially in these troubled times. SVR |