In the midst of an ordinary day or week lies the possibility to entertain a variety of emotions. As humans we come pre-equipped with a wide range of emotions and feelings, from deep sorrow to over the moon happiness. Both can cause us to explode, can’t they?

Off and on for the past several weeks I’ve been experiencing some disappointment and sadness  and in the course of responding to these specific feelings, I’m also exercising newly learned principles to take responsibility for myself, my own words, thoughts and any subsequent actions. To do so contrary to that teaching, causes me to run the risk of trying to fix, rescue, control, manipulate, pout, become co-dependent and even angry. Furthermore, there’s an old habit I’m also working on breaking and that’s drawing others into my situation, those who don’t belong in my “living room of emotions” until I’ve worked through these things in my own head and heart. I’m beginning to rely on the One Person I can run to first when challenges come my way. I’m turning to God first; others as needed come secondary or maybe not at all.

My daily Bible reading took me to Genesis 8 which describes the aftermath of God flooding the earth, how the waters receded and Noah releasing a raven and then a dove to determine if dry land had appeared on the face of the earth. The raven kept flying back and forth until the water dried up on the earth. How long did that lone bird stay airborne? The answer isn’t given but I’m imagining it was a long time and that the poor bird had to have grown weary being in flight for many days and nights. Aren’t some of our challenges similar to the raven? We find ourselves in a state of distress, deep sorrow, maybe even fear and we ask “how long do I have to be in this place?….when will I see a break though?”

As we continue reading in the chapter we witness Noah sending a dove after observing the raven’s flight pattern. The dove couldn’t find a place to land and unlike the raven, returned to Noah and the safety of the ark. The ark became a place of rest for the dove–again–after having been on board for many days! Noah, after waiting a week, released the dove a second time. That evening the dove returned to Noah bearing an olive leaf in its mouth. The leaf was “fresh”, not spoiled. The leaf gave Noah the information he needed–dry land was out there! Yet, before disembarking from the massive boat that was his protection and home, he sent the dove out again, but this time the bird did not return. Indeed, dry land had appeared and the dove must have done what it was created to do–thrive on land and in the air.

How often have I behaved like the raven–launching myself into a frenzy of worry and over-thinking–unable to settle and rest. Can I be more like the dove, who was unable to settle down and rest, and rather than stay in an airborne frenzy, returned to her place of rest, her safe place, back to Noah. She knew where to go and when to return.

I underlined the verse that said the dove brought a freshly picked olive leaf. Not a branch, a leaf. A delicate, light weight, beautiful green leaf. Traditionally used in cultures as a symbol of peace and reconciliation–extending an olive branch–a quickening in my spirit encouraged me that I can be assured that in the midst of uncomfortable circumstances, I can reach for hope and know that “new life” is waiting for me–more specifically–“new changes”.

Like Noah sending out a dove, I can reach–extend my thought life heavenwards and ask “how long will this last Father? When will I see a break through?” The dove and its olive branch are reminding me that I can “reach for hope”. I also know that I may have to “wait” a little bit…maybe a week, maybe a month, maybe longer. Although I’m in God’s presence, being so doesn’t promise me I’m on his time-table. After all, the great flood took 40 days and nights of rain, of heavenly and earthly floodgates being opened and pouring water from above and below the ark. When the rain stopped, it was over 150 days before dry land appeared. Noah and his family had nowhere to escape because they didn’t need to once on board the ark. They were fully protected and completely provide for during their journey of a life time! Their “new life” and “new changes” came when they were able to open the door of the ark and walk on dry land. Was the land wet under their feet? Did they sink at all when walking about investigating their new surroundings? Did they find the olive grove where the dove plucked her luscious leaf? We don’t know. We aren’t told. What we ARE told is that Noah built an altar and worshiped the Lord. At the end of a horrible ordeal for himself and his family, he worshiped. He offered a sacrifice. He acknowledged the One who gave him a crazy plan to build a boat to soar above a plan of massive destruction, yet come to “rest” at a place of “new beginnings”….”new hope”…”a new promise”.

I am learning a lot from one verse. Genesis 8:11. ….’there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf’. There in the midst of my sadness and disappointment will come a freshly plucked olive leaf and I will gladly accept it. With my olive leaf in hand, I will return to my source of “safety” and “rest” which is my Father’s lap with big strong arms extended to embrace me when I need to  return and consistently “go” to for hope and all that goes with it to bring a break through.