Dove's eyes

I’ve always loved observing people. And my barbie dolls. Ask my parents. They would sneak into my room when I was a toddler and find me there completely occupied in studying my barbie dolls’ features, holding their faces close to mine as I was stroking their hair, naming each doll and deciding whom belonged to which barbie house.

There is something fascinating about the ability to contemplate and look at something or someone with a singular focus. Completely taken into the moment, not looking to the left or right, instead fully devoted.

Focus needs to be practised again and again as seasons and responsibilities change. I find my eyes can flicker because of discontentment with what’s in front of me, because of apathy, lack of self-control or direction or sometimes also because of a lack of discernment of the season I’m in. Shifty eyes can easily become a way of life, literally and figuratively! Whatever the reason is to my loss of focus, I can learn from doves!

Besides symbolising the Holy Spirit, peace, grace, promise, divinity and purity, doves are known for their “dove’s eyes”. In Song of Solomon “dove’s eyes” is an expression describing lovers only having eyes for each other. Because of the narrow shape of a dove’s head, they are only able to focus on one object at a time. That’s why doves only have one mate throughout their life. They simply don’t have the interest nor the ability to look at another in a loving manner. Beautiful, and just like God’s constant, attentive gaze on us, His children.

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I pray we will know increasingly how Jesus has His loving dove’s eyes on us always! He remains faithful even when we are faithless and our attention flickers. “God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.“ (Psalm 34,15 MSG)

In turn, I pray we will have eyes for Him only, so when He moves, we move. We do not get distracted. He is the only One we see. We do not waver nor turn from our purpose . We follow our King wherever He might lead.

May we have our faces set like flint and may we be able to say to God, just like Job when he was pressed with trouble from every side, What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention.*

May we be able to proclaim, I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken* and may we rest assured that if we keep our eyes on God, we won’t trip over our own feet.*