The Holy Spirit as a Dove – Poem

Last week I posted on the image of a the Holy Spirit being like a dove in our chest, stirring when we worship and seeking to soar into the heavenly places. However we tend to restrain that impulse out of our sensibilities to those around us, not wanting to be out of step or to look foolish. The imagery developed to the picture of a dove being released, soaring into the skies and transforming into a powerful eagle. The sense that came with this imagery is that of the great benefit we can enjoy if we would only get past our self-consciousness and allow the Holy Spirit to be freely expressed through us. We would soon find ourselves mounting up with wings like an eagle and soaring far above the things of earth. 

Some days after capturing the initial imagery I found myself in another poetic frame of mind and so I penned the following verses to encapsulate the concept outlined above. 

A DOVE FLUTTERS IN MY CHEST – stirred by worship and the Word. Chris Field Friday April 18, 2008

A dove came down upon my chest and settled there to make its nest.
How sweet the tune and soft its wing and Oh how sweetly it did sing.
My life transformed by heaven’s dove, who brought me stirrings from above.

At times the dove doth stir and move, as worship lifts me from my groove.
When I embark on heartfelt praise I sense the dove doth lift its gaze.
It warms me so to sense things such, as if refreshed by God’s own touch.

At times I must restrain this dove, which stirs and coos of God’s great love.
I almost feel my chest will burst and so I quell my rising thirst.
My worship held my soul is calmed, yet I wonder if I’m harmed.

Then in a burst of free delight I let the dove take glorious flight.
I did not hold it back again but let it fly at will and then…
The dove transformed before my eyes into an eagle as it flies.

So now I soar in heavens above, since I released this heavenly dove.
With eagle wings I fly alone up to the place of heaven’s throne.
Hold not the stirrings of God’s dove – t’will lift you to God’s arms of love. 

Tags: dove, eagle, heaven, heavenly places, Holy Spirit, imagery, poem, spirit, transformation, worship