“I knew a man,” said Mr. Audubon, “who had been connected with a band of pirates for some years. At the time to which I refer he was an honest, useful man, at the head of a happy family. In a conversation which I had with him on one occasion, he gave me this account of the way in which he was led to give up being a pirate and lead a different sort of life:
“Our vessel was anchored once for some time in a snug little harbor on a good-sized island in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida. We had several tents pitched on shore, and spent most of our time there. We used to get our supply of drinking water from a fountain that flowed out from a beautiful grove of trees not far from our camp. In the grove surrounding that fountain a number of doves had their nests. The gentle cooing of these doves used to have a strange effect on me. One day, having nothing to do, I went and took a seat by that fountain, and spent some time there in watching the motions of those doves and listening to their voices. The soft, gentle, peaceful tones in which they were cooing seemed to awaken my conscience. I thought of the quiet, peaceful lives they were living, and of the violence and wrong-doing that marked my own life.
“While thinking thus, the sense of my sinfulness overwhelmed me. Then I threw myself on the ground, and, bursting into tears, confessed my sins unto God, and asked Him to forgive me and help me to turn round and lead a different life. Then I determined to take the first opportunity of leaving my wicked companions and getting back to my family and friends. It was a hard thing to do, but with the help of God I succeeded in doing it; and now I am seeking to lead an honest, useful, happy life. And I thank God for making use of the gentle, peaceful voice of the dove to bring about this change.’”
In the gospels we read that the Lord Jesus “when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him,” and John “saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16,17. The dove in Scripture speaks of that new nature, which is Christ. It is also the bird of love and sorrow; and this was the character that the blessed Son of God was pleased to take when as a Man He went through this world.
Love in Thy lonely life
Of sorrow here below....
Dear young reader, do you know Him as your Saviour? and is His love, “which passeth knowledge,” working in your heart, and mine?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Galatians 5:22,23.
ML 06/16/1968