Dr. Padelford (our Bible study teacher) told us this story, and I think everybody should have a chance to hear it. It's really good.
He was in Ethiopia preaching a sermon on Song of Songs in a church that was one big, airy room with three walls and just openings for windows. At one point, he focused particularly on the imagery of doves in the book to show that Solomon and the Shulammite find peace in each other (their names, by the way, are associated with Shalom, right?). He drew the parallel that we should look to Christ as our peace, and that we need to live at peace with him.
So, for instance, Song 1:15
"Behold, you are beautiful, my love;
behold, you are beautiful;
your eyes are doves."
Suddenly, a pair of doves flew into the church and landed in the rafters together, cooing gently to each other.
Can you believe it? Magical! That really happened!
Oh, I love that! That is really, really cool!
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