Pigeons or Doves?

Over the last few weeks some white birds have been visiting our garden. Rachel and I have had an ongoing discussion… are they white pigeons or doves?

We have lots of grey-pink-bluish pigeons in our garden – at best they’re stupid pests at worst they’re aggressive, feral vermin. Doves, however, are beautiful, gentle birds, a symbol of love and peace. So are these birds pigeons or doves?

There’s a lot of football… transfers of over-priced payers… the women’s World Cup in Australia… On Saturday we went to Norwich City’s first match of the season…

I love the crowd involvement… especially their perspective in refereeing decisions …Was that a robust tackle or was it a foul? …Did the player’s hand touch the ball deliberately? …Is that player/referee a peaceful, loving dove or an aggressive, hated pigeon?

Yesterday afternoon the family came round… nine of us were sitting round the table when the white pigeon/doves arrived. What were they? Phones came out. The question was googled with inconclusive results.

For example in a long involved article ‘Pigeonpedia’ says ‘Scientifically there is no confusion. Doves and pigeons are technically the same thing… All pigeons and doves belong to the same family…’  

They’re the same!

The article concludes: ‘Much like humans, pigeons/doves are very similar… Biologically, however, they are different because of their genetic makeup.’

They’re different! I’m glad that’s clear!!

I read the beginning of Luke’s gospel this morning… Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem, Jesus, manger, shepherds, sheep, angels… Happy Christmas!

… a week later Jesus is taken to the temple; in keeping with Jewish law, there’s a sacrifice of ‘a pair of doves or two pigeons…’

…Thirty years later Jesus is baptised…‘The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’

Through confusion and questions… issues of identity… I’m musing on a man, born in poverty… a dove of love and peace… and a voice from heaven…