Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil.

~Song 4:1a NKJV

FIND MY EYES

“I can see what you’re doing with my extraordinary vision, so behave,” I said to the children as they lined up for recess.”

“You can’t see me,” Timmy* teased.

“Can too. I see everything you’re doing. Right now, you’re pushing Elaine*.”

Stevie* tugged on my sleeve, “Mrs. C, how’d you know that?”

“I have extra eyes on the back of my head. Betcha can’t find them.”

Immediately, the children tussled my hair, searching for my extra eyes.

Finally, the children reformed their line, and we went to recess, every child giggling. There they created imaginary scenarios about extra eyes.

When they lined up, they concluded that we all had invisible eyes on the backs of our heads.

LESSONS FROM THE ROCK DOVE

This experience got me thinking. What if we really could see behind our heads?

OUTWARD FOCUS

The fact is, rock doves have monocular vision, which enables them to have a 340-degree view of their world. This means they can literally see behind their heads. Any bird that has eyes on the sides of their heads has this capability.

Rock doves use this ability to see predators. It’s tough to sneak up on a dove. Before an intruder comes remotely close, they fly away. With this panoramic vision, they cannot not see someone.

>FLEE ENTRAPMENTS

From the rock dove’s example, we learn to be careful to flee from sin. The rock dove doesn’t let a predator attack; neither should we let sin entrap us.

>BE A COMPASSIONATE HARVESTER

We also learn compassion from the dove. If a friend loses their way, we are to be ready to assist, helping them to bring their needs to Jesus.

Every. Soul. Matters.

Beloved, Jesus puts it this way, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7 NKJV). He reminds us to be mission-minded, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15b NKJV).

>WORK THE MINISTRY FIELDS

In our bridal Song, He sends us to work the mission field.

We are spiritual fruit checkers, saying, “Come, my Beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards to see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grapes appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves” (Song 7:11a, 12b KJV).

We entrust each person—each “love”—to Beloved’s care, facilitating their healing as He directs.

We check for spiritual growth early, and often.

Soul harvesters are we, even initiating ministry calls before He asks us. We are eager to serve Him, and He gives us a heart for souls.

INWARD FOCUS

Contrast doves’ ocular vision to humans’ binocular vision. Our eyes are not on the sides of our heads—rather, our eyes are forward-facing. This enables us to focus, judge distances, and discern minute details with ease.

Interestingly, rock doves also have this binocular vision, but theirs is restricted to a very narrow channel. Thus, they can only focus on whatever is directly in front of them such as food, younglings, or, most importantly, their mate.

If you watch a rock dove using binocular vision, you’ll see them bobbing their heads to refocus. Often, their mate is what has captured their attention. They coo and bob in a delightful dance. They are silly in love. We can’t help but notice.

>CULTIVATE PRAYER

From this example, we learn to focus on our Beloved Jesus Christ with rapt attention. As we tuck into the secluded prayer garden, He fills us with His Spirit. By cultivating this Spirit-to-spirit connection, we become effective ministers, eager to reach people for Christ.

Prayer must be a regular habit if we are to give Beloved the time that He needs to refine the anointing He places within us. But, let’s come just because we love Him. Let’s be silly in love, unashamed that Beloved Jesus is our top priority.

BE LIKE THE ROCK DOVE

Have you made the choice to cultivate extraordinary vision? We learn how by observing the rock dove. Beloved offers us “dove’s eyes.” But, choosing to foster this gift is ours alone.

This day, let’s choose both monocular and binocular spiritual vision. With these we can:  

These are the lessons we learn from the rock dove.

Have you made the choice to cultivate extraordinary spiritual vision?

My Beloved Jesus, thank You for giving me “dove’s eyes.” Give me wisdom to avoid sin’s enticements, compassion for those You entrust to my care, and passion to prioritize my relationship with You.

Your Bride,

Love

Genre: Anecdotal Story—Creative Non-fiction; Body—Non-fiction

Copyright 2022: Extraordinary Vision: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved