“My dove, my perfect one, is unique.” Song of Songs 6:9

If you’ve ever spent time in any large city, no doubt, you’ll at some point find yourself amidst a bevy of pigeons. In our city culture, we often see pigeons as an annoyance, somewhat dirty birds that leave droppings all over our sidewalks and strut leisurely across our path. And yet, we honor the “dove” as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, a sign of peace, restoration, and love. These birds, all species of the Columbidae[1] family, are one and the same. While we have tended to call those flocking into our cities in search for food “pigeons,” we’ve mostly identified those wild birds that live in the crags, cliffs, and branches of forests and mountains, “doves.” We love to hear their sweet, mournful coos at night, and our heart melts at th…