Noah pulled a dove out of the bowels of the ark and ascended the ladder. With a prayer he let it go. All day he looked for the dove’s return. You’ve known your share of floods. Flooded by sorrow at the cemetery, stress at the office, anger at the disability in your body or the inability of your spouse. You’ve likely seen the sun set on your hopes as well. You’ve been on Noah’s boat.
And you’ve needed what Noah needed; you’ve needed some hope. “That evening it came back to him with a fresh olive leaf in its mouth” (Genesis 8:11 NCV). The bird brought more than a piece of a tree; it brought hope. Hope is an olive leaf—evidence of dry land after a flood. Proof to the dreamer that dreaming is worth the risk.
