a mourning dove crosses my path

Alexander Clelland

1926 - 2012

My Father died on May 29th due to complications from a stroke, he was 85 years old. My Dad lived a rich full life, but his last few years were difficult because of challenging health issues. For me, this was not a sad event.

After hearing the news of his passing, I traveled to north Carolina to help with the funeral. My parents lived near my sister's home in an assisted living community.

As a family we worked hard to make the service something uplifting and inspiring. We had a bagpiper to play Scotland the Brave and Amazing Grace. We also had two members of the military at the funeral to fold a flag and present it to my mother. This was in recognition of my Dad's service in the Navy in the South Pacific in WWII.

The symbol of the Holy Spirit

I drove to the funeral with my sister. When we arrived at the chapel a mourning dove flew across our path, directly in front of the windshield. I whispered, "A dove."

It was the only bird to pass that close to me in the full 8-days I spent with my family (Please know, I pay attention to this kind of stuff).

Shortly after we parked, I went back to her car to get something for the service, and there was a mourning dove on the trunk of the car parked right next my sister's. It sat there staring at me, close enough to touch. It might have been the same one that crossed our path just minutes earlier. I spoke to the bird, telling it that I was very aware of it's message, and what it meant. Even it's name, mourning, was resonant.

Of note, I went back to my sister's car to get a small table that would hold my father's ashes.

His funeral was on June 5th, this was also the day of the Transit of Venus across the Sun. My father and I also shared the same birthday.

Mourning Dove Wisdom:

   • Brings peace and love
   • Understanding of gentleness
   • Spirit messenger
   • Communicates between the two worlds

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