Lardner's Ring

I have fallen in love with the BBC series, The adventures of Robin Hood. Perhaps it is the mixture of humor, great acting, one liners, fight scenes and romance that gets me. In any case, I am addicted and grieving that there are only 3 seasons of it. Thank goodness for Netflix!            

Lardner's Ring was one of my favorites.  In this episode a messenger brings a note from the King and in His dying breath whispers, "Lardner's Ring". Robin is later told that this refers to a pigeon and the ring that can carry a message back to the King.  I was so intrigued by the conversation that ensued. The pigeon will always return back to it's mate, separate them and they will always find their way back to their love. These pigeons mate for life and take their relationship very seriously. 

Interesting facts about Homing pigeons.

• Pigeons achieved a 98% success rate in the missions flown in WW II, despite enemy fire, and often with mortal injuries to themselves.
• Pigeons are still used today by the French, Swiss, Israeli, Iraqi and Chinese Armies.
• Noah's Dove was most likely a homing pigeon.
• They were used by many for communication before the telegraph was invented.
• In the late 1800 the most heroic recorded flight was from a pigeon that was released in Africa and took 55 days to get home in England. Traveling over 7,000 miles.
• Unless separated, pigeons mate for life.
• Can travel 700-1000 miles a day.
• Homing pigeons have been used throughout the centuries to carry messages, since they can travel up to 1000 miles.  

After learning this information, I kept coming back to the phrase, it returns to it's mate. Beloved, who ultimately is the Christian's mate? We are the bride of Christ and to Him are we to return.

Just like the message that is attached to the pigeon, God's word has messages for us.

Who can separate us from the love of God? Romans 8:35

Nothing can keep us from His love, nothing!                                  

Return to me and I will return to you. Malachi 3:7.     

He waits for us to come to Him. What is stopping you?

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

Are you feeling distant from Him? Go to Him.

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

We are the Bride of Christ and He is our one true love. Nothing can separate us from is love, He will be close to us when we return to Him and draw near to Him. 

I had to ask myself these questions after this.

Have I dedicated myself to being the Bride of Christ?
How am I drawing near to God?
Have I allowed anything to come before my relationship with Him?
What can I do to be ready for His return?

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