Aliferous

The sound rousted me from my kitchen chair as I dashed to the window to see what all the racket was about. It ‘twas not the night before Christmas. As I shielded my eyes into the sunny sky, I took note of the hundreds of flapping, honking geese silhouetted against the blue sky. These winged birds - Canadian geese - fly in V formations, mate for life and will help each other if one is injured.

“Aliferous” is having wings. And then I got to thinking about Icarus who flew too close to the sun and lost his wings. The wings of the dawn as the heavens open arms to the morning sky. In the fourth century, an image of a winged angel - like a human being with wings - appeared and that is the image we have become familiar with.

There are two types of angels that have wings that are mentioned in the bible. Exodus 25:20, Ezekiel 10 and Isaiah 6 describe the cheribim and seraphim. These spiritual beings are of the highest orders of angels and are next to the throne of God. Red-winged angels and angels with six wings - two for flying, two cover the face and the third pair cover the feet.

The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover. Exodus 37:9

We eat chicken wings. We “wing it'“ when we don’t know what we are doing without instructions. We also understand that eagle’s wings represent strength and in Exodus and Deuteronomy, eagle wings demonstrate the loving-kindness of God delivering His covenant people. (Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11) Wings are associated with birds, but they may also be images of fairy-like creatures, spirits and even demons. I like to make reference to God’s wingspan and his promises.

Know that God is faithful and He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4