Since the days of Noah, the olive branch has carried a message to the world. When Noah saw the olive branch in the mouth of the dove he had sent forth, he knew that the floodwaters were receding. The tiny leaf brought more than hope; it was evidence of a new life for the human family.

People have stood on the Mount of Olives among trees that were seedlings when Jesus walked the dusty roads of Israel. The trees are gnarled and twisted, for this is the nature of these ancient citizens of the land. They stand as symbols of eternity. They stand watch over the city of Jerusalem with the hope that one day, it will truly be a place of peace, for “habitation of peace” is the meaning of its name.

Hardly any creation on earth lives as long as an olive tree. It lives by growing; it either grows or dies. We can learn from the message of the olive branch, for we, too, must grow and change. Growth is change, and change at its best is growth.

It seems that the dove and the olive branch are eternally joined to one another, for both are now viewed as symbols of peace. When Noah saw the olive leaf in the mouth of the dove, it must have brought him peace. When we want to reconcile with another person, we figuratively extend the olive branch, for the greater hope is peace. We want there to be harmony again.

And, of course, people around the world know the life-giving properties of olive oil, for it not only enhances the flavor of our food, but it supports the restorative nature of our bodies.

May your time at the Olive Branch be a new beginning for you. Look around you at the friends and family enjoying the good food and fellowship of this place. Many a new beginning got its start over a good meal, and many a person has felt at peace and in harmony with the world after a time of fellowship and dining. It was for this purpose that the Olive Branch came in being. It is more than a restaurant; it is a gathering place once again just as it was when it was a church. As you leave this evening, perhaps you will hear the cooing of the dove calling the human family to peace, and if you are truly fortunate, perhaps you will see a dove in flight with an olive branch in its mouth.