Posted by
Sam Heath on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 2:35:33 PM
Many a Christmas tree is adorned by a beautiful, winged angel; but why? Well, the “Annunciation” of course, but admitting to a minor flaw in an otherwise sterling character and artistic discernment, despite the AFI acclaim for the film and the plaudits of so many “It’s a Wonderful Life” is not on my play list; it is not one of my favorite films. Smarmy, hokey, and an immature Jimmy Stewart dreadfully overacting are some of the reasons for this dislike of the film. But the angel, Clarence, him I like.
You see, I don’t doubt there are angels, good and bad angels. Satan according to Scripture is a fallen angel, a son of God, and from the very earliest of times angels and demons have been a part of human history; but why the wings? Being able to fly has to have been the hope of the earliest humans, and despite it not being natural, as in “If God had intended people to fly he would have given them wings,” the dedication to this unnatural environment for humans has led to men actually walking on the moon.
But when it comes to angels, where is the actual evidence for these beings? The books, films, talk shows proliferate on the subject and people are entranced by the idea of angels and much credit is given to guardian angels, but much like UFOs where is the proof?
However, for the naysayers the historical record in stone and the most ancient of manuscripts gives one pause to wonder. The many stories from the most ancient of times credit angels and demons, but again I ask; why the wings? Just why would an angel require wings?
What a proud moment it was for me those many years ago to “win my wings” as a pilot, and I can relate to Clarence on that score. But being able to fly airplanes is not on the same level as the wings of angels. Whenever I was flying I knew I was in an unnatural element not designed for human beings; the risk was part of the attraction for flying but I was no angel. So I understand humans not having wings, but why should angels have them? Just where are angels going that requires they have wings? It just doesn’t make any sense when you really think about it. Yet the historical record of these beings has them with wings. Now the need for fairies having wings; that I can understand, but angels? Nope; doesn’t make any sense.
If Santa can visit every child on Christmas Eve without his needing wings, but having magic reindeer that can fly, I can buy this. But if Santa doesn’t need wings why should angels? Don’t they have the same access to flying reindeer? Or could it be that humans did at one time have wings like the birds of the air, and this accounts for the ancient stories of angels having wings and the longing of people to fly? Were Adam and Eve created with wings, but lost them as part of the curse of God for their disobedience? If so, it might account for that part of us that continues to long for wings, our attempts to overcome gravity and take flight.
There is no discounting the charm of angels having wings, and there would be very few charming stories about wingless angels notwithstanding Clarence. And it is true in many stories, including some of those in the Bible angels do not always appear with wings. But what would the “Ark of the Covenant” be without those winged angels? And when it comes to the various religions, they would be hard up without winged angels. Still the question remains; why do angels require wings, why do any of the creatures of the various myths and legends require wings?
The more I began to think about this, the more fascinating the question became. Winged creatures figure so prominently in so many of the myths and legends of antiquity I asked myself why this should be; and there seems no satisfactory answer. But some things do suggest themselves such as Adam and Eve having been created with wings and getting “clipped” as one of the consequences of The Fall.
Then there is the idea that extraterrestrials may have been described as “winged creatures,” and the ancients depicted them so. But I can’t imagine why ET would need wings. The story of Atlantis does not have winged Atlanteans, but there are legends of winged creatures abounding in many ancient stories. Still the question of the origin of such stories remains.
Now wouldn’t it be something if archeologists should discover the remains of ancient humans with wings! Granted there does not appear to be much prospect of this happening; nevertheless, somehow I wouldn’t find it all that surprising. And “On the Wings of a Dove” might take on a whole new dimension of understanding; and who knows but what God did intend for humans to fly?