By Lee Weems
Isaiah 11:6-9
Already busy shoppers rush about and bump into one another. Still others cut in front of others to grasp that gift away. Perhaps a brief, “I’m sorry but I was here first,” takes place but not often.The competitive spirit demands the most and the best in order to look good to others and to feel better than others.
The competitive spirit demands the most and the best in order to look good to others and to feel better than others. One upmanship occurs to feed our need of attention or control. What happened to the idea of peace and goodwill? Maybe after I get what I want?
Isaiah offers a picturesque image of the idyllic harmony. The natural enemies become a creation of acceptance and peace. Despite a world of chaos, the world and all of its beings can coexist on rare occasion. When a fire or flood sweeps across the forest, the fowl and animal claim truce for survival. No animal dominates or destroys another. They realize somehow that continual conflict in the craziness of disaster will destroy them all.
Human kind, God’s greatest creation, could learn from the rest of creation that we need one another in the tough times. Perhaps we could learn that Isaiah’s scene is the vision of God. Togetherness among diversity is an ideal that can be real.
The image of the Infant being close to the snake brings chills to my spirit. Yet Isaiah has this child, though in harm’s way, being safe and secure. Can this be? When will this be? Will we work toward Isaiah’s prophecy to become a reality?
The Holy One invites us to dream and work together with Him to be messengers and participants of peace where we can work with those who differ from us. Such is the Kingdom of God. And in this season of Hope, Love, Peace and Joy, a Child shall lead us.