To Zion with Singing © Jan L. Richardson
I’m hitting the road early this morning, making a sad trip for the funeral of a woman who was a big influence on me when I was growing up. She was encouraging almost to a fault—meaning she wasn’t very good at taking no for an answer, once she got it into her head that you should pursue some opportunity—and the fact that I can speak in public without fainting owes a lot to the stuff she got me into as a kid.
It’s a good day to be thinking about this coming Sunday’s reading from Isaiah. Advent 3 has us in Isaiah 35.1-10, which reads, in part,
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing….For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way….And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
I’ll be thinking about that holy highway as I make my way up the turnpike this morning. Wherever you’re heading today, safe travels to you. May there be some crocuses along your path.
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An Illuminated Joy
December 10, 2007 at 8:44 am |
Thanks for the blossoms. Safe journey to your destination of a memorial to a woman of influence. I’m grateful for this woman I’ve never met because I can receive from her through you the fruit her mentoring produced. When will these Advent Doors become a new book?!
December 11, 2007 at 5:08 pm |
Dear Jan,
What Phyllis said.
Grace be with you,
Mary