December 13th by Jeanne Early
“The wolf shall live with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the kid,
The calf and the lion and the fatling together,
And a little child shall lead them.”
Isaiah 11:6
As I read his poem from Isaiah of the foretelling the child in the manger, I am reminded of the many activities of the Advent season where we gather with our birth families, church families, and friends. As we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the ultimate reconciler, we arrive from various households and areas of the country ages, experiences, and allegiances.
During the past 2 years our attention has focused on disparate opinions and infectious viruses that have separated us physically and ideologically, yet Isaiah suggests an alternative to us. The poet from long ago suggests an allegiance between the wolf and lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf, lion, and fatling together due to a child in a manger.
This Advent as we hug or fist bump, comfort, confront, wear a face mask or not, laugh, listen and share; we can join together focusing on the similarities that we share as reconciled people of God. I hope that your advent is filled with expectation, waiting, reconciliation and joy.
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