Titles and timings get tricky around this time of year. As I said very recently (just in the last few days maybe, or it might be something I will say/you will read in the next few days), Thanksgiving and Advent are racing in tandem. Thanksgiving usually gets here first but Advent is not far behind. Or at least, the first Sunday of Advent – which is my focus right now. You know, before Thanksgiving!

“The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.” ( Isaiah 2:1-2)

What is spoken concerning the Lord God the Divine is often spoken in terms of hopes and dreams – less often in terms of actual facts and tangible signs. As I have gotten old I have learned the value of making plans based on facts and tangible signs, but basing my hopes on dreams and insights.

“Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Verses 3 – 4)

Of late I have been thinking about juxtaposition of current events and biblical insights. And how that can both inform and deceive the other. I find myself becoming more vocal on certain issues; not so much political issues but social issues. The times though tend to mingle and swirl the social and political. Ironically, that is sort of a biblical phenomenon. In the both the social (and political) realm it is important to know what you believe and believe in. And who & Who informs that belief. And before I go off on any tangent or digress, let me sum up my thoughts by saying . . . .

“O house of Jacob [and the whole Christian community], come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!” (Verse 5)

Selah!