In the midst of the silent, dark nights of the soul or the turbulent, chaotic, harsh days of trial, how can we imagine a day when something as unlikely as a lush, tropical land arising out of a dry, barren wasteland?
Back to Isaiah 35 for just the first two verses. If we stop. Truly STOP. And think about these verses, read them aloud, imagine them, picture them, we find the core narrative of Christmas hope. This is really what we have to “be glad” about — the desert has bloomed (If you don’t believe me, just google ‘desert bloom’ in Google Images.) The light has come. And it will come again one day to bring a new creation falling all over itself with wild, burgeoning glory:
“Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory,
the splendor of our God.”
To ponder:
1. What wildernesses are you currently living in (or what wildernesses are some dear ones living in?)
2. What does it look like to hope that the desert will bloom in those wildernesses? For you creatives, write a poem or song or create a visual of what it will be like in that day.
