Wednesday, December 19, 2007

A highway shall be there and it shall be called the Holy Way; no traveler, not even fools shall go astray.
Isaiah: 8 - 10

Throughout history, there have been many great marches.  Mahatma Gandhi marched to win independence non-violently.  Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton marched for women’s suffrage.  César Chávez marched to improve the lives of poor farm laborers.  Dr. King marched so that black citizens could be free at last.  Countless unnamed faithful joined them on their marches and on other marches too – for peace, for jobs, for gay rights, for equality, for immigration.

In the narrative about her song The Great Peace March, Holly Near says,

They marched through deserts, across rivers, and over mountains. They marched in the rain and snow and blistering heat…[They] have all placed one foot in front of the other, taken one step at a time to make their position in the world known.

Val and I recently watched The Wizard of Oz.  Dorothy and her companions are marching, too.  They march for wisdom, for heart, for courage, for a place to belong.  Is this not the quest each of us must take?  Perhaps this is why I like these last few verses of Isaiah’s prophetic poem in which he describes another great march.

In his vision, healing has happened to creature and creation alike – and all God’s people are on the road to Jerusalem.  And oh, what a road it is.  Isaiah calls it the Holy Way where no one, “not even fools,” will ever be lost again.  God’s traveling mercies surround them on their pilgrimage, nothing threatens life or safety, justice has come and every good cause has been won.  Their lives have been given back to them – body and mind are in one peace again.  All God’s people are on their way, singing and rejoicing and grateful.

That such parades will one day exist is the hope which marches beside us this Advent!