Day 5 – March 7, 2022

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
    and a little child will lead them.
⁷ The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
⁸ The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
⁹ They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9

Imagine. Envision. Dream. When war is on the horizon (or has already begun), we experience intense anxiety about the future, and we focus on the present moment and survival. In a time of turmoil, the prophet Isaiah announced a vision a future of peace (shalom) that seems unbelievable – a peace the world has yet to experience.

Can you imagine a future without conflict and war? Why do you think imagination and vision are so necessary in times of distress? What is the relationship between faith and vision? What do you feel when you read Isaiah’s vision of the future? If this is the future, how could you begin to live into this future today?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.