the vision

In today's first reading from Isaiah, we hear:

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Funny how the way our world works and looks is so far from this vision in Isaiah. Or not funny, but sad really. I suppose it must have been out of whack centuries back when these words were written as well.

In our lived reality, it is the needy who are underfoot, stepped on by OUR footsteps. I've been doing a lot of research on poverty for a project at work. I've been amazed at the resiliency of grassroots movements of poor people like the Shack/Slum Dwellers International. I've been encouraged by the responsible actions of folks like the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. But I've also been discouraged by the tremendous disparities in our world, which are only growing. We in the developed world worry about our financial crisis, but in reality it is forcing millions into poverty across the globe while we merely need to cut back on our Christmas lists. Not to say that we don't have poverty in our country as well ... we certainly do.

In any case, this morning I pray for the coming of the vision promised in Isaiah. That we may have the wisdom, strength and guidance to dream of a world where all are fed and able to live their lives fully in joy and freedom.