December 14

When Isaiah celebrates the messengers who announce God’s vision of restoration and liberation to a people who have lived so long in exile they have forgotten what home is  and what belonging means, the prophet doesn’t laud the artfulness of their words.  He doesn’t talk about how sweet the sound of their voice is or the tunefulness of their speech.  Isaiah doesn’t commend their eloquence or remark about how articulate they are.  He doesn’t even praise the life-bringing vision that they proclaim.  He talks about their feet.  Their beautiful, mountain climbing feet.  Isaiah seems to be calling us to recognize that what is important and magnificent about these messengers is where they stand.

Who would know more about peace than those whose feet have lived under occupation and constant military threat, either exiles in their own land or driven out from the places of their ancestors?

Who would know more about what good news is needed than those whose feet have stood in lines at checkpoints, constantly barraged with messages of their inferiority and dehumanizing violence?

Who would know more about salvation than those whose feet have climbed up mountains of unjust treatment that try to keep them not only from flourishing, but from knowing their own inherent dignity and worth?

These feet, and where they have journeyed and stood, are the beautiful messengers of God’s new day rising.

This week, we have been dwelling with the wisdom from the Harm Reduction Movement that people who use drugs (PWUD) themselves are the primary agents of reducing the harms of their drug use.  Harm reduction seeks to empower PWUD to share information and support each other in strategies which meet their actual conditions of use. Harm reduction affirms that those whose feet have stood on street corners and in jail cells, who have traveled the pathways of survival and mutual care in systems that were not meant for them, these are the ones with the messages we need for such a time as this. What is important and magnificent about these messengers is where they stand because, from where they stand, they can imagine a new world emerging and know what it takes for us to get there.  How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who envision a world that keeps us alive and flourishing, that affirms dignity and worth, that centers care and compassion.

This Advent, may we heed and celebrate these messengers. How beautiful are their feet indeed.

Prayer

Inhale: I will listen beyond my knowing.
Exhale: How beautiful is this good news.

Freedom Song

Music: “I Want to Be Ready” traditional
Offered by: Denise Griebler