Devotion
Furrows, be glad, though the Earth is bare, one more seed is planted there. Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People look east, and sing today: love, the rose, is on the way.
~Stanza Two: "People Look East"
In Isaiah 35:1, the people of Israel are struggling in exile. Their experiences, however, speak loudly to our own situation. The images of wilderness, desert, and dry land reflect our own spiritual, psychological and physical ailments as individuals and communities. Living in these rough situations, God speaks a word of life. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the rose (crocus) it shall blossom abundantly.” What strength comes to us who are living in deserts when we hear the words of Christ, the rose of Sharon. Rejoice with joy and singing!
Prayer
Dear God, through Christ’s death and resurrection, we receive with thanksgiving the gifts of new life and love so that we can blossom abundantly in our own dry places. Amen.
People Look East Text @1931 Eleanor Farjeon, admin. David Highham Associates, Ltd. all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission