March 2, 2004	Read Isaiah 52:5-9
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
LED TO NEW HEIGHTS We all love a good message but, with the exception of the Christmas season when the news is full of “feel good” messages and stories of human generosity to the less fortunate, what makes headlines are stories of gossip, scandals, crime, and war. We get caught in the trivial aspects of our lives and are so busy -- busy wasting a lot of precious time. In this the first week of Lent, we have an opportunity to repent and reflect. The message is one of great hope for justice, peace, and salvation through the Messiah to come. If we fill up on the Good News, there is no room for the bad. The text reminds me of a beautiful allegory by Hannah Hurnard, Hinds Feet on High Places. The title is based on Habakkuk 3:19: “The sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” The allegory dramatizes the yearning of God’s children to be led to new heights of love, joy and victory. It is the story of Much Afraid and her spiritual journey through difficult places with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering. Much Afraid passes through many dangers until she finally reaches the High Places and is transformed by her union with the loving Shepherd. My hope and prayer for this Lenten season is for all of us to journey with the messenger, who brings the Good News of the Messiah and – just like Much Afraid -- unite with the loving Shepherd on the mountain top. Heavenly Father, give us the courage to join the chorus of the messenger of the Good News: Our God reigns. JETTE MORTENSEN

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