Holy Mountains
- Isaiah reference / Chapter 2
- Format / Japanese renga
The day is coming
when the holy mountains will
be for all people
All nations will stream toward them
so God can show us the way
We can learn to live
with God and the word God speaks
to our minds and hearts
turning our swords to plowshares
our weapons to pruning hooks
The nations shall come
to the mountains of Yahweh
in the days to come
Every nation shall seek peace
Mountains will be home for God
Reflections and Connexions
My reflections on Isaiah began on local mountains, not the really big ones like Rainier or Baker, of course, but smaller peaks near the Salish Sea. I began visiting these “Isaiah” mountains on a sunny February morning going to Orcas Island’s Turtleback Ridge. It was the first Sunday of Lent, and I took the opportunity to answer their call. I took my bike on the ferry so I could ride to the Turtleback trailhead. After making the 1300 foot verticle ascent on foot hike up to the ridge, I was grateful to arrive in time to watch eagles soar and dive, seemingly not to get food but for the joy of being eagles. For me that place and other high places have become archetypes reminding me that there is no place that we can hide from God. The last line from Holy Mountains reads, “Mountains will be home for God,” and so will human hearts. And as it says in Psalm 139,
Where can I go from your spirit
If I soar in the heavens
you are there
Whether I fly with the dawn
or dwell by the sea
your hand leads me
On Turtleback that Sunday it seemed that my mind and heart worked together. Like the communion bread I was both blessed and broken. It was a time and place to integrate opposites. There were 50 to 100 mile views in all directions. (The photo looks west toward Vancouver Island.) I also took photographs of wind-damaged, broken trees from a wind storm a few years before.
Holy Mountains is a promise of hope beyond Isaiah’s dark days as the powers are still learning war and practicing dominance as are many in our own time. All can come eventually to the Mountain of God. Isaiah anticipates the experience of God, as opposed to propositions about God or prayers of supplication to God. In the fullness of time we all will come. All humans are children of God. This is also telling us specifically that they, those others, other nations, our enemies even, are children of God. Eventually all will to hear the words of God and be aware that all peoples are streaming to God’s presence.
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