Spring has arrived! The earth is about to enjoy greater warmth and new life awakening within it.

When surrounded by vitality, be it a newborn child, a beloved animal, a cheerful friend or a bright sunny day, life is wonderful. Create a garden and yet another wonderful dimension of life’s richness is added.

When Isaiah speaks of a bear and cow being neighbors and a baby sitting aside a viper (Is 11:1-9), what message is he sending for us in 2018?

At first look his examples symbolize peaceful coexistence. That which seems unlikely is now likely; direct opposites uniting as one.

The derivation of the word “peace” comes from the word “pact.” Isaiah envisions a world desirous of making covenants that create peaceful existence.