Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told to you from the beginning? — Isaiah 40:21a.
Today’s verse resonated with me today in a way that felt eerily familiar. It wasn’t the grandiosity of the prophet that struck me, but rather the echoes of my past. I could almost hear the voices of my old teachers and coaches ringing in my ears, their frustration evident in every syllable. “Haven’t you been paying attention?” they’d say, their voices laced with exasperation.
The term “goat,” used now to describe the “greatest of all time,” held a very different meaning. It was a label reserved for those who stubbornly clung to their mistakes, refusing to learn from them. Coaches would use it to describe players who repeatedly made the same errors on the field, while teachers would employ it to characterize students who consistently missed the mark despite repeated explanations.
This verse, however, transcends the realm of sports and academics. It speaks to a deeper human tendency: our stubborn resistance to learning from God. We often cling to our own limited understanding, our pride clouding our judgment. We prioritize revenge and material wealth over love and compassion, allowing fear and prejudice to dictate our interactions with others.
The recent events in LA, with their distressing displays of finger-pointing and political maneuvering, serve as a stark reminder of this stubbornness. The focus seems to have shifted from providing support and relief to scoring political points and assigning blame. This, I believe, is not the path God intended for us.
Now is the time for love, for compassion, for extending a helping hand to those in need. Now is the time to put aside our differences and work together to heal the wounds inflicted by this tragedy. Let us heed the words of Isaiah, not as a condemnation, but as a call to awaken, to learn, and to choose love over division.
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