[Tonight I will let Marti wax as only she can about this Isaiah House January. We want you to know all your comments and suggestions melded into a splendid evening, and would you believe, she’s already got a theme for next month and something for you guys to do, but more on that later.]

Dream tree.

In spite of the threatening rain, God peppered the night with stars for us and they crowded round the Isaiah House. Though they were curious to see what was taking place, their job was to watch over us; guarding our hearts from any anguish and just when our minds were being twisted a tad too far, the smaller stars started twinkling until we were smiling together again.

Thus was our evening at the Isaiah House. The dinner was elegant. The Women of Vision were most gracious. The Guests of the Isaiah House were full of gratitude.

There is something to the idea of Gratitude that the Guests of the Isaiah House are teaching us Women of Vision. The Guests are facing into those who have failed them, caused them pain, and gambled with their lives and who, because of death or fixity, will never turn around. The guests recognize that whatever evil or lack these people have unleashed in their lives, there are at least one or two redemptive qualities that contributed to who our Guests are today. The Guests understand that if we loathe our lives and ourselves, then we will loathe “them” w — and if we loathe them we are loathing ourselves. If we stop the cycle then what remains is what remains — here we are, there they are, or were, and to be alive is something; a root of Gratitude for another, which is necessary for anything Good to happen to anyone.

So, yes, I think it is possible. At the end of a certain process, it is nearly inevitable, I think, to have a very basic root of gratitude. Certainly grounds enough for Women of Vision throwing a party; announcing a gratitude that causes healing; recalling to our guests hope amongst finite disappointment; and launching, maybe for the first time in a very long time, dreams from the very hearts of our Isaiah House Guests.

“I dream my family can be all together – just one time – again.”

“I dream that every woman here finds happiness.”

“I dream I will no longer feel the shame about my past or the time wasted.”

“I dream that I dunk a basketball with accuracy.”

“I dream that as the Lord loves me, I might love.”

“I dream to continue my life without bitterness.”

“I dream for a less painful path.”

“Because I have enough sin for an army, I dream I become a poster child for forgiveness.”

The first time Jesus spoke in public, His first words are from Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:6; New International Version)

What He was really talking about was an era of grace—and we’re still in it.