Today's PAYG was based on part of Isaiah 11 and, refreshingly, invited the hearer to imagine how Jesus might have become aware of these words, firstly as a child, then pondering them as a young man.  In the midst of the reflection was a throw away line roughly thus: "the lion and the bear might object to going vegetarian as part of a less violent, more just, world". 

The new world order might not be everything we would like!  More justice and less violence might mean us relinquishing aspects of life that we enjoy or find rewarding... as one of my college tutors used to remind us that her father (a minister) always said when speaking of heaven, "[Jesus] never said we're going to like it".

Sung to the tune 'Picardy', the hymn "Earth was waiting, spent and restless" captures something of this mystery and tension... that what we long for may not prove entirely what we imagine, that hope and fear are inevitably mingled as we move onwards towards the horizon of history and the eternal reign of Christ.

BPW 141

Earth was waiting, spent and restless

With a mingled hope and fear;

And the faithful few were sighing,

"Surely, Lord, the day is near;

the desire of all the nations,

It is time he should appear."

W C Smith

Can't find a decent video clip for this, and, in an attempt not to breach too much copyright, only citing one verse - but you can for it look on line I'm sure.

I wonder what I will not like about the new creation...?  Lots to ponder there!