For a long time, I found one of the prophecies of Isaiah quite distressing: Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4) Even G. F. Handel’s magnificent musical setting of the prophecy in his Messiah wasn’t enough to win me over or cheer me up. With apologies to those who live there, I haven’t been able to muster much... Read more