Who me?
There are some places that just feel special. You go there and you can sense something. I would call it the awe of God. If I tell you two of those places for me, you have to promise not to spoil them! For me there is nowhere like Tarn Hows, in the Lake District, a place that just exudes peace and just something that makes you always come away feeling better. The other place is Sacre Coeur in Paris. I defy anyone to go there and not be overcome by the holy presence of God.
So this is something like the experience for Isaiah. He finds himself overcome by the presence of God. He is overcome by a sense of God’s holiness – and then his own unholiness. Isaiah realises that as God is holy, he himself is doomed, because, “every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful.” He feels there is no hope for him.
But God has other ideas. Aware of who and what Isaiah is, God touches his lips, takes his guilt and forgives his sins. What a joy and a relief for Isaiah. But that is not where it ends. God has a task to be done. “Whom shall I send?” God asks. And Isaiah answers, “I will go, send me”. I wonder if Isaiah realised what he was saying?! But he is caught up in response to the holy God, who has touched his life.
God knows us through and through. He is aware of our faults and failings, but he reaches out to us too. Touches us, takes away our guilt, and forgives our sins. As we stand in awe in his presence, aware of his holiness, he calls to us. “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” What today is our reply?
Pam's Perambulation 
Send me – Lake District or France …. difficult decision! I don’t mind.
Could happily spend 6 months at each every year.
But who knows what is in store? We don’t – which is the way i’m happy for it to stay.