In so many ways God is not like us - and we should be glad! In many respects, God is totally other, and the images and ideas we hold about God are often human creations. Isaiah encourages us to seek the Lord - now - before it is too late. People put this off until later, but later rarely comes. This difference between God and humans is illustrated in the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The owner of the vineyard went out to where day labourers congregate several times throughout the day and hired workers for the agreed wage. Finally, he went out shortly before the end of the day and hired a final group. When it came time to be paid, the last group was called first, and, to the disbelief of all, they were paid the full day's wage - for an hour's work. The other groups assumed that when their turn came, they would be paid more - after all, they had worked in the heat of the day. But that was not the case - they all received the exact same wage. The vineyard owner chided them for their outrage, insisting that it was his vineyard and they had all been paid the same wage. He asked if they were angry because he was generous. We all labour in God's vineyard for the same wage - the kingdom of God - no one gets more than another, no one is more deserving than another. God is indeed generous and even-handed - comparison and competition are not permitted in our journey to God.