Resend of BETHLEHEM & THE WESTERN WALL
I attemptd to send this to you all earlier this week... and it did not come through for some. Let's try it again. If all else fails... I'll email it once I'm home.
Early this morning we visited Bethlehem. We left behind our Israeli guide and driver and were met at the security fence by an Arab Christian driver and guide for the morning. Bethlehem is one of the regions under the control of the Palestinian Authority. There is an uneasy peace between the two sacred towns of Bethlehen and Jerusalem since the Intifada of 2000.
What to say about all of that? It's just difficult. Since the fighting, the Christian population has decreased from 70 percent to 30 percent. Life is difficult for all people; Arab Christians and Muslims alike in Bethlehem. Living behind the security fence inhibits the exchange of goods and services... prevents folks from working... it reminds everyone that peace is distant.
There are no easy answers here. We [Americans] cannot imagine what it would be like to one day not be able to visit friends or family a mere 8 miles from our homes; or no longer be able to get to our job, or shop at our favorite stores. But if I remember my Intifadas... it was Bethlehem that fired the first missle into their neighbor Jerusalem's backyard -- and while those in Bethlehem started this particular skirmish... Israel finished it separating even families from one another.
So imagine if you can leaving Bethlehem and having two young soldiers with weapons walk through our bus before giving us the okay to re-enter Jerusalem, which we'd left only 3 hours earlier. Yes indeed, there are no easy answers.
The afternoon brought us to the Western Wall. Out of respect to the Jews who worship here, we covered our heads and approached the wall to pray - men on the left, women on the right separated by a curtain. Our guide Jacob had given us an english translation of the Jewish prayer of mourning called the Kaddish, which we prayed on each side of the curtain, for Glen Poston who was to be with us on this trip, but passed away unexpectedly. Mary (Glen's mom) and Sam (Glen's brother) placed a small lapel pin in the shape of the state of Ohio (Glen's home) in the wall as a memorial. The pin had a bicycle on it, as Glen was a bicycle enthusiast. We celebrated Glen's life and God's goodness.
Earlier in the afternoon we sat on the steps going up to the temple that were in place when Jesus would have entered the temple mount. While some of the upper stairs have been reconstructed -- we chose to have our prayer on those steps which very likely were walked on by Jesus. Sitting on the stairs we looked across the valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus' favorite place to pray while in Jerusalem.
Indeed our day was very full. Full of new sights and sounds. Full of places that until today were only names. Full of questions of war and peace. Full of mourning and trust. We ended the day a good tired. That's the tiredness that comes when your day has been well spent. More than once I heard someone say spontaneously "we are blessed." Indeed we are. And to you who are reading this you're included in that blessing. May we remember God's faithfulness is good times and bad. JOY AND PEACE, THE CELTIC MONK
Early this morning we visited Bethlehem. We left behind our Israeli guide and driver and were met at the security fence by an Arab Christian driver and guide for the morning. Bethlehem is one of the regions under the control of the Palestinian Authority. There is an uneasy peace between the two sacred towns of Bethlehen and Jerusalem since the Intifada of 2000.
What to say about all of that? It's just difficult. Since the fighting, the Christian population has decreased from 70 percent to 30 percent. Life is difficult for all people; Arab Christians and Muslims alike in Bethlehem. Living behind the security fence inhibits the exchange of goods and services... prevents folks from working... it reminds everyone that peace is distant.
There are no easy answers here. We [Americans] cannot imagine what it would be like to one day not be able to visit friends or family a mere 8 miles from our homes; or no longer be able to get to our job, or shop at our favorite stores. But if I remember my Intifadas... it was Bethlehem that fired the first missle into their neighbor Jerusalem's backyard -- and while those in Bethlehem started this particular skirmish... Israel finished it separating even families from one another.
So imagine if you can leaving Bethlehem and having two young soldiers with weapons walk through our bus before giving us the okay to re-enter Jerusalem, which we'd left only 3 hours earlier. Yes indeed, there are no easy answers.
The afternoon brought us to the Western Wall. Out of respect to the Jews who worship here, we covered our heads and approached the wall to pray - men on the left, women on the right separated by a curtain. Our guide Jacob had given us an english translation of the Jewish prayer of mourning called the Kaddish, which we prayed on each side of the curtain, for Glen Poston who was to be with us on this trip, but passed away unexpectedly. Mary (Glen's mom) and Sam (Glen's brother) placed a small lapel pin in the shape of the state of Ohio (Glen's home) in the wall as a memorial. The pin had a bicycle on it, as Glen was a bicycle enthusiast. We celebrated Glen's life and God's goodness.
Earlier in the afternoon we sat on the steps going up to the temple that were in place when Jesus would have entered the temple mount. While some of the upper stairs have been reconstructed -- we chose to have our prayer on those steps which very likely were walked on by Jesus. Sitting on the stairs we looked across the valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus' favorite place to pray while in Jerusalem.
Indeed our day was very full. Full of new sights and sounds. Full of places that until today were only names. Full of questions of war and peace. Full of mourning and trust. We ended the day a good tired. That's the tiredness that comes when your day has been well spent. More than once I heard someone say spontaneously "we are blessed." Indeed we are. And to you who are reading this you're included in that blessing. May we remember God's faithfulness is good times and bad. JOY AND PEACE, THE CELTIC MONK
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