HOLY LAND TOUR
Sept. 1-30,
2008
Introduction: Why Lead a Tour to The Holy Land
“No more
tours!” I said it and I meant it. My participation in leading four trips to
China,
one to the
Footsteps of St. Paul, one to Lutherland and the Danube and one to Brazil had
all been
memorable,
educational and inspirational. But now I was 80 years old and it was time to
quit.
“One more
tour- to the Holy Land!” I announced. Why? The ageing process affords the
opportunity to
reflect upon missed (or yet available) new experiences. As Jane and I together,
once again
read through the four Gospels, I thought, “I’d like to walk where Jesus walked.
I’d
like to sit in
places where Jesus taught. Maybe I should go there - with a group.”
There was a
second motive. I wanted to go to Bethlehem. In my work for Wheat Ridge
Ministries I
learned more and more about the situation in Bethlehem. I listened to and was
inspired by
Pastor Mitre Raheb who heads up Lutheran work in Bethlehem. I looked at pictures
of Arab kids
(Christians and Muslims) studying together in our Lutheran School there. These
kids drew me
to Bethlehem.
Of course
there were concerns. Do I still have the physical and mental stamina to be a
group leader?
Is it safe? I felt a very heavy responsibility for the security, especially
also because
all in my tour
group are key members of Calvary. I dare not irresponsibly lead them into
harm’s
way… Support
from Jane is always essential. Of course, I had no way of knowing that two
weeks before
our departure she would have full hip replacement. Typically, Jane kept her
reservations
about my trip to herself and supported my dream. Our kids, as is also typical
of
them, were
supportive with Peg coming from New Hampshire and Lyzse from Connecticut,
Dave, newly
arrived in San Diego, Tim from the Bay area and John providing almost daily
contact via
computer Skype conversations from Taiwan.
Then there
were marvelous co-hosts: Bill and Marian Duncan. Bill handled the finances
and paper work
and Marian the interpersonal stuff.
Once again
absolute unconditional support came from the tour members. As anticipated,
they were
responsive and wonderful. In spite of significant difference of opinions re the
Middle
East political
issues and the US role in them, the members remained more than civil. They
could
not have been
more cooperative, loving and understanding.
And so we
went. We traveled safely. We ate (or just looked at) the food provided. We
found a land
that instead of floating with milk and honey, flowed with wine (and cola for
Al!).
I’ve said that
in a way the trip was more informational than inspirational - as
commercialism
and conflicting church claims at many of the Holy sites tended to remove the
aura of
holiness. Yet I gained not only new information, but also moments of deep
inspiration. In
the following
sections I share special moments of inspiration and moments for which that
adjective does
not apply.
1.
Gethsemane
The Garden of
Gethsemane was a highlight, a place of deep reflection and spiritual
awakening. As
we drove across the Brook Kidron my anticipation heightened. The chapel in the
Garden was
quietly affecting my mood. Then we entered the Garden. I looked for and found
the
oldest of the
olive trees, gnarled, ancient, sturdy, still bearing fruit. Some, I believe
have been
there since
the days our Lord went to pray among them.
We found a
quiet spot where all who chose could sit.
We sang,
“Go to
dark Gethsemane,
Ye who
feel the tempter's power.
Your
Redeemer's conflict see.
Watch
with Him one bitter hour.
Turn not
from His griefs away.
Learn of
Jesus Christ to pray.”
Judy read
reverently and movingly the account of the agony and prayer of our
Lord under
those old olive trees, and of the sleepy eyes of the disciples which just kept
being
closed in
sleep.
For us
gathered there the climax came in the Holy Communion. We had previously been
in Cana where
Jesus turned water into wine. I had secured wine from Cana. The previous day we
had been in
Bethlehem. There I had secured individual communion cups, chalice shaped, made
of olive wood.
The bread was a full loaf baked in Jerusalem. As Christ invited, we did this to
remember Him
and in that moment, He too, remembered this little band of 33 from a church
named Calvary!
Addendum: We lingered in the Garden. We had our
group picture taken there. We went
to the edge of
the Garden. We looked over the burial tombs of centuries of Jewish brothers and
sisters. We
looked across the Brook Kidron to the upper room, to the home of Caiaphas the
high
priest, to the
city of Jerusalem.
And I recalled
Jesus sitting there. Sitting there and weeping over Jerusalem. He wept, He
said, because
Jerusalem had not been able to secure the peace God intended for that place.
Now 2000 years
later I felt Jesus sitting next to me. Again He weeps. Not yet has peace
come to
Jerusalem, nor to so many other major cities of the world. I felt the tears of
Jesus mingle
with mine.
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