There’s a verse in scripture, “A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is but a day.”

That would be an understatement of what the past 10 days of life have felt like.

Internet connections have been sparse and if you stand “just right” and hold your phone in a certain direction, then maybe you will be connected.    Going without technology at first was a challenge but then it was very easy to just “let it go” because other things seemed to crowd my mind.

Things, places, and people.

Not only have I had a chance to see things that date to 1500 bce, but I’ve had a chance to do it with friends.  Friends who were willing to give me grace when I would “guess” the wrong answers on biblical history questions like, “What were the knights called that were . . . “  (just a hint, Knights of the Round Table was NOT the right answer.)  I am relatively certain everyone here will agree Andrea could brush up a little on “history” – the Byzantines were very busy people! Prior to this week, I had NO IDEA who there were, or if I knew back when I took church history, I certainly forgot!  But the bottom line in the “relationships” realm is . . . walk the Holy Land with friends – those are relationships that will be deepened and not forgotten.  It has been an honor to walk alongside other clergy in our annual conference and experience this life-transformation among them.  All the while – you, my friends and family at home, have been praying, mentoring, and urging me to “be” in the moments, the places, the presence of God.  It has been powerful and something I will never, never forget!  I am blessed.

Blessed – so much so that  – in 10 days it feels as if I have lived months . . .

Of course we’ve seen the historic places where everyone flocks to . . . The Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Agony, and others . . .  but it’s the other places where I’ve encountered God. These places seemed like mere stone and rubble but once there, hearing scripture and the reflections of Bishop G, James Howell, and the other clergy on the team leading worship – there was no denying the mystical presence of God.

Seeing Jacob’s Well which dates back to the time of Isaac and Jacob . . . also where Jesus revealed that he was the Messiah to the woman at the well. Drinking from the well that was 3000 years old . . .  water, that I believe if one has faith, water that heals one’s soul.

The Dan Gate – the ancient gate where Abraham would have passed into the land God directed him to inhabit and multiply his family.

The remains of David’s palace/kingdom

There have been so many life-changing things, a few words in a blog can’t describe them.

Life changing not because I “saw” the places and “did” the act of praying or being there, life changing because while I have been here I have tried to be in conversation with God.

For the first time in my life, I believe I “see” scripture differently. It is a comprehensive story – from the beginning of talking about creation thru to the end.

There is a central message that runs throughout the entire scripture . . .

People of fear

God of Love

People of Faith

Faith and Love Together Conquers all fear!

Some of the things I always thought gospel, historically and archeologically have been proven untrue.  So perhaps in scripture that “story” might be just that . . . a “story” . . .  Does that change things?  For me? No.  Especially if we look at the historicity of scripture and interpret it in the realm of tradition, experience, and reason (which is how United Methodists view scripture).

Yet the stories – each of them – are powerful beyond words. The images and the actions hold true for 3000+ years and seem to be possible to enact change in our world.

The stories, also, however, enact judgment, bitterness, hatred, and hypocrisy. Far too many people use the stories to be exclusive rather than inclusive, and keep folks “out” of something rather than allow them to be invited in.

I realized on this trip how much West has changed my perspective on “following Jesus.”

I don’t see things as I once did.

On Sunday we went to the rock where Jesus told Peter, “it is on this rock I will build my church.”

It’s HUGE . . . .  there are caves around, and there is no mistaking that if you were to build something on that foundation, it would not fail.

It was after that message that Jesus began his trip back to Jerusalem.

Prior to that time, he had been a “rock star.”  Teaching, preaching, healing, doing all kinds of miracles, he was quite the one to follow.  But after that teaching moment, he went back to Jerusalem and the miracles (minus one) were finished.  No more “rock star” status . . .  no more miracles and no more wonders. Moving forward from that time Jesus became passive.

That is very telling to me.  And it suggests something most hopeful!

In the words of James Howell, “It is when we are handed over and we realize there is no more that we can do, that nobility shines thru.”

The centurion recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, at his time of death. Not at the resurrection.

If I were to sum up a key principle of  “Christianity” after this week, I’d say that one of the key things Christ tried to teach all who would listen and follow was “death to self.”  Not what “we” want . . . not what “we” need . . .  but what is best to allow us to be one with God.  Which – he summed up as, “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and understanding and love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we do those things and focus on those things – we experience death to self. And it is in that death that we truly experience life.

For me – there’s been a little list of “death to self” things that I’ve been diligently praying about and working through this week.  It is my hope that the “living water” both literal and figurative, has been healing my soul.

We each have a little list of “fears” that permeates our being.  If we will see and claim those, then let them go, life will be that which God wants it to be for each of us.

Life CAN be filled with joy, love, hope, and peace.

That’s the message the Holy Land has left upon and in me.

 

Thanks be to God.

Andrea