Spiritual Cocoon while in Holy Land

10/14/10

When I think of the Holy Land, I must rely in large part on the experience I gained during my 2007 pilgrimage.  I vividly recall being so peaceful and so contented knowing I was in the land of Christ surrounded by  the rich history and events occurring thousands of years ago.  After we got past the initial surge of emotions in seeing the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, Mt. of Olives, Wailing Wall and other historic sites such as the Sea of Galilee, it seemed a comfort came over all of us which remained throughout the course of the journey. The intimacy I felt with my Savior cannot be explained in a few sentences.  Astounding, AWEsome, glorious come to mind.

Suffice it to say, those emotions are the tug which pulled me back to another visit to Israel.  Since one can see all types of physical environments from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the west, to the Mountains of Mt. Herman in the northeast  where one can snow ski year around (even in bathing suits in the summer months); to the desert, the central plains and more in the Negev to the very south; the mountains all around, especially around Jerusalem; the Suez Canal in the south with the splendid beaches, diving and snorkeling; and, of course this land being where Jesus walked.  Well for me, I need nothing else to satiate my traveling appetite. 

                And the people.  The natives love Americans.  Maybe not our government, even though Israel may well be the largest beneficiary of our foreign aid in all the world.  The people love Americans. They really, really like American greenbacks and do they ever have souvenirs to part with.  Often one sees the same souvenirs from place to place but after on sees a t-shirt with the letter  in red, white and blue reading JerUSAlem one gets the idea where the sales can be made.

                If there ever was a place to people watch, Israel is the place to be.  Truthfully, at any one time there are literally hundreds and hundreds of big nice motor coaches crisscrossing the country filled with tourists.  The very idea that we Americans have the corner on the tourism market is totally foolish.  One sees and often meet people from more countries than you can keeps up with.  The languages you hear, at such places as Yardenit, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus near where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee, which you know are describing the beauty and significance of the location, much less what occurred there, in so many different languages, is a site to behold. And the emotions seeing people lined up to be baptized, to rededicate their lives, or simply to watch from the cathedral seating at each of the baptismal and the tears of joy flowing from people watching their family members or friends or for that matter simply anyone who is that very happy. Well, it will sure make you happy.  Finally, as you enter and leave the area within the facility, along the wall in many languages, is the story of the dove descending from heaven to the shoulder of Jesus when he comes out of the water and when lifting off we read the Lord praising his son with, “this is my son in whom I am well pleased.” 

Whew… Enough said for now.

Ral