As you can see from the headline,
we did a lot today. The Church of the Beatitudes was a beautiful place of
refuge and prayer. Just before we entered the Holy space we read as a group
from Matthew 5; the Sermon on the Mount. As I listened to those words of Jesus speaking
against injustice and oppression; I could not help but think of life back home,
and well, around the world. I hope those words are still being read, and yes,
still being heard. We all have work to do and the Sermon on the Mount will
always be worth hearing.
I’d like to tell you the rest of the
day was just as powerful, but for me, it wasn’t. Sure, it was filled with
beautiful sites, and certainly meaningful locations; but it didn’t match the
wonder of our first stop. That is until I came upon the last stop of the day
for me. Let’s start from the beginning…
After
we left lunch, hosted by our tour guide Claudia (whose view is INCREDIBLE!) we
came back to the hotel for a bit of down time. Excited for the extra time I
decided to grab my journal and my headphones and head down to the sea shore for
some quiet time with God. As I traversed one of the many trails from our hotel
I came across a set of rocks leading out into the sea the last of which (and
farthest away) was glowing with the light of the setting sun. I knew what I had
to do. Slowly but surely I began the descent from the trail and onto these
rocks towards my destination.
I must
admit it was a bit treacherous and I even considered turning back midway
through when it seemed too difficult but then I thought—you only live once
(YOLO!) and I had to at least try. So onward I went, and after several more
steps at last I made it to the sunlight and my journaling spot.
I don’t
know if it was a gust of strong wind, some sea creature or perhaps the will of
God, but before I was able to sit I found myself lurching backwards to the
frigid water before. (Yes, I fell into the Sea of Galilee—YOLO, I guess). As I
came out of the water I gasped for air, panicked when I realized my phone was
in my pocket submerged under water, my journal was floating away from me and my
sunglasses were missing. I fished my journal back into my hands, scraped my
knuckles on some rocks digging out my sunglasses from the rocks beneath and took
my cellphone out of the water.
I then did what I like to call the
walk (or climb, rather) of shame. You know, fully dressed scarf and all,
drenched I had to climb back over the rocks, up the bank and towards the hotel
passing many of my group members along the way. Each person was more shocked
than the last to know of my plunge in the Galilee, some even took photos as you
can see. After dripping and sloshing to my room to change I then headed to the
dining room seeking rice to soak my phone in. That was an ordeal in itself
given the language barrier, but finally after refusing already cooked rice
three times we were able to get it worked out.
I write
this blog to you still trying to get warm from my impromptu polar plunge, with
my phone in a bag of rice beside me and a much earned Hebrew beer next to my
computer. I share this story with you for a few reasons; one, it’s hilarious,
even for me-two, life happens, and you have to go with it, but most
importantly, tonight during our reflection time we talked about the sermon on
the Mount and how Jesus and God sometimes speak to us through disruptions.
Well my
life was disrupted today in a cold, wet, once in a lifetime way. Has God
disrupted your life lately? I’d love to hear about it!
Tomorrow we travel to the West Bank and end in Bethlehem.
Until then…
Blessings and Peace,
Caitlin
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