Author: alwaysbridging

Thank God for levity

As the bus pulls away from our hotel each morning, Father Steve tells us a joke. Here’s an example: “Why does Jesus like donuts so much? They are usually not self-centered, unless they’re holy, that is.”

Laughing at myself is available too, like when I read a sign wrong and did my business in a private stall in the men’s restroom. I didn’t discover my error until I walked out and saw the women lined up to enter the other room, a line I had conveniently avoided.

It’s a good thing the giggles abound because again today we encountered some tough realities at Saint Vincent Orphanage as well as the West Bank barrier wall.

We are laughing and crying as we roll along.

Postscript

Jesus Wept – John 11:35

In the morning we dipped into the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John and in the afternoon we experienced the City of Light for the first time on our pilgrimage.

On the bus ride into town our guide, a Palestinian Christian, walked us through thousands of years of her homeland’s history. After dinner we heard from Dawod Nassar of the Tent of Nations, a family farm dedicated to bridging, located near Bethlehem.

The situation here is, in a word, complicated.

I am humbled to write more, to write at all.

I am utterly grateful to be here now.

I returned to my room and wept.

*Photo by Deborah Person

A Woman’s Perspective

I hemorrhaged once too like this woman, immediately after my son was born. We spent days in the hospital together, me with dangerously low hematocrit and him yellow-skinned. I sang and prayed us through those days. And learned to soothe myself by rubbing the tops of my feet on the bed sheets.

Yesterday we visited five or six churches (I lost count) in northern Israel where Jesus walked and healed.

Today, I woke early stroking the tops of my feet on the sheets. Was I caressing myself? Or deep in the sense of what Christ, in His Body, had given me?

Mark 5:29 – Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

Postscript

Taken Blessed Broken Given

Sometimes it writes itself: Immediately after the service at the outdoor chapel between the Sea of Galilee and the Church of the Multiplication, I posted this with fresh pomegranate juice in hand and e-juice on the bus.

During his homily, Steve encouraged us to live “eucharistically.” Literally, this word means “giving thanks.”

Some days it’s easy to do.

(We are staying at Pilgerhaus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for 3 nights. Today we visited the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Cana and Mount Tabor.)

Results of Liminal Space

Tonight what strikes me as most relevant is the rich variety of humanity in this Holy Land. My binary understanding, namely political Israel/Palestine, coupled with the Christian stories of Jesus, has been blown to smithereens.

At this crossroads of the Middle East, the swirl of languages, religions and body and dress characteristics of the locals and the tourists is magnificent.

My global view expanded more when this current-day version of Flat Stanley (see photo and Wikipedia) was added to the mix. My friend has brought this traveler along; she seeks photo opportunities to illustrate the territory he’s covered and the friends he’s made. Besides reminding me of another swath of world religions, this Japanese divinity, while enlightened, is happy to postpone Buddhahood until all is healed.

Would that we all could seek peace in this way.