Yesterday (Sunday) my whole group took a day trip to Jerusalem. It was an amazing experience to say the least. We started at the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, then on (through security) to Temple Mount, St Ann of Bethesda, Via dela Rosa, Old City, Holy Seplechure, Mount Zion, and Western Wall to name the main places that we saw. Lots of walking, lots of sun and LOTS of information!!! Our tour guide was so informative, friendly, charismatic and funny- aka Palestinian. It was most interesting because I learned different things from when I was there 5 years ago.* Even though we visited a lot of the same places my spiritual experience was also different and a lot more reflective and meaningful. This program is run by a Christian organization but there is no expressly religious twist or view to anything that we do- it is mainly about living, experiencing and understanding. I think this allowed me to have a more personal experience at these places in Jerusalem because I was only focused on myself and God rather than doing this while taking in the church's beauty and all its religious/historical significance.
*I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIVE YEARS.
Because my host family is Palestinian, living in the West Bank, they cannot go to Jerusalem. When I mentioned that we went to Al-Aqsa mosque there was this look of amazement and jelousy. Al-Aqsa (or Dome of the Rock) is the third holiest place on earth for Muslims. It is said that the dust around the rock inside the dome is the dust from which Adam, and the entire world, was created. Muhammad ascended into heavan from this spot as well. I hate that I am who I am sometimes. What makes me more qualified that a my host family to go to the holiest city in the world? Because of where I was born? It is so frustrating and frankly stupid.
As I took out my camera all the kids gathered around me in awe of what I got to experience and here I am nearly taking it for granted.
*I CANNOT BELEIVE THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIVE YEARS.
Because my host family is Palestinian, living in the West Bank, they cannot go to Jerusalem. When I mentioned that we went to Al-Aqsa mosque there was this look of amazement and jelousy. Al-Aqsa (or Dome of the Rock) is the third holiest place on earth for Muslims. It is said that the dust around the rock inside the dome is the dust from which Adam, and the entire world, was created. Muhammad ascended into heavan from this spot as well. I hate that I am who I am sometimes. What makes me more qualified that a my host family to go to the holiest city in the world? Because of where I was born? It is so frustrating and frankly stupid.
As I took out my camera all the kids gathered around me in awe of what I got to experience and here I am nearly taking it for granted.
WOW that's really kinda screwed up. How does something like that change? ... Ball
ReplyDeleteChristian Zionists and AIPEC.
ReplyDeleteI found this so interesting. I have been reading and thinking about so much related to this:
ReplyDeletewhat it means to have a King - and a God-King at that
what it means for something/my God/a place/or even me to be "holy."
what it means for me to present myself as a "living sacrifice."
As a westerner raised in a democratic republic, these states of being can seem alien or unauthentic for me sometimes.