Newsletter:
Vol. 6. Iss.2
15 April 2006
Pilgrimage
Russell E. Ames, Jr.
To try to explain a pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine
within a few pages would be an injustice to the experience, so I’ll
try just to give a flavor of some of the more poignant experiences I had with
some people from the Wesley Foundation. One of the many memories burned forever
in my mind is the narrow path that winds its way along the deep gorges of
the Wadi Al Quilt. Picture in your mind a moment the earth surrounding you
on a monumental scale, white sand in every and all directions. Here you are
totally enveloped in something so much larger than you that you can’t
help but see it as sculpted by the hand of God alone. In such desolation there
is only you and the narrow winding path before you. As we approached the end
of our hike through the v-shape of the last valley we could see the many buildings
of Jericho. As we glimpsed the beautiful sight of civilization I imagined
what the Israelites felt when they first saw the first bit of cultivatable
land after so many years in the harsh uninviting desert.
Israel and Palestine are so much more than a land of deserts, oasis, and countless
chapels it is a land of old traditions and amazing people. Besides seeing
the wonders of a world older than we, citizens of a nation that is still but
a child, can imagine we saw the work of God in the people we encountered.
In the holy sepulcher we saw years of Christian tradition embodied in one
of the most overwhelming large domed rooms. We also saw the love of God in
the eyes of people who encounter struggle and strife on an almost daily basis.
We met Daoud, a man who has fought the Israeli government, merely for the
right to hold onto land that has been in his family for generations, say confidently
he is blessed. We met Cedar, a woman who fled from her home as a young child
as a bomb completely destroyed her neighbors home, proclaim her confidence
that our God is a loving God and will bring justice yet. We met Father Chacour,
a man who built a church from nothing and who was fought by the Israeli government
every step of the way. This is a man who has been excluded all his life, yet
he broke tradition and welcomed us to join us behind the Iconostasis to see
the altar of his church. He proudly proclaimed that no man is any more worthy
of God’s love than another.
This is just a handful of the many experiences Deborah, Meg, and I have encountered,
and with assurance I can say it has been life changing for all of us. I have
seen sights of inspiration I could have never imagined. I have met people
so full of love who have more reason to hate than anyone I know. It is an
inspiration that I hope remains strong in me from this day forward.
