The Society for Biblical Studies

Reflections on a Pilgrimage to Turkey

The Rev. Clayton Childers

Though I enjoyed walking where Paul walked and seeing the ruins of the ancient cities of Smyrna and Ephesus and Troy; what I most enjoyed was being with the people of Turkey. Learning about what Turkey is like today. Listening to people as they described their challenges and struggles, their values and faith. I found that as I was on the ground in this distant land, very different from my own, and was able to see the faces of the people and meet them face to face, I found myself seeing people differently. I could see them in all their profound and holy humanity. Borders, language barriers, even religious faith didn't make as much difference any more. That's what I'm taking away from my experience traveling with the Society for Biblical Studies in Turkey. Thank you for this marvelous gift and for providing a learning experience that reaches beyond a study of the ancient ruins.

If Only for a Moment

The Rev. Clayton Childers

Traveling pilgrim people,
Americans
Far from home
Peering through bus windows
And suddenly there are children

Beautiful Turkish children
Each adorned in the uniform of their school

And then, if only for a moment
A brief, urgent, instantaneous
instant
They connect

Whose eyes met whose eyes?
Who reached out first?
No one remembers

All is forgotten in the pleasure of connecting
Waving, passionate waving Generous smiling

One Glorious union
Person to person
Human to human

Joyous countenance to joyous countenance
Joined in One holy one
ness
And for that
one
fleeting instant

All are One

If only for a moment