Friday - Heading South

on February 25, 2011 by Walt Dilg

Friday – Journeying South

                We got an early jump on the day, as we headed south through the Hula Valley along the Jordan River to Jericho and Qumran.  The trip took us through the east side of the West Bank.  We passed a number of checkpoints, weaved into Jordan for a bit, and drove quite a while along the border fence.  At Qumran, we saw where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and learned about the Essence community that was behind them.  Back at Jericho, we toured the Tel and saw the site that has archaeologists thinking there was a settlement there in 6,000 bce.    I could see the Mount of Temptation from the Tel and remembered my time high up the mountainside with the Greek Orthodoxs. 

                We journey from there inland, up to Jerusalem, passing a number of bedouin villages.  Frequently along this roadway as with the road through the West Bank, we saw shepherds with sheep and goats, camels, and donkeys – a real biblical pastoral delight.  Coming out of the tunnel near Mt. Scopus, we got our first glimpse of the Old City of Jerusalem.  It was thrilling to see the light glimmering off the Golden Dome with the Mount of Olives just east of it.  We were just passing by today, on the way to Bethlehem – we’ll be back to investigate Jerusalem tomorrow.

We passed through the large checkpoint at the entrance to Bethlehem pretty easily.   The barrier wall surrounding Bethlehem at this place must be 2 – 3 stories high.  Once you are on the Palestinian side, it is covered with protest graffiti, some very creative.  The Church of the Nativity lived up to all its promises.  It is the oldest church that has had continuous Christian worship in it anywhere in the world.  Our wait to get to the Manger Cave sheltered below the chancel of the church wasn’t too long, and once we all got down the steep stairs and prayerful touched the golden star at the place of Jesus’ birth, we sang “Silent Night, Holy Night” – a magical moment for all.  Some shopping to help the Palestinian economy, and a visit to the Shepherds’ Field, then we were off to the Ramada, near the Kinneset, and settling in for the night.  

The day was amazing – going through the West Bank and learning from our Arab Christian guide about the current situation and then kneeling at the place of our Lord’s birth, praying that the peace heralded then would come to pass now.  New understandings were gained and spiritual depths plumbed.   Deeply satisfying – deeply satisfying.