In His Steps - Day 7

Standing in the Tower of David fortress, learning about the many times war has affected Jerusalem, I felt heavy because war is still having its effect today. 

Gaza is as close to us here as Bakersfield is to Fresno. Banners about the hostages are everywhere calling to “Bring Them Home NOW.” Teenage girls in uniforms with machine guns hang out in McDonald’s. Our phone’s GPS is often jammed by the military, and we are usually the only visitors at the hotel, restaurant or historic site. 

In Old Testament times they would sing “songs of ascent” as they climbed the hill to Jerusalem to worship. One is Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.“ We prayed for this as we drove from the rain soaked synagogues of Galilee, crossed the Jordan River and ascended up the desert hill to Jerusalem. 

The city is filled with people from all corners of the world. It is Ramadan, Purim and Holy Week, all at the same time. Bells ring, the Jews sing and Muslim prayers blare out of loudspeakers. People wear their religion with their scarves, collars, veils, robes, hats and hair styles, and all have greeted us with the warmest of welcomes. 

As far away from peace as we are, these kinds of relationships are the only thing that could truly bring us together. As hard as is to imagine, we can pray that these relationships between individuals can someday bring their warring countries together. As hard as it is to do, Jesus wouldn’t call us to love our enemies if it wasn’t possible. 

Reflection: What “enemy” of yours could you work on changing your heart towards?

Photo List:

1-2 - The Tower of David fortress.
3-4 - McDonald’s hostage reminder screen and the Google translation.
5 - While hiking our GPS would often say we were at the Beirut airport. Not helpful.
6 - Machine gun teens.
7-8 - From Chorazin up to Jerusalem. 9-13 - Westerners carrying crosses, cool Orthodox teens, men dancing with each other and great Arab coffee.