Good Shepherd Holy Land Pilgrimage: Last Day

LAST DAY IN THE HOLY LAND

Most of us are now at the Tel Aviv airport an hour before boarding our plane for New York, then Atlanta, and finally home to Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. The has been a full day-the last day of a full trip. Honestly, I think we tried to cram too much into this day and at this point, I am exhausted and ready to crawl into bed or seat 2A of flight DL8771, as the case may be.

We began the day at Masada, the royal palace of Herod and later taken over by Jewish Zealots prior to the fall of the 2nd Temple. This is an amazing facility in the middle of the desert, at the top of a high mountain looking down on the Dead Sea. The Zealots held this spot for several years before the Roman army finally build siege ramps and broke down the walls of the palace compound. Rather than surrender to the Romans, the entire community at Masada, except for two women and several children, chose to take their own lives. From that point until 1967, Masada was forgotten. In 1967, however, archaeologists began work uncovering and exploring the area.

Next we went to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Like Masada, this is an isolated area near the Dead Sea. In the 2nd century, when this religious community was being threatened by the Romans, they took their writings--most of what we call the Old Testament as well as some original writings, and hid them in clay jars in caves in the area. In 1947, just before the founding of the modern state of Israel, the 1st of these scrolls were found.

After lunch, we went to a beach on the Dead Sea to float--you don't swim there. Rather, you simply get to a point where you feel comfortable throwing your legs up in the air. When you do that, you begin to float like a cork. There is no way to describe this very fun, yet strange sensation. Many pictures were taken, but only a few will be seen.

What a trip this has been. We covered many miles and saw many amazing sights. In the end, though, it really was a pilgrimage. We were seeking God--a closer and clearer glimpse of the one who creates, loves and redeems us. We went to places where others before us had been moved, touched and transformed by God. We looked, listened and were still. I believe we were moved by things we expected would touch us. I also believe that God surprised us in many ways. It was a good trip. It was a holy trip. Nevertheless, I will be glad to be home.

Shalom,
Robert