Almost there,
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of
Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk
on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No
lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not
be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the
ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to
Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow
and sighing
shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:8-10
Very soon we embark on
the trip of a life time – a year in the planning, a miracle by any standard. We
were not supposed to be able to afford such a trip, we were not supposed to
have the resources necessary. The political climate and all conventional wisdom
have said, “NO”.
You,
God say, “Yes”.
We’re ready, we’ve
hungered and studied , planned and packed, our ears and eyes are open…but we
have no idea (yet) how Israel will speak to us, just how it has already
spoken to others.
And I feel a sense of
personal peace – no need to push an agenda. A friend, who has been, suggests to
let my physical and spiritual senses take over. I get that – let the land and
the people…and most of all, You, Lord to teach me, not me try to define them.
I’ve
even found some humor in the preparation (something somehow important to me –
teach me why someday, OK Rabbi?). Patti asked me to track the weather in the
different regions of the land. One day she wanted to know the temperature in
the area of the Dead Sea. Weather.com
was unforgiving, Global.net, no help. No source reveals the current temperature
for the lowest elevation on earth. I finally shrugged my shoulders and replied
to her, “The current temperature of the Salt Sea is…Seasonal.”
A
co-worker asked me to bring him back one thing that would cause US Customs to
ask 10 questions. I suggested, “One olive.” He responded that it should be
something that wouldn’t spoil. I replied, “An olive branch.”
Lord,
all this rambling is not to entertain or to assure. It’s simply to release my excitement
and anticipation and above all to say, thank You, praise You for the opportunity.
Oh yes, there is one more thing: The Most important revelation of our
readiness. Patti and I are ready in another way – as typical, You’re already
teaching and providing for us in advance of our need – We pray nothing more
than for Your will and desire to be played out in our journey. Let others know,
by our love, our worship of You and Your work in us, that You are God alone.
Hallelujah!
Mark & Patti C.
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