Israel Studies 2

Silence. I come from a big city. A big busy loud bustling city. Silence is relative to where you are. When I was living in the city we sought silence in parks, in high places and we would enjoy our silence. 

When I moved to the countryside I lived in silence. The silence would keep me awake at night because it was still and quiet and all I could hear was the owl and it was so loud and busy. 

Then I moved to the suburbs and it was a nice quiet road to raise a family. The silence was beautiful. The neighbors were great. I also became a parent and so silence had a different meaning. 

In scripture the bible refers often to silence and quiet. Listening to Gods voice or meditating in prayer. So I got involved with making spaces for silent worship. I would create quiet places, silent worship, and  prayer gardens. All this was in an effort to hear silence. Today all that changed. 

Today I went to the desert. Today I went to the site of the Dead Sea scrolls and I listened to the most beautiful silence I have ever heard in my life. Silence took on a whole new meaning to my life. 

Imagine being there in that silent place where you can hear what is happening for miles. Then God appears to you and a voice from heaven says... 

This idea of being in that silent place and having God talk to you is the most amazing thing. Today I am struck by the awe of God. Yes God is my friend, my father, my savior, and my creator. But God is awesome. Be inspired. 

Israel day 1

Israel studies - Day 1 

Living in a place of worship. In my denomination we have many opportunities to worship together for a week or two at a time. The highlight for many is something we call camp meeting. A week of worship together. When you are there in that place everywhere you go everyone you see is from your denomination. The atmosphere is like nothing you have experienced. While it is an amazing week I have often thought how challenging it would be to live in that way all the time. Being in Jerusalem you really have a sense of living in a place of worship. 

Living in a place of worship shapes everything about you. It shapes the whole world and everything you say and do. It is such a different way of life and unless you have lived it I don't think it makes sense. It's so easy for us to look at this part of the world and tell them how they should get on but living it is so different. How can you truly separate politics from religion when everything about religion shapes everything about your world. 

You think about this. Where you walk. What you see. What you say in greeting. What happens is all based on the different places of worship. Someone is always praying. Worship is always happening. How you dress and speak affects the worship of others. Add to that the tight place packed with so many people all with their own version of what is holy what is right. When you live in that place no wonder there is tension. Not because of God but because of power. People want to control how everyone else is worshipping it. 

Power for humanity is everything. We want to control others. We live to do it. I here often from western minds that it is God who is the route of problems but really all problems start in the same way. Humanity have choice and because we want power and control over one another we do terrible things. Terrible things in the name of ourself in the name of religion in the name of government. There is no difference. I thank God I have hope not in man but in God that it will not always be this way.