God's Timing

"If the desire for silence, for moments of contemplation and meditation, is not born out of our concerns for this world, we will soon become bored, not understanding why we have to be subjected to so many pious exercises."



The passage before this in Henri Nouwen's book, "Creative Ministry," talks about the interconnectedness of prayer and ministry. I have had a lot of time for contemplation lately.



Two days ago, Chris and I took a walk around town. We saw some interesting things. For one, little kids, all over the place, played with toy guns - like M16 looking guns. Is there nothing else to play with? What have these children seen that causes this to be their main source of recreational activity? Secondly, I'm trying to understand the politics. Where does the "terror" of Hamas come from? What is going on in Gaza and how are people coping with the uncertainty of the next few months as the "peace" talks procede? Thirdly, where is my life going? Well, i guess that's typical thoughts of a 25 year old.. :)



This weekend, Chris and I went with Nash, Nisreen, and their daughter Nourel to Nazareth. We drove through the ancient sea coast town of Caesarea which Herod built up around 30 B.C. It was my first view of the Mediterranean Sea and my first view of Roman ruins. Seriously, one of the coolest sites I'd ever seen. After watching the movie "Taxi" with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah almost twice on the Jordanian movie channel from the apartment we were staying in, in Nazareth, we set off on Sunday for a day FILLED with sites (or maybe it just seemed like it b/c there was so much to take in).

From the window in the apartment, Nash showed me the view of Mt. Tabor - where the Transfiguration took place (where Jesus went up on the mountain and met with Elijah and Moses - and Peter said "we should stay up here!" I could see why he would say that - it surely is a cool mountain/hill that commands an impressive view). We went to the Church of the Annunciation (where Catholics believe the angel Gabriel came to announce Christ's birth to Mary).. then to the Church of St. Gabriel where Eastern Orthodox christians believe Gabriel came to Mary. Whether the other is "correct" or not, both had ancient ruins. It was out of this world.

We drove through Haifa and then down the Mediterranean coast line. I have to say that the way the sun shone on the shoreline was perhaps one of my favorite things about the trip. It was like California, but more mystical.

Then, probably my second favorite site - driving through Jerusalem at night. It's a mixture of the old with the new - and the way the spotlights light up the old wall of Jerusalem is unbelievable...


Finally, as the peace talks loom on the horizon, sparking much uncertainity, fear, and resentment among people here. Chris and I were supposed to go to a peaece concert later this week in Jericho with students from Birzeit University. That concert was canceled b/c of security threats. - I will close this entry with words from another book I finished a little while ago - "The Church was the only hope for the Middle East, not because she had a better programme or more political insight. She didn't...Surely there were those who realized the bankruptcy of a peace process that had brought no peace for fifty years. For those who were willing, they could see the answer - Palestinians and Jews meeting at the foot of the cross."