Judean Desert, Jericho,
Nazareth
It was totally
unexpected for some and eagerly anticipated for those who knew what was
coming. Walking up over the ridge to
suddenly see the land roll out, as far as the eye could see. Purples and magenta, the Judaea desert
stretched out in front of us. "This
isn't what desert looks like,"
someone behind me said, "it's supposed to be flat!" Here the gentle undulations seemed to have a
pattern, a rhythm.
As we set up for communion several children, all very young, and
a couple of adults headed our way with jewelry and keffeyahs the traditional
men's head scarves. They were obviously
looking for a sale. Bedouins have lived in the arid and semi-arid regions of
the Arabic speaking world for for thousands of years, selling, trading, raising
sheep and goats. We have read about them, seen them on TV, and here, on the
edge of the desert was a family of Bedouins making their livelihood primarily
by creating and selling traditional crafts.
I heard several comments of concern from members of our group about
why the children were not in school. It
was very evident to me, they are the main attraction, it was very hard to turn
the down when they offered an item for sale.
The universal appeal, they might as well be our children and
grandchildren. I'm sure others, like me
were looking into the faces and seeng our own beloved children, far away.
It seems to me that this is what pilgrimage is. If it is about finding the face of God in
unfamiliar places, the land and it's singularity, like the desert; then I think
it is even more about finding God's face in the face of other people. No less now then ever before in human
history, tribalism, identifying with a kindred group by defining ourselves
against other groups, continues to prevent any semblance of peace, regional or
global. The day we see the face of God
reflected in the face of the "other" reflected in our own is the day
the kingdom will come.
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