GREETINGS FROM ISRAEL,
Just as you were worshipping in a different place, I too was worshipping in a very different place. On Sunday from 9 am till 9:45 pm I was at the Paris airport, having missed my connecting flight due to delays in Minneapolis and Boston. I was lucky to have my little ELW and Bible with me and found a place on the floor and worked my way through the liturgy, lessons and hymns. Worship was just what I needed.
I haven’t traveled internationally by myself since college. Some of my fears about traveling alone came true. The well laid plans of meeting up with a couple of others arriving in the afternoon at the Tel Aviv airport to catch an airport shuttle to Jerusalem soon fizzled and I would be arriving at 4:00 a.m. and worrying and wondering how things would unfold. I ran through a bunch of emotions; frustration, anxiety, fear, worry. It took me a long time to get my bearings and what my new flight plan would be. Once my flight to Tel Aviv was confirmed, I had the whole day ahead of me. I found a comfortable chair and slept. Then I double checked trying to find out when I would arrive in Tel Aviv. “Keep checking the gate as it might change” was the advice given. It was good advice. I was tired and frustrated and having a pity party of great magnitude. The internet was terrible and besides I had to wait before communicating back here because of the time difference.
So, I found a carpeted place where the sun light shone and worshipped. I sang quietly through the liturgy and a couple of hymns. Oh, the power of song to soften the heart and quiet the mind. I read of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son and God providing a way out. Powerful words that hit my worries and frustrations to turn it over to God and trust that God would provide. Psalm 13 was a beautiful psalm for a day of waiting. Romans 6:12-23 reminded me that God is worth the wait and Matthew 10:40-42 reminded me to welcome the words of the prophet and I remembered my Epiphany word – JOY – a spirit of joy. There was a spirit of joy that is God given and it is beautiful, the best kind of joy.
Another night on a plane, good food, a little wine and a little sleep found me in Tel Aviv, tired and taking each step slowly, finding my way through the passport station and getting my visa, picking up my luggage and finding a shuttle almost full welcoming me to get on board. I gave thanks to God for good instructions from Tantur and a Jewish group of six travelers that did the haggling before me for the transport shuttle and off we went. The security guard at Tantur quickly opened the gate as my driver was trying to convince me to get out at the security gate. I was dropped off at the tower entrance swiftly met by a professor from Boston College who was out for a morning stroll and quickly offered to help me with my luggage. I had arrived 15 minutes before breakfast was served, shown to my room and then to fight with jet lag during the rest of the day’s orientation. With the help of God and your prayers, I made it safe and sound.
I’m here and it was worth the wait. I am learning about community in a place that wrestles with community every day. They will be wise teachers. I am with a group of wonderfully diverse people in a safe and welcoming environment. Thank you for giving me this gift of continuing education.
This last picture is from our orientation to Bethlehem checkpoints. We walked along the wall that used to be the road of the Patriarchs. Inside Bethlehem the wall carries art, graffiti, stories, memorials, and the jester’s humor as the “Walled Off Hotel” word plays with The Waldorf Hotel and is owned by an artist who is featured many times on the wall. One of his pictures is of a dove dressed in a bulletproof vest. The wall I can see from the outside has nothing on it.
I wonder what God is up to with us and this world God loves so much. Miss you all. On Sunday I plan on worshipping in Old City Jerusalem at Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
