Life as a prayer

This morning I pondered this scripture verse: "Come let's climb Gods mountain, go to the House of the God of Jacob. He'll show us the way He works, so we can live the way we're made" (Isaiah 2:3). Such a compelling invitation to lead our group out of our time yesterday of much needed Shabbat. In no time our bus slowed and came to a stop at the base of Mount Arbel. With camel backs filled and (still) sore muscles rested, we began our 1050 ft climb to summit. A five mile steep hike would require the teamwork we have learned to employ as a family of pilgrims with deep love and honor for one another. Mount Arbel is on the western shores of the Sea Gallilee. Because of its location in the orthodox triangle it would have been a quiet place of retreat and prayer in the first century. Scripture tells us that Jesus during his time of ministry in the Galilee would often retreat to pray. So this morning we will remember the prayer life of Jesus and consider our own.

Part of our climb took us through some cow pasture and as we stopped to catch our breath, our lungs and nostrils were filled with the smell of ...well.... cow poop. Rabbi Scott invited us to consider any stinky areas if our own lives that we might prayerfully ask God to help us leave behind here on this day. If we are feeling very brave, he added, perhaps we should ask God to show us as we walk and pray what those areas may be. I wonder about the aroma that I leave behind in the places that I go. Lord help me to carry your fragrance.

Here on this mountain, Scott recounts for us yet another ancient bloody showdown. This time the perpetrators were Herods guys. The outcome sounded sadly familiar. Like Masada and Gamla, many Jewish lives were lost as Herods army, unable to scale the steep mountain to attack, lowered their best fighters down in cages with torches and ran families out of their dwellings in the steep cliffs. Many chose to throw themselves and their own wives and children of those cliffs plummeting to their deaths. The contrast is stark as from the place we stand here on the mountain we see an Arab Muslim community within a stone throw from their Orthodox Jewish neighbors... Yet no stones are being thrown. I am reminded to continue to pray for the peace of Israel.

As we summitted Mount Arbel we remembered those who had come to this place before us to find a solitary place to pray. Scripture tells us that even Jesus needed to be alone. Mount Arbel may have been one of the places He would have retreated. We lifted our voices and petitions on the top of that great mountain as our Rabbi recited psalm 23. As our prayers ascended, as if on cue, thousands of storks swirled and soared over us from the direction of the Sea of Galilee. I imagine them giving wings to the prayers said for many of you who find yourself reading this tonight. Mount Arbel will live in my heart and memory as that place of prayer. The inclines were incredibly steep and we often needed to call on the support of others as we made our ascent. "How hard have you prayed?" our Rabbi asked. Do we pray only in crisis or do we remember to lift prayers of joy and thanksgiving? Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing. What would my life look like if it were a prayer?

Magda Strash