Clarity

After the past few days hiking and driving from the wilderness to the Promised Land, it was finally time to discover what incredible things were in store for us in the city that holds so much historical value. Today’s adventures included exploring the Temple Mount, enjoying the view from Herodium, and a little shopping in Bethlehem. The view from Herod’s favorite palace was beautiful. I could see the amazing places I’ve read about and see the life that was there. Shopping in Bethlehem was fun. Some of us got awesome presents and souvenirs for friends and family. These items ranged from things like a Hebrew/English Bible to a mug that says “Shalom Y’all.” The best part of the day for me though was the Temple Mount.

The moment my feet stepped on Israeli soil, I knew that my perspective on the Bible would forever be changed.

The presence of God will not always fix your problems, but it will clarify your perspective
-Steven Furtick

As I ventured out to discover the significance of the Temple Mount here in Jerusalem, I had no idea what God had in store for me. The Wailing Wall towered over me, standing at a stunning sixty-two feet. The wall didn’t have much to it. It was mild colored, no elaborate carvings or engravings. There wasn’t anything on it other than a few dying plants and birds nesting in them. The wall was surprisingly smaller in height than I expected, though it was made massive by the people who were surrounding it. As I approached the wall, the air was filled with the soft murmurs of Jewish prayer. I decided to sit a few feet away in one of the many plastic chairs placed along the wall. As I looked to my left and to my right I saw women pouring out their souls to this wall. They seemed so consumed with their prayers and cries, it pained me to witness that the barrier that they were trying to overcome was right in front of them. They were there to be closer to God. They thought that this wall, this barrier was as close as they could get to Him. This concept hit me so hard because I saw myself in them. I was always taught and told that we are the temple of God. He lives in us. We have a personal relationship with Him. We have no walls or barriers with Christ. But here are these men and women at a wall. Praying, crying, reaching out for something that is so easily available to them. I was convicted with this fact. The words from one of my favorite songs kept ringing in my head, “How can I stand here with you, and not be moved by you?” Before coming to Israel, I had a wall just like these people who surrounded me. I knew the Bible. I have the head knowledge and the understanding of what it says, but it’s never seemed so real. I am quite literally standing on holy ground. I am walking where Jesus walked. How can I go back to the states the same? How can I continue to treat the Bible like just a bunch of stories in a book? The answer is… I can’t.

-Abbie & Audrey