Prepared with Skill and Confidence

Today we visited Tel Azekah looking out over the valley of Elah. Somewhere nearby in this valley David stood in the name of the living God and brought down the mighty Goliath with a mere slingshot and a stone. God had prepared David with the skill and with great confidence in the living God. We were left with the awareness that God has provided us with "stones" and skills. There is another passage where Jesus says not to throw stones. Listen for guidance - when am I to throw a stone and when am I to drop my stone on the ground?

Israel first 24 hours, by Joy Soltis

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book , Life Together , that it is a privilege and a gift to live in community with other Christians.

Arriving in Israel without expectations and the simple prayer that God would surprise me we stepped off the plane around noon into heat so hot you didn't want to ask the temperature. Without dropping ours bags at our hotel we set out for our first hike in the Holy Land knowing it would serve us well to stay awake until sometime in the evening. The hike involved a steady significant incline, rocky trail and maneuvering over, down and around some rocks. The final spot was Tel-Gezer where I failed to navigate to sit for our first lesson, however I was within hearing distance of Tim's voice and was to learn the story of Tel-Gezer, the site were an Egyptian king gave a palace to King Solomon upon his marriage to an Egyptian woman. At the second stop we encountered some pillars placed as markers because something special had happened there, an act we often encounter in our Old Testament readings. I was delighted with both of Tim's teaching so far because he presented us with really good application questions so I knew that was going to be a continuing, and meaningful, part of our experience.

Now it was all downhill on a well worn path back to the bus. Despite the long journey, little sleep, no hiking poles (still packed), heat and advanced age, I had done it all with everyone else. Or so I thought. As I lagged further and further behind, our "Sweeper", Pastor Paul, pulled up beside me and together we very slowly made our way on what was now a level gravel road. I was running on fumes, and very few at that. Pat came from the bus to check on us and joined our crawl. Next came Kappy with full liter of water that supplied me with a couple of welcome showers. Finally, with me soaking wet, and the four of us arrived at the bus where the everyone else had patiently waited, and even prayed.

God has already answered my request for a surprise in a surprising way. It came in the most practical of ways and through my fellow pilgrims: Patience, companionship, prayer, concern, comfort, acceptance, support, provision, love, selflessness and servanthood. And the next morning when Janet appeared at my side with my walking stick ready to be my guide for today's uphill hike I was overwhelmed at the realization of her forethought on my behalf. And so it went throughout the day where I never lacked a strong hand to get me through a ruff spot, including a trip down into an ancient cistern where we sang the doxology.

What a privilege we all share in experiencing community on this pilgrimage. I know it is going to be a Holy Land full of God's surprises for all of us.

Written by Joy