We left Louisville yesterday at 6:00 - three hours behind schedule on a replacement plane. Arrived in Philadelphia a little after 7:00 and moved with purpose to the international gate where we went through the security drill and boarded a big old jet airliner.
Which carried us far, far away. Ten hours away anyway. To Tel Aviv, where we arrived at 2:20 p.m. local time. Then on to our bus - the Blue Bus - how perfect is that, right? Go Cats! Our bus rolled out of Tel Aviv and brought us here, to the Royal Plaza Hotel in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. To one of my most favorite spots. The terrace outside, off the lobby of the Royal Plaza. Off in the darkness lies the Sea of Galilee. Tomorrow we begin the pilgrimage anew. We will see some places we have seen before and yet I guarantee you that in those places we will see something new, something unexpected, somethingthat will make the trip worthwhile before it even has a chance to get its sea legs.
I am blessed to be traveling with Julie again this time as well as two members of Hebron and our student intern along with her husband. It is exciting to encourage folks to come to the Holy Land and then to watch as the experience unfolds for them. What will be meaningful for them? What will make scripture spring to life in a new way? What will I see anew because they are here?
It's nearly impossible to speak about this place without slipping into cliche. It is renewing, healing, energizing and transforming.
And that's just after one night on the terrace looking into the darkness at a lake I can't see. With great anticipation for what the morning will bring...
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