PREPARATION

Be Prepared.  The Boy Scout motto came to mind as I prepared for the journey and pilgrimage.

Preparation came in several forms:

1. Booking the trip and logistics
2. Making lists of the items we'd need (clothing, computers, umbrellas, toiletries, etc.)
3. Getting business affairs such that I could be free to NOT communicate on a moment's notice.
4. Preparing my mind and soul.

Items 1 through 3 are inconsequential and can be quantified and accomplished.  It's the mental and spiritual preparation that was a challenge.

The biblical passages that we study and read, especially at Christmas and Easter, describe the places that Jesus and His followers visited as well as the events of the day.  While I have seen some of these places and events through motion pictures (The Greatest Story Ever Told, Ben Hur, and others) and books, it will be more meaningful to EXPERIENCE them first hand.  In 8 days, our tour will take us to Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Capurnum, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerico, Qumran, Masada, Jerusalem, and many other Biblical sites.  Remember, my pilgrimage is meant to EXPERIENCE them, not just SEE them.

So, how do I/we truly get the most from this pilgrimage? 

Fortunately, we have Rick Sides as our "guidance counselor".  He held three meetings to describe the places we are going, suggest books and articles to read, and help us prepare.  He gave us a better understanding of the history of the area and its strategic location.  This helps put into perspective some of the conflict that has been going on for thousands of years.

Rick said something that was profound to me.  He suggested that we not think of this in terms of a trip to the Holy Land, but rather as a PILGRIMAGE.  Wow.  I never thought of myself as a Pilgrim.  But, the more I considered this notion, the more it made sense.  People have been making pilgrimages to the Holy Land for thousands of years.  Even in Jesus' time, people were making pilgrimages to Jerusalem to pray to God and enrich their souls.  The notion of being a Pilgrim completely changed my orientation to this journey.

Ginger was lent a fantastic book by our friend, Sue Falcone, that has photos and descriptions of various Biblical sites in Israel and Palestine.  We are taking it with us.

So, am I truly prepared?  Probably not.  I probably could have read more and prepared my mind more (the trip comes just after the whirlwind of Christmas and New Years).  Ready or not, Holy Land....here I come.