This fall, our team of writers at Into the Deep are exploring the theme of Encountering Wisdom. I knew that I wanted to write about my experience in the Holy Land and the visceral memories – the wisdom – that I hold in my body from the weeks I spent walking through Jesus’ homeland. As I explored the story, what emerged was the wisdom of being on pilgrimage. What are the lessons we learn along the way when we tread outside our comfort zone, linger a little longer, or revisit familiar places with a fresh set of eyes? Are you a tourist or a pilgrim on this journey this life?
Upon finishing graduate school, I spent two unforgettable weeks in the Holy Land. We spent long days under the hot sun walking the streets of Jerusalem, traversing the Sea of Galilee by boat, praying in gardens surrounded by olive trees, and floating in the Dead Sea. Our 50-passenger tour bus took us to towns with recognizable names – Bethlehem, Nazareth, Magdala, Capernaum, and Cesarea Phillipi. It was remarkable to stand in the places where Jesus once stood and to visit churches that have commemorated key moments in Jesus’ life since the first century. I found the history fascinating, but if I’m being honest, there were many moments when this “pilgrimage retreat” felt more like a tourist destination with its archaeological history lessons and constant flash of cameras. (Continue reading…)
