From Jersusalem to Jericho

This will have to be a brief post as it is late and tomorrow we leave at 7 am to head up to Galilee via Caesarea Maritima (http://www.bibleplaces.com/caesarea.htm), a little light paddling in the Med, Megiddo (http://www.bibleplaces.com/megiddo.htm) and Mount Carmel (http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtcarmel.htm).

Today has been a real day to remember. We walked the Jerusalem to Jericho road.

Now two brief points of clarification:-
1. We didn't actually walk all the way from Jerusalem to Jericho - actually we walked down the Wadi Qelt from St. George's monastery (having looked around at some wonderful relics - skulls, bones and a uncorrupted body and been given some refreshments!) into the outskirts of Jericho where our wonderful bus driver (Samir) reversed up a very narrow road for about half a mile to rescue us.
2. To call it a 'road' is overstating things considerably!! A path, sometimes as narrow as 1' 6'' wide, but generally about 4' wide would be more accurate. Add to this some steep inclines and descents, plenty of rocks and stones and a small piece of cliff climbing which needed some very generous pulling and shoving from two of my fellow travellers (thanks David and Sam) and you get the idea.

Having said all that (and yes Mum I did arrive back safe and sound - just - although for the state of my trousers - see left!) this was the most incredible experience. The walk took about 1 and 3/4 hours in total. For the first half of this time we walked in near silence, and yet as before the air was full of sound. Bird song, familiar yet beautifully different was all around, water rushed down from springs and along the bottom of the canyon (30 - 60 feet below us) and the sound of running feet as a local Bedouin who attached himself to our group raced backwards and forwards, springing off rocks to help the less sure (your truly amongst them) over more tricky bits.

This was no easy stroll, the temperature was somewhere in the very high 30's, and I was very glad of all the water I was carrying, the large hat, and plenty of sunscreen. It is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Especially when I read that wonderful parable of Jesus - The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010%20:25-37&version=31). This truly came to life. The roughness and loneliness of the road for us was a challenge but an adventure, for a solitary traveller it would have been desperate. Even I surrounded by friends felt my heart lift at Jericho came into view between the hills.

There were plenty of large boulders to hide bandits (though I admire their stamina it that heat - getting a regular job would attract me far more!). Further more if I had a picture of a wide road where the priest and Levite could walk by almost not noticing the victim then this was mistake;
the narrowness of the path with cliff falling away bellow and rising up above would have meant that the only way to past would have been practically to climb over him, or at least pass very close to his side (even allowing for erosion over time).

This was a road that Jesus and his listeners would have known well. The final revelation was to realise what it would have meant for the Samaritan to lift a wounded, semi-unconscious man onto a donkey, in that heat, on that path and continue on with him down to Jericho. Quite apart from the well documented sacrifice to his social, financial and political state this man took a huge risk with his own safety. In a beautiful but dangerous place like this, the command 'Go and do likewise' takes on a whole new meaning.

For us today on reaching the air conditioned bus, to be driven to a restaurant where we were able to eat our sandwiches supplemented by well appreciated ice-cream, we felt a sense of achievement. But deeper down in mine and many other peoples minds was the realisation that our future ministries may really call us to love and not count the cost! This will be a far greater challenge, but one which I am sure in faith we will be equipped.


Tomorrow as I said we are off up to Galilee for what promises to be a full, interesting and exciting four days before we return home on Sunday. We have been warned that internet access though available at the hotel may be very expensive. So if you don't hear from me on this blog - Don't panic (Mum - in particular :-) !!) I will be typing but it may have to wait til I get home to upload.

So ta, ta for now.

Good bye to Jerusalam and our wonderful hosts at Tantur (I will be back!).

Galillee here I come.

Helen xxx