Today was the final day of the Palestine of Jesus course. We completed the course with a walk to Emmaus ... well actually, they drove us to an old road that would have led to Emmaus and let us walk a portion of the road which is in ruins and is at its foundation level.
It was a fitting end to the course as we all begin to prepare to go our separate ways back home and to wherever our own roads to Emmaus might lead us. Spending these last two weeks in Jerusalem and Galilee has been a great opportunity to put images to the many places we have studied throughout my life at home, in church and most recently in seminary. It was interesting on the walk back to the bus, I found myself walking the road alone for a stretch, and I stopped for a moment as I heard gun-fire. It was most probably a training session for the military near by, but it reminded me of the conflict of this land. It also reminded me how confused and possibly scared the disciples would have been as they journeyed around Jerusalem and Palestine those days after the Lord's crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. What joy, what fear, what strength and what weakness must have been felt.
The simple 30 minute walk along a historical road to Emmaus helped me begin the process of reintegration after a summer of learning, a summer of exploring and a summer of sharing the Good News!
I will be leaving for a few days to Tel Aviv before I head home on Saturday with Kerri.
Pilgrim, how you journey
On the road you chose
To find out why the winds die
And where the stories go.
All days come from one day
That much you must know,
You cannot change what's over
But only where you go.
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