Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“Please pray for Jerusalem.”
“Pray for peace in our land.”
On our recent trip to the Holy Lands, we heard these statements multiple times.
Our tour guide asked. An employee at one of the hotels mentioned it. But it was a store clerk in a gift shop that I remember the most.
We were visiting the Garden Tomb, a pleasant walk not far from our hotel. A walled green patch in the middle of Jerusalem, its beauty, charm and peacefulness fades the fact it probably isn’t the actual site of Jesus’ burial.
A quiet place of contemplation in contrast to the crowded chaos of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. A nice way to spend the last day in the Holy Lands.
Like good tourists, we entered the gift shop and found a few more souvenirs. As I chatted with the store clerk, I couldn’t help notice her distinctive American accent. I politely asked her and she confirmed she was originally from the U.S.
She married a man from Israel and moved there a number of years ago. She mentioned she was Christian. Not surprising since she was working at the Christian tourist site but surprising since we had learned only 1% of those living there were Christian.
I asked her what message she wanted me to take back to America and tell others about her adopted county.
“Ask them to pray for the Christians here and all people in the Middle East. We need to wipe away the ignorance between us. We don’t need any more war over here. We really need your prayers.”
Powerful message – not only in her words but how passionately she said them to me.
Please pray for peace.
We left the hotel about 5 am the next morning to travel to Tel Aviv for our air flight home. As we departed Jerusalem a large full moon rose over the horizon. A same moon seen by human eyes no matter where they were born, where they lived now and what they believed.
Moon over Jerusalem. A little blurry, taken from the window of our bus
A light from the heavens shining down on Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. Shimmering on the United States, England, South Africa and North Korea. God’s radiance beaming on Ferguson, Missouri, New York City, Washington DC and little villages like Edon. Glimmers of hope on people in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and Ohio.
One moon. One God. All hearts with a deep desire for peace.
Please pray for Jerusalem.
Please pray for peace.
Praying for peace in Jerusalem right now. It makes such a difference when we meet a “real” person living in the midst of the chaos. Thanks for sharing her with us, Jean. I love hearing about your travels.
You are right, Lisa talking with people actually involved makes any situation more real. builds understanding. Probably why bridges are better than walls.
Jean,
I could sense the urgency in the woman’s voice…and yes, praying for the peace of Jerusalem with you…hugs to you 🙂
You know Dolly I have prayed for peace off and on before but since this trip with more urgency. Our poor crazy world needs it. Heard California was getting quite a storm, Praying you are safe!
Jean, thank you for calling us to pray for Jerusalem and for peace everywhere in this hurting world. “One moon. One God.” I’ll remember that image, my friend. Blessings!
Hi Jean! What a deeply touching post you have today. I can just see the eyes of the clerk, hoping for prayers for her adopted country. How hard it must be to live in a country where she is the definite minority. And feels that pressure every day.
God is love. When we act with love, we are being like him. In so many places, we have forgotten what it’s like to love each other. May the celebration of the birth of Jesus flood this world with his grace and peace. We need it.
Blessings my friend,
Ceil
You are right about acting in love. So often we react with raw human emotions instead of love.
It was interesting that our guide was Christian and couldn’t vote yet had to pay taxes. The clerk who was Christian could vote if she was a citizen which she wasn’t yet. I didn’t fully understand that – may have had to do with nationalities too. made me appreciate our freedoms.