Day 3 - The Land Between

This morning, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb began us with a reflection titled, ‘Palestine, Divided and Occupied Throughout the Millennia.’ He says that we cannot understand the Bible unless we understand the geography and the geopolitics of this land. I have heard this sort of reflection before, when I was a student here 5 years ago. Though I won’t go into all the details of the last few millennia, I will say that this is an important notion to consider.
If you look at any map, you will notice that the land now occupied by Israelis and Palestinians, (I will refer to it as the Holy Land, or Israel/Palestine from here on out – hopefully this is a way of recognizing that the land is inhabited by two ethnic groups, both attempting to live in secure status as international states), is an extremely small piece of land. It is located in an area that connects larger countries/areas. For example, it is only in the last century that individual states were established in this area. This land has been surrounded and conquered by such superpowers as Egypt, the Babylonians, the Persians, Alexander and the Greeks, the Romans, the Islamic Empire, the Crusaders, the Ottoman Empire, and finally Britain and France.
This land has always existed on the periphery of other lands. It is often called the ‘land between.’ It is seen as a crossroads of cultures – a place where conflicts occur, a place where battles take place, and though many would call this area the ‘navel’ of the earth, politically speaking, this land has been undervalued and deeply scarred by the superpowers surrounding it. As Rev. Raheb points out, even this history affects the identity of the people of the land today. He says that without G-d, it is very difficult to live on the periphery. How is it possible then for the people of this land (Palestinians, Israelis, internationals, etc) to survive in the midst of all these superpowers, in the middle of all these battles?
Rev. Raheb submits that the many different narratives we read in the Bible reflect these questions because it is precisely the people of the Bible (the people of this land) who are/were seeking answers. People trying to understand why their land could never fully be their own. Thus, when we consider any sort of future for this region, we must have 3 lenses through which we look: 1)Biblical, 2) Historical, and 3) Geopolitical. Further, we must ask ourselves, “how can faith provide a powerful and creative role in this process?” Faith has shaped the people of this region in penetrating ways. Is it not possible then to imagine a way forward with the creativity and power given to us by G-d?
Rev. Raheb began today with this reflection because in just a few minutes we are all going to travel to different parts of the land to hear the stories and perspectives of people who have been living here for quite some time. I think Rev. Raheb’s purpose in sharing this history with us is to get us thinking about how the past has affected where we find ourselves today. Though religious thought and history must influence the way forward in finding justice and peace for this land, we cannot forget that geography and politics have also deeply influenced the character of the people here.
Israelis and Palestinians alike are still in the process of figuring out just what it means to be an independent state. I get very frustrated sometimes with how long negotiations have to take place, with the ever elusive ‘road map’ to peace. But if I consider that fact that the people here are still adjusting to their roles as sovereign states, if I stop myself for just a moment and reflect on how long it has been since there was independent rule here, then I am humbled and quickly quiet. I certainly do not have all the answers for how to push forward. And though I think that is the right way to go, I am glad there are people out there like Rev. Raheb, who are reminding us to look at the past as well. We need to learn from it. We need to remember it. And we need to be patient. Please join me in praying for both Israelis and Palestinians as they continue to stumble and fall, climb and soar through this process of becoming members of the international community. Pray for patience with me. Pray for persistence. Pray for humble hearts and listening ears. Do not neglect to look at the way history has pushed this region towards the situation in which it finds itself today. And pray for great and creative imaginations to dream up new possibilities for the people here.
Tomorrow I will write to you about my trip to Jaffa and the time I got to spend with some ‘local’ people.
Blessings,
Ashley

Day 2 - Albert

Today we are spending a good bit of time getting to know one another. There are almost 100 people at the conference, from 23 different countries. We talk about our hopes for the conference, the questions we have, the things we desire to experience. It seems that many people are visiting the Holy Land for the first time, and that most are interested in getting to know local people as well as the other internationals attending the conference. I am excited to get to know people too.
One man, Albert, is from Switzerland. He is about the age of my father and you can just tell he is both extremely intelligent and incredibly kind. He told us that he has been involved in his small community in establishing public prayer vigils. Once a month he and others in the community come together in public and pray silently for one hour together. They began with about 5 people. Now there are between 40 and 50 people. He related that this time together has been transforming for him and for the community. They take just an hour each month to think of others in the world who are living in difficult situations. This has helped people in the group become more aware of how they are involved with each other, with their local community, and with the global community.
Albert has brought a green rock with him. As part of the conference we are going to make a mosaic comprised of rocks from our 23 different countries. It will be in the shape of an olive tree blowing in the wind. The olive tree has become somewhat of a national symbol for Palestinians. It is an incredible tree – a strong tree and one that produces shade, oil, food, and even soap. It is economically valuable and is lovely to behold.
Albert’s rock is extremely hard. We take hammers and chisels and break our rocks into tiny pieces so that we might join our efforts later on in the week to place the pieces on the mosaic. Albert is diligent with his rock and it is lovely as it reflects the sun light. I am excited to be part of a project that we will see develop. Most of the rocks are white or brown. Albert’s rock will eventually become the leaves of the olive tree.
After beating some of my own rocks (from Palestine), I stand up and take a look around. It is somewhat comical to see non-artisans attempting to use a hammer and chisel – these are instruments with which we are not familiar. Our hands are clumsy as we are used to the instruments of pencils, cell phones, and keyboards. It is a small miracle that no one is rushed to the hospital with a chisel injury.
With time and practice though, we are soon hitting our rocks in a more direct way, identifying the point at which we must connect hammer to rock to chisel. As the pieces fly apart we gather them so that we might put them together again. Twenty-three different countries, strong arms breaking strong stones apart, only to put them back together again into one mosaic. Art it seems is engaging that which is larger than the self.
Albert hands me the hammer and looks contentedly at the shattered green rock in his hand. I sit down to work again on my stone. We are strangers, Albert and me. Our rocks are different colors, different consistencies. From different homes, from different generations. But soon our rocks will sit side by side in one mosaic. One mosaic that represents something bigger and more beautiful than my rock, than Albert’s rock. We are strangers, Albert and me…

Day 1 - Already confused about who I am...

The conference began with a colorful worship service in the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church. With lively music, offerings of prayer in multiple languages, and the proclamation of the Word of G-d, this was an exciting opening to a challenging week. The Lutheran Bishop, Munib Younan, is a Palestinian from Jerusalem. He introduced our conference with some thought provoking questions and reflections:

• Can one be a nationalist and a Christian at the same time? This, he reveals, is something every Palestinian Christian deals with.
• How does Christian theology shape how we think of other nations? Does G-d really support one nation over another?
• As we consider the Incarnation, we are reminded that the coming of Christ is about relationships. The relationship between the human and the divine, and the relationship between humans themselves. Christ welcomed all to His table – are we able to do the same?
• The Bible is a complex narrative, not just a one-act play… is it really appropriate to say it is just for one people? Doesn’t that entail treating it as a one-act play?
• The Exodus is G-d’s clear ‘no’ to oppression at the hands of the powerful and wealthy… in times when Israel became powerful, G-d sent prophets to remind the people of the call to be a nation of justice.
• Currently, many people in this land are dying from the injustice – we must learn how to beat our swords into ploughshares.
• Living under the Occupation has become part of the identity of the Palestinian people.
• We must love others with the radical grace with which Christ loves us.
• We are all created in the image of G-d.

These thoughts and questions helped me to prepare for a time of listening. I often struggle myself with the question of what it means to be a nationalist and a Christian at the same time. I realize that coming from the United States means coming from a place of great freedom and privilege. I have always been very proud to be an American. I believe democracy is a good thing, and I am very glad that America is a melting pot of cultures and religions.
My image of “American” is very colorful. I see people of different ethnicities, cultures, religions, and traditions as being the quintessential American. Since I have also had opportunities to travel to other parts of the world though, I have come to realize that though the faces may seem similar to the ones back in the U.S., the context is very different. Particularly when I think of Christians in Latin American countries or over here in Israel/Palestine, I become a bit confused as to what has shaped me more: being a Christian or being an American? Certainly both have influenced me, but I must be careful not to confuse the two. As Bishop Younan says, the image of G-d is on all people… American, Mexican, Israeli, Palestinian. Whether I like it or not, the face of my sworn enemy is also a reflection of G-d. What does it mean to somehow value them in the same way that I might value my best friend? That I might value myself?
I do not know the answers to these questions, and I am not saying that we should ignore the differences between those of us in the United States and those who are members of other nations. If anything, I think we should find creative ways to celebrate our differences. The issue I am raising though is that in the past I used to view being ‘American’ as being better than the rest of the world, because we have democracy and because we have more wealth and because we have the freedom live the American dream. These are gifts. But for me, it is wrong to see them as anything but gifts.
Through my identity in Christ, I am reminded that I am not to judge other peoples, other nations… I cannot be the one to cast the first stone, because I am not perfect and neither is my nation. Our culture is certainly different from the cultures of others, but that does not always mean it is better.
How then can I come to understand a culture or a person that is completely different from me? The reason I am pressing this question, is because people from the United States often ask me, “do you think there is any hope for peace over there? People are always blowing themselves and others up over there – how on earth are they ever going to get along?” Well, obviously as soon as I figure that out I will let the entire world know, but in the mean time, maybe we should start small. An Israeli cannot get along with a Palestinian if she see the Palestinian as somehow less than her. The reverse is true as well – a Palestinian cannot get along with an Israeli if she see the Israeli as evil – as something less than human.
Who is your sworn enemy? Who do you know the least about, but judge the most? What does it mean for you to love that enemy? How do you pay attention to Christ’s call for justice AND love? These are the things I consider today as I express my gratefulness to G-d for the gift of coming from a place of privilege. I also ask for the gift of understanding myself in the context of the Christian story. Though I will not ignore the American story (because it also helps me understand myself), I will continue to pray that I will see myself and others as made in the image of G-d. And Lord have mercy on me if and when I treat others as less than what You have made them to be: Your children.

Amen.