Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Walking The Walk

As we entered Old Jerusalem my heart pounded and I felt as if it were skipping beats.  To know that this road, the Via Dolorosa, was the very road up which Jesus carried his cross was overwhelming.  Our guide told us to stop and look down.  Some of the stones we were standing on were  more than 2000 years old.  They could have been the very stones where He placed His feet, where His blood dripped, where He stumbled and fell.

I don't know how it could be but it seems as if everything in Israel is uphill!  Surely we will go down soon I kept thinking.  But if we did I don't remember it.  At each station of the cross we were able to stop and read the plaques marking the event.  It became so very real.  I felt Him labor to walk, to even breathe.

As we walked there were little alleys going off in both directions.  I know that those who live here learn the way to get where they are going but for those of us who aren't regularly walking these streets it was a maze, frightening because the crowds made it difficult to always keep up with the group.  Not frightening as in being afraid for my person, but frightening in that I might miss something if I had to go find a taxi to get me back to my hotel!
Sometimes the alleys were clean and empty, but that was mostly in the Jewish section.  In the Muslim section the alleys were dark and dirty and cluttered more often than not.

This is The Wailing Wall.  There were so many people here, all praying, many weeping, most putting prayer requests in the little niches.  Nationality didn't matter.  Color didn't matter.  Wealth or lack of it didn't matter.   Denomination didn't matter. We all were the same before God, all worshiping and all praying for the sorrows of our lives.  One thing mattered though...gender.

Men went to one section and women to another.  The section where the men went was more private than the one I went to.  It reminded me of the Temple when it's described in the Old Testament...women were allowed only so far into the Temple.

The blue shirted guy....my husband.  He was praying alongside soldiers, Jewish men, and men from all nations.

When we left the wall we went to another part of the city and actually climbed up and walked on part of the wall surrounding Old Jerusalem.  If my eyes look swollen, they were.  I can't remember crying so much.  I wish I could explain how I felt on this journey, but it won't make sense.  I felt like I was so close to Jesus, I felt a physical presence unlike anything I can articulate.  I was at peace but also in turmoil.  I was grateful for His death and I was guilty at His death.  I wanted to have lived then so I could follow Him but afraid that if I'd been alive then I would have discounted Him like others did.  I pray it would have been the following and not the discounting.

This is what I saw as I looked out over the wall.


One of the things I most wanted to do while I was in Israel was to stand on the steps of the Temple where Jesus taught.  I'm not sure why that was so important to me but walking up these steps was like coming home.

This is the view from the Temple steps....lots of tour buses but also a gorgeous view of the surrounding city.

And lest you think I wasn't paying attention....look at these two shots of floors and wonderful quilt patterns.  :)

Wouldn't this be a beautiful block when stitched up?  In my mind Jesus is the center and the points of the star are you and me, the whole world drawing close to Him.  Oh that it were so.

16 comments:

Pat - Arkansas said...

Thanks for sharing these wonderfully moving events.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

how wonderful to see the photos from your trip - the last photo would make a very neat quilt!!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Di said...

It certainly is incredible to stand on those temple steps, exactly where Jesus would have walked, and to walk the streets of old Jerusalem imagining His final journey carrying the cross. Thank you so much for your wonderfully moving descriptions, Marlene.

Marge said...

I can only imagine the emotions! Wow!

And I found quilt patterns in the ancient churches in Italy, too! The tile on the floors, the decorations on the walls, everywhere I looked were quilt patterns!

Blessings to you, Marlene.

rubyslipperz1052 said...

This is all so amazing...how wonderful your trip must have been. Thank you for sharing it!

hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

This is such an incredible journey. I can only imagine how you must feel. How wonderful for you sweet friend. How wonderful.
xx, shell

Carol said...

Marlene, I feel your awe! How could anyone not FEEL His presence when you go where He stood?! Thank you for sharing.

Linda said...

What an amazing trip! I think you need to make up a quilt like one of those tile floors as a reminder (although you won't need one) of this trip! Wouldn't that be a meaningful design!

Wendy said...

What an amazing journey! What you must have felt ... wow and how wonderful that you were able to experience it. When I finally saw the Passion of the Christ a couple of years ago, I too felt guilt and gratitude ... that movie moved me more than I ever thought possible, but you, you got to walk the same path. Wow! Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful pictures!

Anonymous said...

I just found this blog, I had never had any thoughts that I wanted to see the Holy Land until this moment! I will check here daily. linda

Lea and her Mustangs said...

Oh my - what an experience. To walk the very place Jesus stepped his foot. Makes me want to fall on my face.

Jacquie Wallace said...

I am so grateful that you are sharing so many details! Loved sharing in the experience through you.

The Mayo Family said...

Good morning Mrs Marlene,
Again, we are blessed by your sharing.
My hubby & I read this, then we read it to our family & yes, it makes one feel overwhelmed!
How wonderful to have had this to time in your life!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings~
~lori

Kathryn D. Duke said...

what a fantastic trip...thanks for sharing the pics..
Kathy

FabricFascination said...

You write about the experience so beautifully, I feel like I am almost there with you, feeling the emotions you felt at being right there where Jesus was, and where he will be coming back.

Gmama Jane said...

I'm Speechless

Jane