“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” (Mark Twain)
I usually HATE being in a car for more than an hour or so. If I am on a long car ride for whatever reason I immediately go to sleep and try not to move until I get to wherever I am going. I spent most of today on a bus/in a cab, however it was different. I did sleep on my first two hour ride from where I stayed last night (Kibbutz Hannaton) to Tel Aviv bus station but my second ride to the airport (I FINALLY got my bag!) I stayed awake. Israel is so incredibly beautiful. Everywhere you look is open and free. Land everywhere. From the airport I went to my family's house in Jerusalem, which was about an hour ride. The sun was setting and I just looked out the window and thought about how amazing everything was.
Before I actually got to my family's house (or the airport) I got to get more in touch with nature and my faith. At first I thought I was going right to Jerusalem. I got dropped off right out of the kibbutz in a little open bus stop where there was nothing around me but open highway. It was warm but there was a breeze and I felt so exotic with my new clothes (that I would normally never buy in the states) and my scarf and sunglasses. Once I found out I had to get to the airport I got taken to another bus stop, this time near a shopping center. Although I was in the middle of civilization this time, so many buses came and went before mine came that I began to loose faith. But then I thought, "If I can't handle it here in Israel, where I know a little Hebrew, and almost everyone speaks English, what will I do in Asia?!" Eventually my nice air conditioned bus came and all was well.
When I finally did get to jerusalem I got to experience one of the greatest things on earth: Shabbat in Jerusalem, in a Sukkah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkah). I am not a religious person, but Shabbat in Israel is very special. It's so peaceful and spiritual. People really chill and take the day to rest and unwind from the week. We had a long meal and stayed up and talked. There was no TV, no one's cell phone went off, and not one text was sent. I think its really special when people can just unplug and be content being around the people who are with you.
As for now I am going to try to sleep (more like pray that I fall asleep at a decent time) and see what tomorrow brings!
Signed,
Settled for the Moment
I usually HATE being in a car for more than an hour or so. If I am on a long car ride for whatever reason I immediately go to sleep and try not to move until I get to wherever I am going. I spent most of today on a bus/in a cab, however it was different. I did sleep on my first two hour ride from where I stayed last night (Kibbutz Hannaton) to Tel Aviv bus station but my second ride to the airport (I FINALLY got my bag!) I stayed awake. Israel is so incredibly beautiful. Everywhere you look is open and free. Land everywhere. From the airport I went to my family's house in Jerusalem, which was about an hour ride. The sun was setting and I just looked out the window and thought about how amazing everything was.
Before I actually got to my family's house (or the airport) I got to get more in touch with nature and my faith. At first I thought I was going right to Jerusalem. I got dropped off right out of the kibbutz in a little open bus stop where there was nothing around me but open highway. It was warm but there was a breeze and I felt so exotic with my new clothes (that I would normally never buy in the states) and my scarf and sunglasses. Once I found out I had to get to the airport I got taken to another bus stop, this time near a shopping center. Although I was in the middle of civilization this time, so many buses came and went before mine came that I began to loose faith. But then I thought, "If I can't handle it here in Israel, where I know a little Hebrew, and almost everyone speaks English, what will I do in Asia?!" Eventually my nice air conditioned bus came and all was well.
When I finally did get to jerusalem I got to experience one of the greatest things on earth: Shabbat in Jerusalem, in a Sukkah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkah). I am not a religious person, but Shabbat in Israel is very special. It's so peaceful and spiritual. People really chill and take the day to rest and unwind from the week. We had a long meal and stayed up and talked. There was no TV, no one's cell phone went off, and not one text was sent. I think its really special when people can just unplug and be content being around the people who are with you.
As for now I am going to try to sleep (more like pray that I fall asleep at a decent time) and see what tomorrow brings!
Signed,
Settled for the Moment
There is a prayer that's part of the evening service; it's said every day. The last line goes like this: "Spread over us your sheltering peace". The word that's used for "sheltering" is sukkah - literally a sukkah of peace. Such a beautiful image. Being in a Sukkah in Jerusalem is perhaps the best place to experience that peace.
ReplyDeleteShabbat in a Sukkah in Jerusalem sounds magical!
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