the heart of a faithful Jew

Yesterday morning I got up early and walked to the Old City. It was a beautiful day and I just wanted to start out the day by going up on God's Holy Mountain. More than that, I wanted to recapture the feeling that I had when I went there on last year's visit. I didn't feel it again, at least not in the same way. I stayed there and prayed a little, wondering what direction the Lord may take me in while I'm here and feeling a bit like surely He brought me here for more than what I'm doing now... surely there's relationships to nurture and people to love and help? So far my little world mainly consists of the Davises, Hanna and sometimes Racheli, my landlady. That circle is tiny for someone who loves to love people.

Well, I left the Temple Mount feeling a little disappointed, yet satisfied that I had been obedient to do what God wanted me to that morning. As I was walking back through the Jewish Quarter, I was thinking about a teaching letter from Bridges For Peace that my friend, Jean, had forwarded to me right before I left the states. It was called "The Heart of a Faithful Jew" and was written by a man that owns a shop called Shorashim in the Jewish Quarter. Now this article is one of the most insighful teachings I have read or heard in years and in it, he talks about how groups of Christians often come into the shop and sometimes they just shut the door and talk about God stuff.

So as I was wondering about the shop, I looked to my right and I was walking right in front of it! It was closed though, and since I had not had any breakfast yet, I went into the little cafe right beside it to get a muffin and some iced coffee. The lady who was working there was the most friendly shop person I have encountered in my experience here. I asked her about Shorashim and she said they usually open at about 10:30. It was only 9:00. I went to one of the tables outside to enjoy the quiet of the morning, the beautiful blue sky and perhaps one of the best muffins I have had in quite a while. I kept thinking that it was too much of a "coincidence" to just leave without going to the shop, but didn't really know what I would do while waiting. The friendly lady came to my rescue once again.... She said that the shops along the Cardo were wonderful, even just for window shopping.

She was right. There were some wonderful art and jewellry places and I managed to not spend too much money there! When I got back to Shorashim, it was open and there were no other customers there yet, so I got to have a little chat with the owner, Moshe Kempinski and his brother, Dov, when he came in. And there I found a little more of the Presence of God. I think that for the first time since coming here I actually felt a warm welcome to the land. I told him about going on the Temple Mount that morning, looking for God. And he was so encouraging, telling me that in Israel, I would find God in the most unexpected places. He confirmed what I had felt from the beginning—that in Israel, especially Jerusalem, you are physically closer to God. This is the land that He has chosen for Himself and His people. He encouraged me to come back and to just ask if I needed help with anything. I hadn't really realized that I hadn't felt welcome here until that point.

That afternoon, I looked up the teaching letter on the Bridges for Peace website to read it again, and what I discovered there was that BFP might just be what I'm here for. When I read their opening paragraph, I thought THIS IS WHAT I'M CALLED TO. Maybe this is the route I'm supposed to take. I looked at the volunteer positions that they have open and there it was: Graphic Designer. I called them to talk about it, but the lady said they had already closed for the day and I could call back tomorrow. She did tell me where they are located though, and that's right by Sandra & Jon Mark's house! There's a lot to pray through and process, but there's definitely a stirring in my heart. We'll see what happens.

Now back to the original goal of the day, which was being in the Presence of God. Looking back over yesterday, I see His footprints all over the day, and I smell His fragrance everywhere. He was there as I was sitting by the Beautiful Gate beside the Mount of Olives, asking Him to come back soon. He was there in the little orange Tabby that looked just like my beloved Cat. He was there in the little toothless Arab man that wanted to give me the history of the Mount, and whom I will keep praying for. He was there in the beautiful, ancient olive trees. He was there in the lady of the cafe, in the art on the Cardo, in the Hebrew people crying out to Him at the Wailing Wall. He was there in the shop with Moshe and Dov. He was in the Christian bookstore as I was able to replace my favorite book that I had lost. And He was there as a guy asked me what time it was and I was able to tell him in Hebrew!

Last night He was there in the laughter of the boys, the joy of a meal shared with friends, a wonderful study on God's word and there in the midst of chatting with a friend. Today He was there as I walked to the souk, there as I found fresh-popped popcorn (haven't had any since I've been here), there in the guy who made me laugh by asking if I was from Mississippi. There in the fact that I'm starting to understand a little more when they tell me prices in Hebrew; there giving me grace for the crowd and all the bumping into. There on my walk home and there in the sounding of the Shabat horn. There in a single phone call from Sandra and an invitation to dinner.

Look for God in the unexpected places — what simple, yet beautiful wisdom from the heart of a faithful Jew!

***You can read the teaching letter by Moshe and see more about Bridges for Peace by clicking on the title of this entry.****