Israel Here We Come
Today Elizabeth and I embark on another great adventure, this time to Israel. She is the VP of Sales for an Israeli company that manufactures women's FemCare products and Wet Wipes. She will be hosting one of her US clients for the first few days and then is in company meetings until February 8th. I will join with her group for those first four days and then venture off on my own hooking back up with her in the evenings. I'm really looking forward to the trip as the last time I visited the Middle East was 1986. Back then terrorists were blowing up El Al (National Airline) flights all over the world. When we landed in Tel Aviv in one piece everyone on the flight erupted in spontaneous cheers of nervous relief! I remember vividly my first impression of the place..."this barren desert with all these rocks is what is at the center of so much conflict? Why would anyone want to live here let alone fight over it?" I thoroughly enjoyed my time there though. Being exposed to a new culture and learning about its variety of people from so many different places across the globe was quite stimulating. The buzz in the air made it difficult to sleep at night as I was processing so much new information. The Jewish people have a unique story. There is no group of people I know of who existed once as a nation, were then dispersed across the globe for 2000 years and then came back together to reform their nation! It is truly an amazing story.
I have a few more miles under my belt these days and the strength of my youth is now gone. I have traveled to dozens of country's since 1986. I'm not the same person and I wonder how much has Israel changed as well? The issues of the Jewish people, the state of Israel, the Palestinian people and how we should relate to them is a vast and varied discussion with a multitude of opinions and perspectives. At times the debate can get heated and alienate the best of friends. Honestly, I for one have been reticent to delve in too deeply as I have so many other pressing issues I'm currently wrestling with. I certainly don't need to get in the middle of another conflict! I do know this...the issue of reconciliation is very close to the heart of God. While I'm in the land of conflict, I'm going to be seeking out and visiting with people who have my same passion no matter what side of the equation they are. I will try and blog daily if I have time and access to the internet. I hope you will enjoy the journey with me.
Praying God's angels guide and protect both you and Elizabeth while on this adventure.
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