Pilgrimage

The Sea of Galilee during the day and night.

An old olive tree on the Mount of Olives

The Mt. of the Beatitudes and the Jordan River

The lilies of the field and Nazareth--the boyhood home of Jesus

My husband and I have just returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. When we first boarded the plane and then the bus with 86 other adventurers we thought of it as a tour, but it wasn't long before we experienced a special feeling which permeated different locations. We realized that we were feeling the promise of the Holy Land.

The experience also changed my preconceived notions about the topography--granted we were there during spring, but I'd never thought of the country of Christ's sojourn as anything but craggy and dry. I was so mistaken. There were crops, fruit trees, fields, forests, and wild flowers.

Our spiritual educator on the trip brought the scriptures and messages of faith into our minds and hearts. How amazing to sit on the Mt. of the Beatitudes and have a lesson on the great truths taught in the Sermon on the Mt. How thrilling to sit on a boat, at night, on the Sea of Galilee and think of the Lord walking on the water to rescue his apostles from the storm. How life changing to sit in the Garden of Gethsemane and ponder the Savior's nearness.

Amidst the turmoil that is sweeping the earth at this time, our pilgrimage brought us prospective and peace. Truly we saw beyond this moment and into eternity.