The sun came through the window about 5:30 AM. With my internal time clock saying the "nap" was over I dressed and went out into the quiet streets. The city wakes rather late by my observation, so I figured I'd take a jog. But which way, the city is completely new to me. Well toward the sunrise was my thought.
I ran toward the sun, being sure to not deviate from a straight course, afraid if I turned a corner I'd surely loose my way back. Here I was jogging in one of the most religiously zealous cities of the world. Jews, Muslims, and Christians revere the geography because of some significant aspect of their beliefs.
So this is a "holy city," I thought to myself. Well, I hope this is not all a holy city is for if it is, we should all be disappointed. My first reflections of the city are, violence, squalor, and neglect.
Violence is not new information. We all know that Israel has enemies, and they are here within her borders. The level of danger is reflected in the mandatory military service required for all Israelis once they reach adult age.
It is a very unusual site for me to see a young 20 year old girl wearing olive drab fatigues. I'm accustomed to seeing the young being hip by wearing designer clothes with fashionable accessories. Here, however, you'll see a young adult girl with her military uniform, and a sub-machine gun slung around her neck. It's unmistakable that they are still young and hip for they gather at cafe tables giggling and textng on their smart phones. Those guns however are real and they sport them for a reason.
The picture I hope to attach is at the Western Wall. A young Israeli , maybe 20, on break from security duty coming to make his prayer. Perhaps he prays for the peace of Jerusalem. Prays, yet with a machine gun on his back.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" Psalm 122:6
I ran toward the sun, being sure to not deviate from a straight course, afraid if I turned a corner I'd surely loose my way back. Here I was jogging in one of the most religiously zealous cities of the world. Jews, Muslims, and Christians revere the geography because of some significant aspect of their beliefs.
So this is a "holy city," I thought to myself. Well, I hope this is not all a holy city is for if it is, we should all be disappointed. My first reflections of the city are, violence, squalor, and neglect.
Violence is not new information. We all know that Israel has enemies, and they are here within her borders. The level of danger is reflected in the mandatory military service required for all Israelis once they reach adult age.
It is a very unusual site for me to see a young 20 year old girl wearing olive drab fatigues. I'm accustomed to seeing the young being hip by wearing designer clothes with fashionable accessories. Here, however, you'll see a young adult girl with her military uniform, and a sub-machine gun slung around her neck. It's unmistakable that they are still young and hip for they gather at cafe tables giggling and textng on their smart phones. Those guns however are real and they sport them for a reason.
The picture I hope to attach is at the Western Wall. A young Israeli , maybe 20, on break from security duty coming to make his prayer. Perhaps he prays for the peace of Jerusalem. Prays, yet with a machine gun on his back.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" Psalm 122:6
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