Anticipation

Israel was not created in order to disappear—Israel will endure and flourish. It is the child of hope and home of the brave. It can neither be broken by adversity nor demoralized by success. It carries the shield of democracy and it honors the sword of freedom.”
John F. Kennedy

We all have a bucket list of some kind. A list of things we want to experience in this life that passes by so quickly. Some of these items on our list might be very simple and some of them so expensive and complex they seem unattainable. I have attained many of the things on my list. I want to visit all 50 states, I have been to 46, so I’m getting closer! I wanted to ride an airboat through the everglades and ride a camel by the pyramids in Egypt. The Lord made it possible for me to do both of those.

Many years ago when I was a child I wanted to be a reporter. The Lord had other plans for me and I never reached that goal. It never diminished my love for writing and traveling though. I have been overseas 6 times and obviously traveled extensively here in the states. There was still an item on my bucket list though that seemed far fetched. To go to Israel, to the holy land and walk where Jesus walked and see the empty tomb! To visit the Dead sea and the sea of Galilee. The Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. Well my bucket list will have one more item crossed off! Tomorrow I leave for Israel! It’s still hard to believe that Monday I will be in that land I have read so much about and longed to see with my own eyes. It will be such a wonderful privilege to experience the places in the Bible.

I have seen pictures of the view from our hotel the first night on the Mediterranean. It’s breathtaking. I do not enjoy flying so the downfall is that I can’t get there without flying for many hours with numerous layovers.

As I anticipate this trip of a lifetime, I feel so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to go. We go through hard trials and think they will never end, but they do end and there are blessings down the road. I lost my precious dog a few weeks ago. It was a very difficult time for me. I remember thinking I would rather go through another surgery than the pain of losing someone I dearly loved. I told my husband, the very worst trial to go through is the death of someone you love. Every other trial has a better outcome! Death, however is the final separation. There is no recourse for it in this life. The promise of the resurrection however, makes it possible for us to bear it.

I read a story one time about Arthur Ashe, the great tennis player. He contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, which eventually cost him his life. Someone asked him if it made him angry. His response was a powerful lesson. He said no I can’t say “why me?” to the Lord. I would also have to say “why me?” To all the blessings He’s given to me! Oh to have that gratefulness to the Lord! Yes, hard trials come but wonderful blessings come too.

I will be posting to my blog everyday as I travel through Israel. If you would like to experience the Holy Land through my eyes, please join in my journey!