Fall in the country: Au Revoir !

No need to read the following if you do not wish.

 

This will be my last upload until I return to Canada from my holidays which begins next week. I will be busy closing off loose strings at work this upcoming week before I leave. I shall be returning to Canada by November 6.

 

I begin a visit to Israel and the West Bank in the Palestinian Territories as part of a religious and personal Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land and partly to see the enormous history related to this area of the world. I will be travelling throughout Israel and will also visit the Dead Sea. I will also be spending some personal time in what is the holiest city for Christianity i.e Jerusalem. Jerusalem is to Christians and Jews what Mecca is for Muslims or Amritsar is to Sikhs or the Ganges to Hindus. Jerusalem is also of importance to Muslims as it contains the third holiest site of Haram Al Sharif or Temple Mount to Jews.

 

I am very conscious of the fact that I am leaving the peace of Canada for a very troubled part of the world but I am reminded that through its history this territory is honored by the many who have been here... the Jews, the Persians, the Greeks under Alexander, the Romans, the Christians, the Muslims etc etc. and thru it all I know I will walk in the footsteps of Christ and the pilgrims who have gone before me for 2000 years to pay their respects and to pray at the most scared sites of Christianity.

 

I have one prayer to God and it is a prayer for peace for all in the Holy Land....and so I will go with the most minimal of earthly things when I board my flight for Tel Aviv for that place that Pope John Paul 2 called during his Millenium visit to the Holy Land ..."the place that God chose to pitch his tent. "

 

I end with the words of Jesus from the Holy Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5 verses 3-10 commonly refered to as the Beatitudes.

 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth.

 

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be satisfied.

 

Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

 

Blessed are the pure of heart,

for they shall see God.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God.

 

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

 

 

 

 

Done