Reflections On A Visit to the Holy Lands

impressions of a UCC Conference Minister on his visit to Israel/Palestine

In his book The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s guide to making Travel Sacred Phil Cousineau writes, “All of our journeys are rhapsodies on the theme of discovery. We travel as seekers after answers we cannot find at home, and soon find that a change of climate is easier than a change of heart.”

It was in this spirit of discovery that 12 people from the Missouri Mid-South Conference embarked on a journey to the Holy Lands in February. We were part of a group of 40 that spent 12 days discovering places we have read about in the Bible for most of our lives. We were seekers after answers we could not find at home – although as we boarded the plane for Israel/Palestine I’m not sure if we realized the questions to which we were seeking answers. We were on a journey to see the places where Jesus walked, to read the biblical story in the places where it took place, to touch the holy. This is what makes a journey to the Holy Land more than a vacation, our journey was really a pilgrimage.

Click here to read the full article in the Conference newsletter. (Scroll to the second story.)