It’s a Small World

The road from Abu Dis to Galilee runs along the Jordan River valley. To the left are the grassy hills of the West Bank, covered with small rocks, and smiling wildflowers. Nearly camouflaged herds of sheep and goats dot the hillside, with their watchful shepherds nearby on their smartphones. Caves in the hills are used for sheepfolds and the only clue you have that all is not idyllic and peaceful is the occasional watchtower perched on the top of a hill.

To the right you can see the well watered plains of Jordan giving way to the hostile mountains beyond. Orchards and greenhouses abound. Date plantations, with their perfect rows of trees, stretch for acres. It’s a feast for the eyes!

I’d often wondered why they always stoned people in the Bible, but let me tell you, every hill and valley in Israel is covered with handy, baseball sized rocks. All the ammunition you could ever need, right in front of you. It’s not that they were so macabre, it’s what made sense.

Our day was full of beautiful scenery, innumerable wildflowers, ruins of ancient Decopolis, imagining Saul and his son’s headless bodies hanging on a wall, and energy drink. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Harod Spring, where God had Gideon do the drink test on his soldiers. The spring still gushes out of the rock, and of course we all drank. Not directly, as birds live in the little cave above the spring, but from Andrew’s filter bottle.

After playing in the Jordan River and visiting the mandatory churches built over the traditional sights, we found the old Jesus trail leading down to the Sea of Galilee. It’s the main trail between Peter’s village of Capernaum and Nazareth, so as you stroll along, you know He walked there first. There are a few locals that use the path, but it seems to be untouched by the tourist crowd. We walked to a small rocky beach where we proceeded to lounge, skip rocks, sing, build altars and visit. It was so peaceful, with the waves lapping on the shore and best friends perched around you.

An hour before sunset we made our way to the dock at Geneseret to meet Captain David. For whatever reason, Karen had got so wet while resting by the Sea she had to quick change her dress. I shrugged, because somehow Karen was always getting into water more violently than the rest. It probably happened when she waded through a deep spot to check a waterfall out real close, and then scrambled up through the wet greenery to get out of there.

We’ve known Captain David for a few years and have become friends with the guy. He’s an American/Israeli Christian who sports a man bun, owns a wooden Jesus Boat and takes private groups out on the Sea. We booked the sunset ride, so the air was getting shivery. Four stray people who had been late for their ride joined us as well, so we were a small group.

David is a joy to hang out with. His one arm was in a cast, thanks to an accident that involved a boat sinking, (he insisted it was submerged, not sunk) but that didn’t slow him down. The Sea was calm, birds circled and the village lights started twinkling along the shore as he told us of Jesus’ life and miracles. Also about water reclamation projects in Israel, and about his family. He has a delightful sense of humor and kept the whole group jolly. As the sun sank below the hills we started to sing. David loves singing, and picked “It is Well With My Soul”, and “How Great Thou Art”. It wasn’t perfect singing, but it made one’s heart ache with the beauty of the whole scene.

I’m not sure who first had the idea to try walking on water, Dalen, Heath or David. Because of the cold they waited till we were about to dock and then Dalen and Heath stripped down to their skivvies and leapt into the water. Apparently their faith was lacking, as they sure enough weren’t walking. More like gasping with cold. Come to think of it I wonder why Karen didn’t leap in too, but on second thought, who would have handed Dalen his dry clothes one by one when they crawled out blue and chattering;)

We all had rousing appetites, which was good, cause our supper joint served the most delicious schwarma wraps you have ever eaten! We were stuffed and contented when we rolled into Kinneret Love Sounds, our guesthouse for the night. I know, what a horrible name! I had avoided booking there a few times simply cause I couldn’t stomach it, but if you just forget that, it’s a really nice place (in spite of the drive through window located above the commode that opened into the shower room). Even had a hot tub and a pool that were happily used. The kids said they’d stayed up real late, but I never noticed. Sleep is sweet after a fun day.