After spending just a short week in Palestine and Israel, my mind has been overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts, and questions. I definitely want to write more about my experience in these places, and I needed to start processing somewhere, so I started with a poem. The conflict between these two peoples and the heaviness and love in my heart for both has been a lot to figure out. Maybe you’ve experienced similar things.
What I Can’t Ignore
Two sides.
One story is true, and the other story is true.
One has been wronged, and the other has been wronged.
One has been hurt, and the other has been hurt.
A wall in between.
A nation with a broken history on one side, a nation with a broken history on the other.
A nation that longs for home on one side, a nation that longs for home on the other.
A nation God desires on one side, a nation he desires on the other.
The heart of God.
Ever pursuing one and the other.
Ever broken by one and the other.
Ever inviting one and the other.
One mind.
I cannot comprehend one or the other.
I cannot choose one or the other.
I cannot ignore either.
In a endless sea of false pretenses and false promises made by rulers, leaders, authorities, and men of all stations, many individuals and nations are drowning in disappointment, bitterness, anger, fear, or worse, apathy. Time and time again, we learn that the plans of men, well-intentioned at best, will never able to withstand the unavoidable tests of comfort, pride, power, and greed. The minds and hearts of man are bound up with bias, limited comprehension and limited perspective. But in steps Jesus, the only exception. Fully God, fully man, inviting us into his kingdom, foreign to anything we’ve experienced in this world– foreign, but real. Living forever and as both the sacrifice and and the redeemer, he lives within the paradox of perfection in leadership and submission. Allowing him to transform our hearts and minds, individually, is the only way we will ever begin to have a glimpse of what his kingdom can look like on earth. So why do we take the gospel wherever we go? Why does “the one” matter, wherever you go? Because, if peace, freedom, restoration, and redemption within your life, your family, your community or your country are truly desires of your heart, knowing and believing the person of Truth is the only way that is going to begin, and be sustained. Starting with you, and then every other one you meet. I’ve spoken with many a person who has said “I like Jesus… just not religion, Christians, etc.” Then start there. Just start with him. And end with him! I dare you.
