Well, we're back in Jesus's stompin’ grounds and while some much seems familiar, and lot seems brand new. I hop in the car thinking of where I need to go and without worrying about whether or not I'll end up in Jericho instead of downtown Jerusalem, I get to my destination. I'm starting to have short, but complete conversations--that I REALLY do understand---in Arabic! Yet, I still realize the more I drive around J-Ru, the less I know REALLY know its people. Why are some yarmulkes knitted while others are silk? Why the long robes vs. the short dashiki-like shirt? FAH-la-fel vs. fa-LAH-fel? (Btw, they both taste great! :-)) I guess now that the "newness" has rubbed off, the realness has come!
I want to know more. I need to know more! I'm planning on taking some Arabic classes and have also just started two books: Whose Land? Whose Promise? and The Lemon Tree. They both come highly recommended and I've enjoyed what I've read so far.
This area, and even moreso it's people have often been misunderstood. I hope that I will be able to be patient enough to seek first to understand before seeking to be understood. I believe that we as people often assume we know because we've heard or read something, but until you've lived in a situation, you really don't know. The funny thing about knowledge is if you don't know, you often don't even know you don't know! We must ask the questions no one else is asking and be willing to do the things no one else is doing to reach the people no one else is reaching. At least that’s what I think . . . from where I sit.
I want to know more. I need to know more! I'm planning on taking some Arabic classes and have also just started two books: Whose Land? Whose Promise? and The Lemon Tree. They both come highly recommended and I've enjoyed what I've read so far.
This area, and even moreso it's people have often been misunderstood. I hope that I will be able to be patient enough to seek first to understand before seeking to be understood. I believe that we as people often assume we know because we've heard or read something, but until you've lived in a situation, you really don't know. The funny thing about knowledge is if you don't know, you often don't even know you don't know! We must ask the questions no one else is asking and be willing to do the things no one else is doing to reach the people no one else is reaching. At least that’s what I think . . . from where I sit.
