It is difficult to put into words what has transpired these last few days. I traveled to Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel/Palestinian territories with some friends for the purpose of building relationships and convincing people that peace is possible. I wish I could say that there is tangible evidence to show what happened, but there is little. Yet I feel hopeful. Hopeful that there is the possibility of peace where there is enough humility to yield some of your own rights. Hopeful that seeing through the eyes of another, especially the enemy, can cause a change of heart and further understanding. Hopeful that prayer is a key avenue that helps people find common ground. The following is a group of stories that is part of a bigger story of what I experienced in 8 days in the Middle East.
I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see devastation. In 1996 I saw a young man hanging from telephone wire in downtown Kabul, a metaphor of fear that the Taliban used for those who would dare to break the law. In January of 2005 I took a team of doctors and nurses to Banda Aceh, Indonesia to volunteer to anyone that needed help. I can still picture in my mind a certain spot that was hit hard; a pile of steel, concrete, pieces of boats, and bodies mangled together. In southern Lebanon, where the war took many lives last summer, I experienced a familiar feeling. In a tiny village 50 miles south of Beirut we were standing at the edge of a huge pit in the ground where there used to be multiple families living in a building that housed them. Now the buildings and the families that housed them were a memory. Looking at the pictures of the kids and adults that were killed, that old feeling returned. We prayed together with one man who had lost all his family. I know he was moved, but not near as much as I was.
In Beirut we met with a leader of a refugee camp. I had been in this camp before in the Summer of 2001 as some of my friends that lived in Beirut recommended us to work there. We were the first group of Americans to do a project in this large makeshift town. We did a simple project, fixing a large concrete wall and putting in a driveway at a school. It is amazing how little efforts can make big impact. Now they welcome many Americans, including us. As we were praying with the sheikh, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much more can be done with simple efforts offered in good will.
Our last meeting in Beirut was with an inter-faith group that meets monthly for the purpose of seeking peace. All of these men were advisors to many of the powerful people in the Middle East. I was astonished at the way the group talked with such sincerity and humility to each other, hoping to understand each other better. One of my American friends asked a Muslim leader, “How can we, as Christian leaders in the West, better serve the process of peace?” Without hesitation, the man responded, “If you would follow Jesus that is the best we could ask for.” I was stunned at his response. No mention of politics, just a charge to follow the example of a great peacemaker. We prayed together that this very thing would happen.
Not to say that politics weren’t addressed. I spent some time with some university students and they were polite, but I could sense a low grade tension as they were looking at me and asking neutral questions. Once they found out I live in Los Angeles, one girl got especially excited and asked me if I had seen any of her favorite American entertainment icons. She was disappointed I had not befriended any of them. When I asked them what they thought of America, without hesitation the conversation got heated. They continued to be polite, but peppered me with questions that I knew they had. After some time of helpful dialogue I asked them if I could pray for them. They cheerfully accepted, and everybody wanted prayer that they would finish college and move to the States.
In Jerusalem we met with a leading Orthodox Rabbi. He was fascinating. A large man with an equally large personality, he communicated with clarity and authority. He spoke how he had spent time in America for schooling, but always longed to be back in Israel with the people he loved most. He talked about the trouble he had gotten for stating publicly some views that were difficult for some to accept. At the end of the meeting we asked him how we could pray together. He asked that we pray for peace and the God would use leaders like him to make it happen.
In Bethlehem we met with a gentleman that struck me as a modern day Gandhi or MLK. I walked in late to the meeting and missed the introductions, but I immediately noticed the scars on his face. He is a Palestinian Christian who leads an organization that seeks peace by using nonviolent measures. He spoke of different protests that he has organized, and how he sees peace only coming through a war of love. As he was closing his time of speaking he shared how the marks on his face were from a beating he had received the Friday before our time together where a soldier had rained down on him blows because his protest was seen as an interference. When the soldier realized that he was not going to fight back he started weeping. As we prayed together I prayed for a million of him to arise out of this conflict.
Another man in Bethlehem leads a retreat every month with leaders from the three dominant faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christian. He puts them all on camels; two people of different faiths on each camel, and they ride out for a week long experience in the Wadi Rom desert. He did this with a thousand people in 2006.
In Ramallah we drove up to the Al Jazeera headquarters. My friend who organized our trip disappeared for a few minutes and came back to inform us that we had a meeting with the staff in a short time. While we were waiting for our meeting we went to get a cup of coffee at Starbacks. Not Starbucks, but a close coffee cousin Starbacks. After our fill of coffees we walked into the beautiful offices of Al Jazeera. The staff seemed a little disheveled, very polite, but a little standoffish especially for Middle Eastern standards. After they spent about half an hour showing us the different functions of the Middle East headquarters, we spent some time praying together. They looked a little shocked.
Our last stop in Ramallah was to visit a Palestinian cabinet minister. He was a very gracious man with a beautiful family and a lot of hope for the future. After talking together we prayed. As we prayed for one of his grandchildren, I noticed his wife softly crying.
There are more stories, but little time. I know that big problems aren’t solved with modest efforts, but I hope we were able to serve our role. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Is peace possible in a world rife with anger and hostility? I believe so. If everyone can play a little part in helping others see the possibilities of the future, it is absolutely so.
I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see devastation. In 1996 I saw a young man hanging from telephone wire in downtown Kabul, a metaphor of fear that the Taliban used for those who would dare to break the law. In January of 2005 I took a team of doctors and nurses to Banda Aceh, Indonesia to volunteer to anyone that needed help. I can still picture in my mind a certain spot that was hit hard; a pile of steel, concrete, pieces of boats, and bodies mangled together. In southern Lebanon, where the war took many lives last summer, I experienced a familiar feeling. In a tiny village 50 miles south of Beirut we were standing at the edge of a huge pit in the ground where there used to be multiple families living in a building that housed them. Now the buildings and the families that housed them were a memory. Looking at the pictures of the kids and adults that were killed, that old feeling returned. We prayed together with one man who had lost all his family. I know he was moved, but not near as much as I was.
In Beirut we met with a leader of a refugee camp. I had been in this camp before in the Summer of 2001 as some of my friends that lived in Beirut recommended us to work there. We were the first group of Americans to do a project in this large makeshift town. We did a simple project, fixing a large concrete wall and putting in a driveway at a school. It is amazing how little efforts can make big impact. Now they welcome many Americans, including us. As we were praying with the sheikh, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much more can be done with simple efforts offered in good will.
Our last meeting in Beirut was with an inter-faith group that meets monthly for the purpose of seeking peace. All of these men were advisors to many of the powerful people in the Middle East. I was astonished at the way the group talked with such sincerity and humility to each other, hoping to understand each other better. One of my American friends asked a Muslim leader, “How can we, as Christian leaders in the West, better serve the process of peace?” Without hesitation, the man responded, “If you would follow Jesus that is the best we could ask for.” I was stunned at his response. No mention of politics, just a charge to follow the example of a great peacemaker. We prayed together that this very thing would happen.
Not to say that politics weren’t addressed. I spent some time with some university students and they were polite, but I could sense a low grade tension as they were looking at me and asking neutral questions. Once they found out I live in Los Angeles, one girl got especially excited and asked me if I had seen any of her favorite American entertainment icons. She was disappointed I had not befriended any of them. When I asked them what they thought of America, without hesitation the conversation got heated. They continued to be polite, but peppered me with questions that I knew they had. After some time of helpful dialogue I asked them if I could pray for them. They cheerfully accepted, and everybody wanted prayer that they would finish college and move to the States.
In Jerusalem we met with a leading Orthodox Rabbi. He was fascinating. A large man with an equally large personality, he communicated with clarity and authority. He spoke how he had spent time in America for schooling, but always longed to be back in Israel with the people he loved most. He talked about the trouble he had gotten for stating publicly some views that were difficult for some to accept. At the end of the meeting we asked him how we could pray together. He asked that we pray for peace and the God would use leaders like him to make it happen.
In Bethlehem we met with a gentleman that struck me as a modern day Gandhi or MLK. I walked in late to the meeting and missed the introductions, but I immediately noticed the scars on his face. He is a Palestinian Christian who leads an organization that seeks peace by using nonviolent measures. He spoke of different protests that he has organized, and how he sees peace only coming through a war of love. As he was closing his time of speaking he shared how the marks on his face were from a beating he had received the Friday before our time together where a soldier had rained down on him blows because his protest was seen as an interference. When the soldier realized that he was not going to fight back he started weeping. As we prayed together I prayed for a million of him to arise out of this conflict.
Another man in Bethlehem leads a retreat every month with leaders from the three dominant faiths: Judaism, Islam, and Christian. He puts them all on camels; two people of different faiths on each camel, and they ride out for a week long experience in the Wadi Rom desert. He did this with a thousand people in 2006.
In Ramallah we drove up to the Al Jazeera headquarters. My friend who organized our trip disappeared for a few minutes and came back to inform us that we had a meeting with the staff in a short time. While we were waiting for our meeting we went to get a cup of coffee at Starbacks. Not Starbucks, but a close coffee cousin Starbacks. After our fill of coffees we walked into the beautiful offices of Al Jazeera. The staff seemed a little disheveled, very polite, but a little standoffish especially for Middle Eastern standards. After they spent about half an hour showing us the different functions of the Middle East headquarters, we spent some time praying together. They looked a little shocked.
Our last stop in Ramallah was to visit a Palestinian cabinet minister. He was a very gracious man with a beautiful family and a lot of hope for the future. After talking together we prayed. As we prayed for one of his grandchildren, I noticed his wife softly crying.
There are more stories, but little time. I know that big problems aren’t solved with modest efforts, but I hope we were able to serve our role. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Is peace possible in a world rife with anger and hostility? I believe so. If everyone can play a little part in helping others see the possibilities of the future, it is absolutely so.
