Norman's Notes

I arrived back home in Lexington around 4 p.m. Thursday. I agree with Dorothy of Kansas fame: “There’s no place like home!” Flying 5,500 miles non-stop, east to west, the sun chasing you, does do strange things to your mind and body. Israel is seven hours ahead of us. That meant two hours after I arrived home, at 6 p.m., when I lay down on the couch, my mind thought: “Hey! It’s 1 a.m. Friday. Time to go to sleep!” And I did. Instant coma. I slept until 5 a.m. Friday Lexington time, when I suddenly awakened as if getting up at 5 is a normal thing to do.

So it has been. Today, I am starting to get mind and body back in sync.

I am deeply thinkful to the Knights Templar of Virginia for sponsoring me. The same goes for the wonderful and gracious folks of Trinity UMC, Lexington.

Young clergy

One of the great delights for me was to travel and interact with the young clergy on the trip to Israel. I think about half of the group of 43 were men and women in the early years of their ministries. United Methodist pastors were well represented, but the group included pastors from a wide range of church affiliations. They were from all over the country.

These young men and women were given this trip at the perfect time. Most are in the first years of their service; some just out of seminary (and a couple already in doctoral programs). They now will carry the topography and the atmosphere of the Holy Land within their minds and hearts and souls throughout their work as preachers and teachers.

I can testify to you that the church is in good hands going forward. The young pastors on this trip were intellectually sharp, possessed of great faith, thoughtful and serious about their ministries.

I especially enjoyed mealtime, when we had the chance to sit at different tables and get to know one another. It was great to engage these young pastors in conversation.

And I couldn’t help but think we’ve got young folks at Trinity UMC who may one day discover such a call to ordained ministry and, I hope, make this same trip.

The chocolate dilemma

The last five nights of our trip were spent in the King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem.

We ate breakfast and dinner there each day. Each day there was a buffet, which we shared with other groups from other places in the world.

I was always shocked–each time I saw it–that the breakfast buffet, in addition to the traditional eggs and French toast and other Western foods–always included a fresh-made chocolate cake. What country eats chocolate for breakfast? I want to join it!

There was also, in addition to the grape and strawberry jelly packets, packets of chocolate syrup. Weird stuff. As much as I love chocolate, I could’nt go there at 6:30 a.m.

The singing

One of the unexpected delights of the trip was the singing in the holy sites. Many, many groups from around the world make the rounds of the holy sites in Jerusalem, and elsewhere.

It’s great to see this because it confirms the international reach of the Christian faith.

When the holy place is a small cavernous church or other building, built over a site where Jesus was, the groups will take turns entering.

Once inside, each group has a few moments to itself. That’s when pastors will hold quick prayer times. Or, usually, the group will have planned a hymn to sing.

It’s a beautiful thing to hear the hymns we know echoing off the limestone ceilings of holy places. Here’s a less-than-one minute clip of a Philippino (I think) group singing in the church built over the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and death.

UNFORTUNATELY, I held the camera sideways while recording and can’t figure out a way to “right the ship” so please prepare to tilt your head to the left!