Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My Pilgrimmage to the Holy Lands

It has been a long time since I last posted, but it has not been without good reason.

I have just returned from my 10 day pilgrimmage to the Holy Lands.  It was an awesome experience.....hmmm....I can do better than that.  It was an

AWESOME Experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I first heard about this plan to go to Israel, I was not that excited about going.  I couldn't stand the thought of leaving my family for that amount of time, and I thought that it was too much to ask of them.  If it were not for my God-fearing wife, family and friends encouragement, I would not have gone.  They encouraged me because it would be a unique time to go since it would not just be with a random touring company, it was specifically with my parish family and priest.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing photos and experiences with you from my journey.  Fr. Troy said that a pilgrimage is not a personal endeavor, but one that should be shared with those that you return home to.  With that in mind, I feel that it is my obligation to share with you some what I experienced and what I saw, and what I learned - about myself and our Lord.

The overall unescapable feeling that I had was this stuff is for real.  Now as a practicing Christian for all of my life, that may sound weird.  It may sound like I didn't have a real faith in Christ or the Scriptures.  I don't think that is the case.  I do not doubt the faith that I had before my trip.  Instead, I think there is a big difference in reading the Scriptures and actually seeing the places where these things took place.  It has solidified my faith even more than before.  I know that these places exist.  I have seen them.  I have touched them.  I have walked the same city that Our Lord Jesus Christ have walked, breathed the same air, wept in the same places that He wept.  And I do believe that I am changed because of it.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre :- Stone of Anointing



God bless....

3 comments:

Mindi said...

Glad to hear you had an amazing time! Can't wait to hear all about it! Thank you for your prayers! Love ya, Mindi

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had such a good time and learnt so much.Please pray for peace and justice for both the Palestinians ans Israelis over there.It's sad that war and brutality is also going on in such a beautiful & special place.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had such a good time and learnt so much.Please pray for peace and justice for both the Palestinians ans Israelis over there.It's sad that war and brutality is also going on in such a beautiful & special place.