Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #45
November 13, 2023
What A Difference A Year Makes
I received a pop-up on my Facebook account yesterday. It was a picture that I posted one year ago when I was a traveler in the Holy Land. I do not recall who took the picture, but it is of a large portion of our group that made this trip. It was the best trip that I have taken in my life. I am very happy that I took this trip last year. This year the trip would have been impossible because of the war that Israel is waging against Hamas in Gaza.
The Holy Land was experiencing relative peace when we were there. But even then, we were not able to visit Jacob’s Well. This historic place sits in the occupied West Bank and there were some demonstrations going on there. Many demonstrations in the West Bank quickly escalate and the Israeli army quickly suppresses them with great force and might.
Not seeing Jacob’s Well was a disappointment for me. I would have enjoyed standing on the spot where Jesus spoke to the Samaritan Woman. This is one place that I looked forward to standing on. I am happy however, that we did not take the risk. I certainly did not wish to become a victim of mob violence or get caught in the middle of a violent clash.
Frequently in the occupied areas there are demonstrations. Israel, with a history of holocaust, the early fighting with Palestinians before Israel was founded as a nation, the Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War, is justified in its fear of annihilation and it’s need for security and survival. The Palestinians are angry. Their land is being occupied and they face conditions of poverty because of the constraints that Israeli control imposes on these lands. I understand the anger and fears of those on both sides of this conflict even as I hope and pray for a peaceful resolution.
The security of Israel must be guaranteed. Likewise, I pray that the occupied lands will no longer be occupied, and Palestinian rule will be restored to these lands that have been occupied for fifty years. Terrorism will never end if people are held in conditions of poverty and feel hopeless about their situation every improving. It seems to me that the best way to eliminate terrorism is to increase the standard of living of those who could potentially be terrorists.
One year after we visited the Holy Land, Hamas attacked Israel, killing, or wounding 1,200 Israelis. Another 200 are being held hostage, assuming they are still alive. The real effect of Hamas’ attacks is the deaths of Gaza civilians which is now estimated at over 11,000. If Hamas was trying to benefit Palestinians by the invasion of Israel, the group failed miserably.
One year ago, we walked through the Holy Land in relative peace. We never dreamed that such an attack by Hamas would happen. One year ago, the Palestinians in Gaza never dreamed that war would be happening on their land. One year ago, Israeli citizens could not possibly have dreamt that their security wall could be breached as it was and so many families in Israel would be mourning dead relative and worrying about their family members taken hostage.
What a difference a year makes. Often, we live lives thinking that what we experience will last forever. We can become oblivious to potential dangers. Nothing, however, is guaranteed. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Let us enjoy each moment of life. If there is a blessing to give or a kindness to grant, let us do it today. We do not know if tomorrow will come. Let us live each day to its fullness.
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