A Visit Back In Time

A Visit Back In Time

The coming of spring takes me back in time

When to Israel I was privileged to visit;

Many sunsets were enjoyed before we arrived,

The flight to Jordan was anything but quick.

Thoughts of entering the land of milk and honey,

A lifelong dream now becoming reality;

Was marred somewhat by the reception

Of the airport’s ‘welcoming’ committee.

Passports were taken, like sheep we were herded

Into rooms to be searched and queried;

From a country of freedom to one of much less

Before long our excitement reverted to worry,

Soon, belongings returned, we were on our way

Via the Allenby Bridge, entering Israel at last;

To be searched once again, at gunpoint this time,

From there we were thankfully allowed to pass.

The land of Promise was beautiful in comparison

Of the land we’d just left….of rudeness and hate;

The land of the Bible became suddenly alive,

The Old City was entered thru St. Stephens’s Gate.

I stopped to reflect at the Wailing Wall,

With the others lifting up prayers to Heaven;

I shall never forget the wailing.. or the tears

Being shed for the past, and for the present.

With others, I walked thru the old city,

Thru the courtyard when my Lord was led;

On the stones, still imprinted, “The kings game,”

Where the crown of thorns was placed on his head.

Most significant of all…the empty tomb

With the doorway of stone rolled away,

Voices of all faiths were lifted in praise,

Sweet communion was evident that day.

To the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view

Of Jerusalem, called the city on a hill,

Overlooking the Kidron valley, towards the

Golden Gate, sealed up since Christ's time, still.

The Garden of Gethsemane, the Place of the Skull,

All places I’d been a lifetime longing to see;

The date of my birth was celebrated that year

As we crossed the beautiful Sea of Galilee.

So many places to see, in such little time,

Soon the day arrived when we had to depart,

But all will remain in my innermost thoughts

And Jerusalem will always lay claim to my heart.

Twilah