Nina's Notes - Tuesday, January 31 Time doesn't seem to matter these days as we travel and explore. The office and my regular routine seem to have faded into the distance as I walk, and reflect, and share community in this space. When I realize this has happened I have to tell myself that it is ok as I am here as a pilgrim. I am wandering in a different time, a different country, and seeking to find God in new ways in the midst of it all. As I am exploring this new landscape I could be skeptical and question every site we visit - how do they REALLY know that this is where Jesus broke and shared the loaves and fishes, how do they REALLY know this is where they lowered the paralytic through the roof so that Jesus could heal him? Granted, there is room for speculation on some of this, but I have made peace that even if it is not the exact spot where an event occurred, it is certainly in the area and lessons can be gleaned from being there. It is also interesting to see what scenery surrounding the parables and stories of Jesus come close to matching the images I have carried in my mind's eye for all these years. Some are pretty close and others seem pretty off target. In terms of landscape, it continues to amaze me how rocky the hillsides are. I try to imagine what it would have been like for a family to arrive in a new village and have to build a house from rocks as there are few trees. It also amazes me to see the massive and intricate synagogues they built from stone. I can't imagine the technology of erecting the massive columns at the city gates or in the synagogues, but as one of my colleagues reminded me, the pyramids were built 3,500 years prior to that! We also saw a water system that was built during the reign of Ahab. The system was constructed to ensure there was water for the city during times of siege. It is incredible to consider the engineering and ingenuity that went into the construction of this water system. I am realizing more fully the role that foreign gods played in this area as well. We went to what used to be Caesarea Philippi today. In this city stood 6 temples or courtyards - one next to the other! There was the Temple of Augustus, Zeus, Pan, and others. We stood in the courtyard and read Matthew16:13-20, where Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" That whole passage made so much more sense standing there in the shadow of what used to be the temples of the gods. Tonight in our discussion group we wrestled with our own version of the question, "Who do you say that I am? " and had some good time for reflection and discussion. The answer to that question continues to change and deepen as I grow older and as my faith matures. Walking in this place is helping me to once again wrestle with that question in new and life giving ways. I will leave you with that question to ponder as well, and will look forward to discussing the answers with you. Peace!