P.P.S. Reflections on the Journey

November 6, 2014

We've been home a few days now and are starting to process our experience of the last several weeks abroad.  This was the trip of a lifetime, and it will continue to inform who we are and how we live for years to come.

Some things we observed/learned:

--We believe there is an objective reality and truth, and cling with hope for its full revelation in Christ.  In the meantime, it is clear that the reality that people live and act upon is the reality of their own perceptions and feelings.  For people on the opposite sides of an issue, those views of reality are widely divergent.  This is particularly the case when one side is in a dominant position, often leading the other side to being oppressed, and the oppressor going to great lengths to retain its position of privilege.  

--All people share a core of hopes and dreams for life;  the vast majority of people do not want conflict, and they reject extremes on either side of an issue that would seek to use violence to advance their side's agenda.  We are grateful for all of these people who simply want to raise their children in a healthy environment so that they can grow up to be decent people.   We pray that this moderate center--based on a future for their children--can ascend throughout the world.

--It is understandable that people who are dominated by others will want to react with physical resistance.  This is the case with the Palestinians who throw rocks or fire pipes into the air in rather futile, impotent gestures;  they are acting out their frustrations, and trying to show the Israelis (and the world) that they will not accept the situation.  It's an emotional response of the powerless trying to show they have power, but it has proven to be ineffective--and it has been met with an overwhelming and violent response from the Israelis, who react out of fear to what they see as a threat to their life in the land.  This polarized situation leads each side to dehumanize (even to demonize) the other, which only leads to more tragedy and deeper division. 

--The path to peace will be one that develops understanding through intentional connections and dialogue, where the people on each side begin to see the humanity that they each share with each other--humanity as fellow children of God, who need to forgive and be forgiven.  We witnessed many ways that this is happening:   

•  through arts (such as the Jerusalem YMCA Youth Chorus and its dialogues)
• development of culture and positive opportunities for a rich life (the mission of the Diyar Consortium and its Dar al-Kalima University)
• answering oppression by creating life and community (the path of the "Tent of Nations") 

These may seem like "pie in the sky" idealistic approaches, but they are the only real path to peace.  They each are lighting a candle in the darkness--and the darkness has not overcome it.  We believe this is the message of the Gospel in Christ--that we are all guilty and in darkness, and we all need to be at the foot of the Cross, admitting--not glossing over--that guilt, being forgiven, and then we can accept and offer to others that forgiveness.  We then are made open to understanding and reconciling with our neighbors, which will lead to the abundant life of righteousness, justice, and peace as God has intended for the world.  This path is the best (frankly, the only) hope for peace, where individuals hearts and minds are tranformed, leading to society following along.  It was a path that has worked in places like South Africa, the American Civil Rights Movement, and the Baltic Republics (all patterns of peace in which music was intertwined)--and it is a path that was inspiring to the students we shared it with at Dar al-Kalima.   The great challenge is that the current atmosphere is blocking attempts at this kind of reconciliation.  We have the opportunity to support  building God's Kingdom of peace;  for this path to succeed in this time and place, it will require the support and nurturing of outside powers--most notably the United States--to provide the framework in which reconciliation can begin.

--We were being watched over every step of the journey;  whenever things could have gone very wrong, an angel in the form of a stranger or friend stepped in to help us.  We are grateful for the kindness of those strangers.  We are also grateful for these evidences of God's love and protection.

--David has learned the value of slowing down his pace and taking the time to observe and enjoy his surroundings and the people in them.  He hopes to carry it into his work and life back home.

--Kathy has learned the value of going with the flow and trusting that all will work out in the end.  She, too, hopes that this will give her the encouragement she needs for life here.

--As people get to know each other more, they treat each other with more respect, trust and generosity (e.g., the longer we lived in the neighborhood, the more people reached out to us and offered support--we moved from being tourists/strangers/intruders to neighbors/friends).

--Music is transformative:  individuals can be renewed, communities can be formed, and chasms between peoples can be bridged.  For it to be lasting change, though, there needs to be intentional dialogue and truth-telling.  This was a major insight we gained from Micah Hendler of the Jerusalem YMCA Youth Chorus--the video they produced speaks volumes:  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=cm#label/Sabbatical-Bethlehem/1490fa2437a7f836?projector=1

--David gained a wealth of music source material and performance practice ideas that he will be able to tap into for creative purposes for a long time.

--Kathy regained piano skills, playing with confidence and effectiveness in our public performances.

--Surprising connections with people will occur, even half way across the globe--but perhaps those connections are not so surprising--the network of the Body of Christ is both tangible and spiritual, and connections will appear that are beyond our understanding.

We are also grateful that we were able to have a positive impact through the clinics with the guest choirs, our teaching at Dar al-Kalima University, and performances at the churches.  We particularly cherish three compliments on this work that people shared with us indicate some of this impact:

1. From Micah Hendler, founder/director of the Jerusalem YMCA Youth Chorus (Palestinian, Jewish Israeli, and Arab Israeli Youth), following our clinic with his group:

Dear David,

I had to write and thank you for an incredible workshop yesterday with my singers.  I'm sure you could hear the difference before and after - but for example, Evyatar has never sounded better (and we've been struggling with his vocal habits despite his talent for two years now).  It is due not only to your extensive experience but also to your person - learning all the names of the kids, tailoring your explanations to them, making it memorable - I can't tell you how valuable the experience was for us.  And it set up a paradigm of attention and focus that lasted for the rest of the rehearsal (another 2+ hours), making this rehearsal one of the most amazing we've ever had.

I am so grateful to you for reaching out and for contributing your expertise and art to our cause.

In song, 

Micah

The Jerusalem YMCA Youth Chorus

 2.  Students at Dar al-Kalima University who sought David out for additional private voice lessons and coachings beyond their regularly scheduled lessons--and the students calling him "Dr. David".  Several students asked him about coming to Concordia St. Paul to finish their music degrees.  The administration at Dar al-Kalima has asked David to return for a longer time in the future.

Some students at Dar al-Kalima University

3. An email from Pastor Mitri Raheb after our performances of a Schutz piece and a Spiritual for Sunday worship:

 David, 

The contribution to the service yesterday was special. Thanks. 

 Thanks for support with the college. Any feedback you can offer on how to improve the music program is highly appreciated. 

Blessings and safe travel

Mitri 

Kathy, Mitri Raheb, and David

We are grateful for these connections and new friendships.  Clearly, it was the people we met (rather than the churches we saw, museums we viewed, or old rocks we visited that used to be buildings) that made our experience significant.  They each were a gift from God to us, and we cherish the time we shared and hope to continue to connect in the future.

Our world has been broadened by this experience.  Thank you for reading our blog and following our adventure.  May you know God's blessings in your journey.  We now close this blog with "Deo Gratias"  and "Soli Deo Gloria"!

Star Street in Bethlehem--coming and going on the path of Jesus' entry to the world

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