The darkness is just beginning to lose its daily battle to sunlight. The eastern
horizon has a smear of gray where the sun will begin winning its
skirmish.
The darkness is just beginning to lose its daily battle to sunlight. The eastern
horizon has a smear of gray where the sun will begin winning its
skirmish.
On this day, the eastern horizon rests on the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee,
over the Galilean hills. Just enough clouds float in the sky to ensure a spectacular
sunrise and a great photo opportunity. Everyone has to have one good shot of
a sunrise in Israel.
Armed with my camera, I leave the River Jordan Hotel in Tiberias for the walk
to the peer that reaches a few yards over the water.
Walking down the darkened path, I hear two voices coming up behind me. The
two men speak Arabic in rather whispered tones. Somehow, I feel their conversation
is about me.
Having read the news about the sometimes violent conflict in this part of the
world between Arabs and Jews, I worry that the two think I am Jewish.
I walk a little faster.
They walked a little faster, and keep talking.
I glance over my shoulder and in that glance see they are carrying items that
can easily be barrels of rifles. Even in the dim light, I can see they have
small packs on their backs and knit caps pulled down on their heads.
I walk a little faster.
They walk a little faster.
“Maybe I should turn around, throw my hands into the air,” I think
to myself, “and shout, Dont shoot! American! American! Dont
shoot!”
But that kind of sudden action followed by shouts in a language they might
not understand could cause a reflex reaction, and a reflex reaction by folks
with rifles in their hands is not what one wants.
I walk a little faster.
They walk a little faster.
Okay, if this is it, this is it. I guess coming to ones end in the land
of the Bible is not a bad way to go.
Still, I walk a little faster.
They walk a little faster.
Finally, the waters edge. I walk forward, up a ramp
to a dead-end pier. My only hope is to jump the fence around the pier and swim
for it. Not a good option, but hey, it is an option.
I look around to see if the two are coming up on the pier, or if they will
do their deed from the ground. I try to act brave but my chest just will not
expand.
Just as they reach the base of the ramp, they make a sharp turn to their right.
I watch in great relief as they go to places on the shore, and extend what
I think are rifles, but are instead telescoping fishing poles! They take the
packs off their backs and remove the bait and thermoses of coffee.
It dawns upon me. They thought I was rushing to get to the best fishing spots
they had gotten up well before dawn to secure. As I walked faster, they walked
faster to compete for the places.
They were relieved I was not trying to commandeer their honey holes, and I
was relieved they werent going to put holes through me!
It is amazing how our previous knowledge and experience determine a great deal
of our perceptions. It is amazing that throughout the Bible, people try to evaluate
situations based upon what they knew and what they had experienced. They never
seemed to understand God is not limited by their experiences and preconceptions.
And He still is not. Experience and knowledge are great assets, but they should
never be limitations.
I thought about going over and asking the guys what they were fishing for and
what they were using for bait. But I did not want to push my luck.