Last night [Tuesday 20 May 2008] was the graduation celebration of the intern year. Can you believe it? I'm done! I survived nine months of rigorous manhood training in the name of Jesus. At some point I'd like to review my blog and read my thoughts throughout the year. I've been fortunate to have experienced a number of awesome things. I've been to NYC and back on only four dollars. I've designed in both NYC and Palestine! I've traveled through the night from Kansas City to Washington and was greeted by a spectacular sunrise in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia. I've climbed to the top of many mountains on different continents. I've pulled a tick from my arm pit. With seven other guys I was in my first real car accident on the state line of Missouri and Kansas. A few weeks later I caused my first accident and blamed it on the guy in the back seat who passed terrible gas. Ohhh there have been many experiences this year. Not even a blog could contain all of them! I truly experienced You, Me and everyone in between. From the President of the USA (Well, I heard him speak), to refugees in Bethlehem, to my very own family and friends back home. This year would not be this year if it were not for everyone in between.
Now I ask myself, "What the heck have I learned"? Since most of you could not attend the graduation, I figured I'd share a piece with you. Each of the interns were asked to answer this question. I will share my response with you.
I decided to take a different route then I would have usually taken. Normally I would of come up with a normal speech collecting some of my thoughts on the year. However, my experience in Palestine weighed on my heart. I completely burnt out while in Palestine. I exhausted myself. During that time I began to discover more of who I am. It was a humbling state for me. Normally, I am a people pleaser, not so during a burn out. I also realized that throughout the internship and the latest portions of my life, I've been trying to achieve perfection. For those of you who don't know, this is impossible. This mentality reflected my outlook on myself and expectations of others. What I finally concluded was, we are imperfect and due to that reality we have to live with ourselves in both our weaknesses and strengths. I would be fool to think I can live only in my strengths. As I found out in Palestine, our weaknesses eventually catch up to us. So what's the solution? Well, for me it's been tough. I've found that I need to be honest with myself most importantly. In regard to my relationship with God, I also need to be honest. I've begun to honestly turn my weaknesses or sin over to God. I've also accepted that I don't always believe. By turning that over to God, that's helped my unbelief. I think as religious people in general, whether Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu etc... it's easy to focus on what's great in our lives. We make rules that prevent us from sinning. So when we do sin it's look down upon. There's a tendency to stair away from the struggles in life. When in reality, in faith that is where we need to be truthful and accepting. I don't want to hide my weaknesses. I recognize that you definitely have weaknesses, as do I. Why not help each other out? I've found freedom during the past two weeks just by being honest with myself, others and God. Why does any of this matter? Well, I have to live with myself for the next who knows how many years. In preparing for the rest of my life I came up with a set of statements I would like to follow. I wrote the list as I sat, burnt out, on top of the roof of my home in Palestine. This list has become the "What did I learn this year list".
Remember these are for me. I will most likely fail to follow them. I'd like to try though.
1. Please learn how to accept exactly who you are... A sinner. Do not hide that. As Jesus said, hide you the good that you do. Humble yourself by knowing your weak.
2. Please learn about one's feelings before judging them. Just ask and do not delay.
3. Please take time from your day to be by yourself. Whether extrovert of introvert, we need time to ourself to reflect and energize. Even the Lord went to the mountain to be by himself.
4. Please love people more than you love your doctrine or religion. Jesus' greatest commandment.
5. Please do not concentrate on making others love you. Concentrate on loving others.
6. Please do not concentrate on pleasing others. You will lie. Please do not lie.
7. Please remember that nothing of yours you own. God has gifted you with your wealth and accomplishments. Please share them freely and frequently.
8. Please visit the mountains often. You will witness God.
9. Please travel often. Remember that it is the people and nature that are the most important tourist attraction.
10. Please talk to people who are wiser than you are. Talk to your elders and find mentors.
11. Please remember that you don't win an argument. You resolve a problem and build unity. With a mentality of winning and losing, no one wins.
12. Please play Soccer.
13. Please spend time with people who make sacrifices. The poor, refugees, the oppressed. Please learn how to make sacrifices in your like. Learn how to take risks. You'll learn more about god during these times then any other time.
14. Please laugh, especially at yourself.
15. Please do not regret. The only regret that I have is that I regret.
16. Please encourage your brothers and sisters in their pursuits.
17. Please remember that you become great by becoming humble. Don't try to be great by being humble. Let it happen, don't force it. Please listen to others who you trust.
18. Please spend time with children.
19. Please remember to smile. It is universally recognized, so is the frown.
20. Please never try to be the leader.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Week 2 in Palestine
Greetings! Sorry for the delay. By the end of the day I am often too tired to write. Or there is just too much to write and I don't know where to begin.
Update: Since last post I've...
Celebrated Easter... Again. Haha! More Easter eggs for me.
Travelled to the North area, the Sea of Galilee. I went swimming near the location that Jesus walked on Water. I also witnessed a baptism on the river Jordan near the location that John the Baptist Baptized Jesus. On the way I saw Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration occurred.
Travelled to Hebron, the Burial place of Abraham and the fam. This city was the most divided that I've seen thus far. Israelis live on top of the Palestinians. The Abrahami Mosque, which is above the site where Abraham was buried, is now divided. One side is a Mosque and the other a Synagogue. One another cannot see each other.
One day I decided to take a walk to the top of the mountain near my house. I was tired and needed alone time. I followed the wind and ended up at the home of a Beautiful Family. They offered me tea, coffee, peanuts, and Hookah. I played soccer with the kids. The view from the top of the hill was incredible. The sun was setting while I sat on the front porch with my new friend. Most of the time when I walk I am invited in to someones house for tea. Even though I am a complete stranger.
For three days last week Austin and I stayed in a refugee camp called Azza. The people of the camp once lived in villages elsewhere. Somehow during 1968 or 1948 when Israel took over they left their homes and now are refugees. The camps are close quarters. If I were in a place like this back home, I might feel unsafe. Here I don't. Austin and I stayed with a Muslim family. I since that the non-Muslims here look down on the Muslims. I felt otherwise. Austin and I were treated immaculately. We were never hungry. Most of them did not speak English. It's interesting to meet guys our age and see how they take American culture from the TV. Generally Arabs are very strict. Obviously American television is not. We played soccer with the neighborhood kids. I had one of the boys draw sketches in my sketchbook. The drawings weren't very happy. They conveyed the open air prison feeling that Palestinians share.
I've done some designs for a local organization. They needed help with a website design. I've had fun doing that. Plus, I can now say I've designed in Palestine. It's been nice to actually experience Palestine and design the site. I've had an extra keen eye for the environment so that I may be inspired. Art is everywhere here. Whether its the beautifully church that represents where Jesus was born, or the graffiti on the walls, Palestine is an open air museum. I've also picked up drawing. I love to draw mosques for some reason. And of course, I've taken hundreds of photos.
Thoughts:
I can't stand checkpoints. They're like airport security.
At this point I reached a tired phase. Last week I felt overwhelmed emotionally and physically. We've hear so many different stories. Not just from Palestinians either. Either way, most of the kids we talked to don't have dreams. As an American it is easy for me to think, "what would I do if I lived here?" When I hear each of the kids say they have no hope, I disagree. It's hard though to disagree and back it up when I come from America. We really do have freedom.
Father of all Monotheistic Religion = Abraham
Monotheistic Religions = Judaism + Christianity + Islam
So we are all like cousins. It's in the bible. Yet in this land, and for the most part, all lands, we are divided by man made customs and traditions. If we celebrate the same God, why then, do we not get along? Even the christian churches are devided by denomination. For instance, the Nativity church where Jesus is traditionally to be born, it is devided into a Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Asyrian sections. This land is devided. I have many more thoughts about this, but they are for my journal.
I'm learning much about myself as I travel with Austin. I'm learning to balance my extroverted self with the much needed introverted time I need. As Jesus walked to the mountain to get away from people, I too need to do that. I'm thankful for Austin as a travel companion. It's far greater to share stories with a bro. than go at it alone.
Please continue to pray for peace here. It's not one side or another. As I examine the Bible here I realize that we really are brothers and sisters. We are fighting over land that holy people walked on. I know, I've seen it, most of the places are marked by a mosque or church. Would god really want us fighting over land? Is our home not heaven? Maybe that's far fetched. I have trouble believing that even though I write it. I want this to be true. I want other people to believe what I believe. I am guilty of the same sin on a smaller scale.
My next post will cover Austin and my trip to Jerusalem. We walked the traditional stations of the cross. Visited the dome on the rock. And the rest of the places Jesus visited.
I can't believe I'm here.
Peace.
DJ
Update: Since last post I've...
Celebrated Easter... Again. Haha! More Easter eggs for me.
Travelled to the North area, the Sea of Galilee. I went swimming near the location that Jesus walked on Water. I also witnessed a baptism on the river Jordan near the location that John the Baptist Baptized Jesus. On the way I saw Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration occurred.
Travelled to Hebron, the Burial place of Abraham and the fam. This city was the most divided that I've seen thus far. Israelis live on top of the Palestinians. The Abrahami Mosque, which is above the site where Abraham was buried, is now divided. One side is a Mosque and the other a Synagogue. One another cannot see each other.
One day I decided to take a walk to the top of the mountain near my house. I was tired and needed alone time. I followed the wind and ended up at the home of a Beautiful Family. They offered me tea, coffee, peanuts, and Hookah. I played soccer with the kids. The view from the top of the hill was incredible. The sun was setting while I sat on the front porch with my new friend. Most of the time when I walk I am invited in to someones house for tea. Even though I am a complete stranger.
For three days last week Austin and I stayed in a refugee camp called Azza. The people of the camp once lived in villages elsewhere. Somehow during 1968 or 1948 when Israel took over they left their homes and now are refugees. The camps are close quarters. If I were in a place like this back home, I might feel unsafe. Here I don't. Austin and I stayed with a Muslim family. I since that the non-Muslims here look down on the Muslims. I felt otherwise. Austin and I were treated immaculately. We were never hungry. Most of them did not speak English. It's interesting to meet guys our age and see how they take American culture from the TV. Generally Arabs are very strict. Obviously American television is not. We played soccer with the neighborhood kids. I had one of the boys draw sketches in my sketchbook. The drawings weren't very happy. They conveyed the open air prison feeling that Palestinians share.
I've done some designs for a local organization. They needed help with a website design. I've had fun doing that. Plus, I can now say I've designed in Palestine. It's been nice to actually experience Palestine and design the site. I've had an extra keen eye for the environment so that I may be inspired. Art is everywhere here. Whether its the beautifully church that represents where Jesus was born, or the graffiti on the walls, Palestine is an open air museum. I've also picked up drawing. I love to draw mosques for some reason. And of course, I've taken hundreds of photos.
Thoughts:
I can't stand checkpoints. They're like airport security.
At this point I reached a tired phase. Last week I felt overwhelmed emotionally and physically. We've hear so many different stories. Not just from Palestinians either. Either way, most of the kids we talked to don't have dreams. As an American it is easy for me to think, "what would I do if I lived here?" When I hear each of the kids say they have no hope, I disagree. It's hard though to disagree and back it up when I come from America. We really do have freedom.
Father of all Monotheistic Religion = Abraham
Monotheistic Religions = Judaism + Christianity + Islam
So we are all like cousins. It's in the bible. Yet in this land, and for the most part, all lands, we are divided by man made customs and traditions. If we celebrate the same God, why then, do we not get along? Even the christian churches are devided by denomination. For instance, the Nativity church where Jesus is traditionally to be born, it is devided into a Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Asyrian sections. This land is devided. I have many more thoughts about this, but they are for my journal.
I'm learning much about myself as I travel with Austin. I'm learning to balance my extroverted self with the much needed introverted time I need. As Jesus walked to the mountain to get away from people, I too need to do that. I'm thankful for Austin as a travel companion. It's far greater to share stories with a bro. than go at it alone.
Please continue to pray for peace here. It's not one side or another. As I examine the Bible here I realize that we really are brothers and sisters. We are fighting over land that holy people walked on. I know, I've seen it, most of the places are marked by a mosque or church. Would god really want us fighting over land? Is our home not heaven? Maybe that's far fetched. I have trouble believing that even though I write it. I want this to be true. I want other people to believe what I believe. I am guilty of the same sin on a smaller scale.
My next post will cover Austin and my trip to Jerusalem. We walked the traditional stations of the cross. Visited the dome on the rock. And the rest of the places Jesus visited.
I can't believe I'm here.
Peace.
DJ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
