Real life biblical history comes to life right before your eyes in Jerusalem. Words are indescribable as to how one feels while walking through the Old City and walking into their literal faith history. As a christian and God fearing woman, it wasn't just the christian faith that hit me so hard, but the unwavering faith of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities. There is in fact so much prayer taking place in this city, even if you do not feel the Holy Spirit or are moved by some higher force in the universe, it bring you to your knees at just how much you want to pray and be a part of it all. The energy within the city walls is an electric moving force. To say that this has nothing to do with how much prayer is taking place, would be a gross understatement. In my opinion the reasons I felt the way I did within the walls of the Old City was because of how sacred people take this place, and just how serious and devout their life to the Creator is. The bible isn't just words here. The bible is living, breathing texts, that flow out of people's mouth and into the living word of God.
To see the faith that I read about in the bible on a daily basis, and to feel the sermons I've witnessed the past ten years of my life coming into sight, was unfathomable. As a christian woman I saw stories within a book not just stand in my imagination any longer, but come to life right before my eyes. The only thing I can akin this feeling to, is if anyone has read the Harry Potter book series and then physically gone to see the theme park in Orlando Florida. It's much more epic than this, but you get the basic idea. Participating and seeing where Jesus had lived and resided during parts of his life is quite a powerful awakening.
I felt overwhelming sense of happiness, elation, complete and utter despair, joy, sadness, contentment, nervousness, shame, and so many more emotions all at the same time. The magnitude of these feelings felt amplified to a great extent. To pray with others who so strongly believe brought out my utter assurance of God existence. My prayers seemed more pure and less selfish. Less clouded and distracted, more unified and precise. As a person who prays often, although I don't think I pray enough, I often find myself starting prayers in my everyday life and then another thought pops in and I disengage from the prayer and have to remind myself to focus. Not here. Not in the city. Especially not at the Wailing Wall.
Out of all my experiences with God throughout my life, this had to be the most moving. There is a substantial amount of woman and men praying at this wall. There is no way to describe just how I felt here. Instead I will describe the sensation on my fingertips when I approached the wall and touched the the stones with my own hands. The energy that shot down my arm was beautiful.
The entire experience calls to mind the phrase "Seeing is believing." In this city the exact opposite is true. You don't have to see Him to believe. He's in every person at that wall.
I know not everyone who reads this is christian, or even believes in God, but if ever you wanted to see him, maybe even just get to know him, I suggest a visit to Jerusalem. Even if you don't stumble into something extraordinary as I or others did/do on a daily basis, you just might be surprised at just how convoluted the feelings are. You might see something i never did. You might see something in yourself. As I wrote in every single postcard to my family back home, pack your bags now. Leave for Jerusalem and the Holy City immediately. It's the best place I've ever visited. God is great. God is good. God is alive.
Love
S
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