Very little sleep, but we do not mind! Rather than give you a complete blow-by-blow of the day, I am going to try and summarize our day and my take-aways.

We made at least 10 stops in the course of the day in and around the Sea of Galilee. The first thing you notice is that it has a rugged beauty. Not many trees but rather erosion carved hillside that cascade into the Sea of Galilee. 14 miles long. 6 miles wide. 150 feet deep. This place is not big at all. Would say the entire region is about the size of 1 US county. 75% of Jesus’ ministry took place in this region which is to say that he was very at home in a rural, agricultural and fishing community. Many major events took place within eye shot of one another which is hard to grasp.

The people are friendly even when they don’t know I am a tourist. On my run this morning I passed about 5 people who either said hello or made positive eye-contact with me. The look and feel of the cities are like any other place I have traveled (very commercialized and somewhat congested.) This is a relief on one hand and exciting.

There are of course too many things to possibly do and see without cutting time. How I wished we could have lingered upon a hillside where Jesus gave us the Beatitudes or in the ruins in Capernaum. My favorite places so far have been the sites that resemble the original places. While there is not much left except ruins, it has been powerful for me to be in the midst of them.

We head to Nazareth, Meggido and Caesarea tomorrow before heading to Jerusalem. Will post more pictures when internet connection is better.

Check out the new pics to the left on the flickr page!

While the journey was long, both Susan and I felt better than expected upon arriving in Tel Aviv around 3 local time. We left Lexington at 3 pm est and basically flew all night landing at 8 am est which is 7 hours behind Israel time. The first thing you notice is the large buildings, bustling metropolitan city and dust cloud as you come in for landing.

After meeting up with our tour company, we then took a 2 hour bus ride up the coast and east to Tiberius which is on the Sea of Galilee. Absolutely astounded at the great road system and ease at which it was for the bus to navigate. For two hours you felt like you never left a city. It was one settlement or group of homes after the next and then the next city and so on. Literally 80+ miles of civilization. The landscape is marked by prayer towers and mosques at each settlement we passed. Sometimes multiple prayer towers which will act as stereo speakers and announce times of prayers for the Muslims. Did not see a single church…interesting. But lots of prayer towers and mosques.

We are staying on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius. Susan commented tonight that, “As we came to the Sea of Galilee the moon was shining bright across the water – just imagine this is the same water and land that the moon shined upon our Lord.” Over 80% of his ministry was done right in this region of Galilee which will be touring the next two days.

Can’t wait to share more as things progress. It is 9pm local time and we are heading for bed. Check out the pictures and if you want a more “real” time report friend me on FaceBook.

Thanks to a generous church that we serve, Susan and I are heading to Israel in a little over a week for a 10-day journey through the Holy Land. While we are gone, we will be actively updating this blogsite with pictures, thoughts, and a general overview. So if you have been waiting for me to finally return to more writing, we are almost there. I will be posting some pre-trip thoughts and expectations which will be fun to use to see how things “really” turn out to be.

While waiting for my daughter to wrap up a rehearsal for ballet, I am reminded again how I don’t mind waiting. It is part patience and part the intovert in me that enjoys hanging out by myself. It also reminds me that this sort of space in my life is necessary for spiritual growth. Down times can lead to the most fruitful seasons in life. Hear this quote from Dallas Willard:

“A successful performance @ a moment of crisis rests…upon the depths of a self wisely & rigorously prepared…” Dallas Willard

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/opinion/21friedman.html

Interesting piece by Friedman about the new untouchables which is not a negative term. Maybe this will jumpstart a new post for me!

Heading to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio to run in the Air Force Marathon on Saturday. I never thought I would enjoy such long runs, but it has been one of the most exhilerating things I have done. This will be, hopefully, the third one I complete and they have all had their challenges. When we begin I am full of self-doubt about training, hydration, nourishment, and toughness to make the day. But I have found the experience to be beneficial in so many area of my life. Self-discipline. Time management. Healthy lifestyle. And it has brought me closer to God. It seems that the more I push myself physically the greater awareness I have with the Creator who allows me to do such things. I am definitely thankful for the ability and the great friends who help me along this journey. I am thankful for a family who puts up with Saturday morning runs and Saturday afternoon naps. And I am grateful for the challenge. Whether I make it tomorrow or not, I am a more complete person because of having tried. Will post more after we finish!

Since it has been almost a month without a post, I think it appropriate to post about procrastination! Actually, if there is nothing burning within me I simply don’t post. I have to admit that these seasons of dryness are particularly frustrating. But I also know that they normally precede seasons of abundance. How I wish our lives were a linear progression! Instead they are a scattergram which hopefully slopes upward over the long haul.

When times of dryness or regression come, what do you do? I normally find some comfort in plodding along knowing that these are seasons and not lifetime experiences. I have found that trying extra hard simply puts too much pressure on me and leads to more frustration. However, doing nothing is not an option either.

One thing about dry seasons in life, whether they be spiritually or as with me in my writing, is that it makes the rainy season more sweet. And for that I am thankful…when it finally comes (right rain drenched Texas readers?)