Day three: Mountain of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane

Feeling positivity at Gethsemane

The new day brought a new perspective and I was beginning to feel settled. Yesterday’s experience had hit me in ways I never imagined and my mind began to feel calmer; trusting things would be ok. As I realised it was alright to build something and no longer want it, I began to ease into the thought of letting it go and that was a huge sense of relief.

Today we went to visit the places of most anxiety in Jesus’ story. We went to the Mount of Olives where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and ascended into heaven. Yet more tales I know little of having no experience reading the Bible. We hear these stories in school but fleetingly so. It felt of real significance and with the sun shining I was in a spectacular mood. I felt rested and positive; I was receiving the patience I prayed for. Yesterday I felt anxious and uneasy but today I felt calm and content.

We stopped shortly at the church of the tear drop before descending into the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. This is where Jesus felt his most anxiety as he was about to be sacrificed. He asked his disciples to pray with him but they turned away. It was here Judas betrayed him with a kiss. Jesus accepted his fate in the garden and went willingly.

From here we went to the holocaust museum, remembering six million Jews who died. It was a beautiful reflection on the atrocities that happen, and continue to happen globally.

All of us, dying here amidst the icy arctic of indifference if the nations, are forgotten by the world and by life.”

The reality was haunting. I wondered why the Jews didn’t flee Europe and come to Israel or America to avoid the camps. The thought sinked in as I realised this was happening right now, in Syria and other war torn countries. They try to flee and the world turns their back on them. Icy indifference.

The world is full of indifference. Jesus’ friends were indifferent to his suffering, the world is indifferent to war which isn’t theirs and we’re all indifferent to each other.

Lessons from today

The day of rest is the day our imaginations can grow.

We’re all on a journey which we must enjoy.

Life is one great dialogue with God.

Love everyone. Love the world. Shine your light wherever you go so others may sparkle.

You can lean on your friends and ask for advice but in the end, you’ll always need to make the big decisions alone.

Be the rainbow above the world.

Catch up on yesterday here.

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