My husband, Chuck, and I are off to visit Israel and Jordan. It starts at the airport, with the El Al security. They are, rightfully, known for their more thorough approach to questioning passengers.
"Why are you going?"
"Tourism"
"What tour are you with?"
"None. We're on our own"
"Who do you know in Israel?"
"No one"
"Why do you wish to visit Israel?"
"To see the Holy sights"
"There is another group going on a pilgrimage. Are you with them?"
"No"
"Why are you not with a group for pilgrimage?"
You know, that's a hard question to answer in terms of airport security. The answer, basically, is that we did not want to be with a group. I wanted to visit the land where our faith began and was nurtured--the land of Abraham and David, as well as of Jesus of Nazareth--at my own pace, on my own schedule, and without entering into religous, theological or political debates. I like courteous and respectful exchanges of viewpoints. Unfortunately, religion, theology and politics are subjects in which courtesy and respect in discussion is often lacking. So I thought it best to experience Israel in my own way. Also, I admit, I had heard stories of the commercial activities surrounding some of the holy sites. . .and I admit that I wanted to be free to be skeptical, or to laugh, if I found something improbable, or amusing, without fear of offending someone else, who might be deeply moved. (As it turned out, that was a good judgment call) So we were going alone.
But the next question caught me out, as well.
"You are going on pilgrimage alone?"
I'd never thought of this as a pilgrimage. That had such a "church" sound. "Pilgrimage" meant, to me a journey needed to be taken as an act of faith; I thought of this as more of an act of seeing, of learning, of history--and just plain curiosity. I wanted a visual context in which to set the Scriptures,that's all.
There it is--that tension that we see all around us. People talk of Faith v. Reason, as if it has to be one or the other. Why was I going--faith, or reason? Learning or experiencing? Was I on a pilgrimage, or a field trip?
I thought about that during the fourteen hour plane trip--at least until I fell asleep. And I set foot in Israel without an answer.
