Today was field trip day at the Jerusalem Center! We visited Israel''s very own Biblical Landscape Reserve,  Neot Kedumim Park. Yes, it was as cool as it sounds . . . a re-creation of houses, facilities, and gardens just as they were in ancient times. We even ended the afternoon by cooking our lunch over a crude, open flame oven. This has been one of my favorite field trips to date. 

     What made the activity so different from others was the way our tour guide let us experience every site in such a hands-on way that it gave so many new insights to familiar biblical stories. For example, Psalms 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Have you ever herded sheep and goats before? Welp, I did! The way I had to lead the sheep was to be gentle, yet firm. I had to pick the best route to lead them because they were almost helpless without my control. The little creatures didn''t seem to have a bad bone in their body. I understand better why the imagery of a lion and sheep lying down together is so profound. Once, my dad asked me if I had ever met a "wicked" person. I thought about it for a minute and realized, no! I've never actually in my life met someone I would ever define as inherently wicked. Just like those sheep, we are all children of God! Life happens and it either hardens or softens people, but we all start off as innocent gentle lambs. Thinking of it that way helps me live with a little bit more compassion. It was very impactful to act as the good shepherd for just a few minutes this afternoon.  "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.   He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name''s sake.   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  

     To finish the morning, we cooked our lunch over crude, open flame ovens just like they would have done in biblical times. As soon as our guide told us to go ahead and start collecting firewood, I knew we were in for quite the adventure. I went along with the group to gather the wood, grateful I hadn''t chosen to wear cute clothes that day. I got the wood, carried it back, and then joined my friend Mackenzie to actually make and feed the fire. It was dirty work especially since we weren't experts in any way at building fires. I was smokey, sooty, dirty, and exhausted by the time we actually got around to cooking the food! A thought kept running through my head the whole time. People, the women in particular, did this EVERY DAAAAY. They must have NEVER EVER smelled good!!! It is amazing how far mankind has progressed! What did we do to deserve to live in this time? A time when heat, hot enough to cook is just a button away. Water, not to mention hot water, is just a sink away. Technology makes for instant communication. No wonder our modern trials are laziness, fatness, and complacency. The people of history barely had enough light in a day to survive! It's a crazy thought and having actually experienced a little bit of it makes me really appreciate and see what I have with new eyes. We made the pottage Esau sold his birthright for. He had good reason to, it was delicious. We'll have to make it when I come home. We made homemade pita bread by mixing flour, water, olive oil, and salt. Simple, delicious... We finished it off with an herbal tea made of freshly picked mint and other herbs. The whole day was just amazing.