Mark & Jen's 'Around the World' Travel & Photography Blog

Freedom. We rented a car for the last week, paid $7.50 a gallon in gas, and enjoyed a little bit of the ensuing freedom a car provides. I suppose I just cannot escape the American in me.

We meandered along in our egg-sized Fiat Punto through the banks of the Sea of Galilee and hills of the Carmel Mountains. The wildflowers were in bloom—bright red poppies, deep purple wild iris, white and purple asters dotted the hillsides. Meanwhile, we desperately tried to avoid snagging our pants and fingers on the needle-like thorns lining the trails. We couldn’t help but imagine what these spikes might feel like on our heads…

Thorns around Galilee / Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth

The great Elijah, Paul, and Jesus (among others) all taught in these areas. I could see Elijah (1 Kings 18) standing atop of Mt. Carmel looking out over the Mediterranean and calling on God to prove Himself greater than any gods. The Israelites surrounding him were stunned into belief. Also along this same coast and a little further south, Paul was tried for instigating a riot in Jerusalem (Acts 24). He sat before Herod’s court in the ancient city of Caesarea defending his faith. And atop of the Mount of Beatitudes looking over the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gave his famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the persecuted, and the peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As we read these compassionate words, Mark and I sat down and contemplated the beauty of this land. What a serene place for God to choose to teach people.

As we passed the Jordan River just above the Sea of Galilee, Mark and I stopped the car. Silently, the clear waters moved along amid the grasses and bushes of the bank. Mark bent down and took a stone from the waters. So many years ago, the Israelites did the same as they crossed the parted Jordan and renewed their promise to follow God. Each leader of the twelve tribes took a stone as they passed and erected an altar on the opposite side. “Remember,” Joshua told them, “what God has done for you” (Jen’s version, see Joshua 3-4). The same words spoken so long ago were the same words Mark and I read on our wedding day. A reminder of a promise, then and now.

In front and behind a waterfall