After spending two and ½ sweltering days doing video production in the Galilee, we returned this afternoon to Jerusalem for the duration of our visit to Israel.
Yesterday the humidity was so high that the fog rolled in during the night and stayed all day creating a feeling of mystery on waters without a horizon.
On our way to our Jerusalem hotel, our bus driver took us pass the Prime Minister’s residence where we saw a crowd that has joined the parents of Gilad Shalit, the Jewish soldier who was captured in Gaza 1555 days ago.
Gilad’s parents, Noam and Aviva recently held a 12 day march across Israel with thousands of supporters to press Benyamin Netanyahu to do more to secure their son’s release. At the end of their march they set up camp outside the gate to the Prime Minister’s residence and vowed that they would return home only with their son.
Hamas leaders say there are thousands of Palestinian prisoners still inside Israeli jails and they won’t compromise on a list of 450 names of prisoners they want freed in exchange for the safe release of Gilad Shalit.
Netanyahu has said he will not make a deal at any price, warning that certain prisoners could return to carry out attacks on Israelis if released.
Later in the afternoon, I returned to the Shalit “camp” for these pictures. As I looked into their faces and looked at the thousands of signatures expressing support, I sensed some of the emotion that has brought the lives of the Shalit family to a standstill.
I also spent some time thinking about the emotion that is shared by mothers and fathers on both sides of this conflict. Regardless of the legal and political issues, there is no way of measuring the heart of a parent who waits for child’s safe return.
Then I thought of how Gilad’s parents are waiting at the gate of Israel’s Prime Minister… as so many of us are waiting on our Lord.
So many circumstances… and so much pain… reminded me of the long forgotten words of the old gospel song that asks…
“Where can I go…
Oh where can I go…
Where can I go but… to the Lord?
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