The Wait

How do we stand in the midst of a storm?  How do we live with grief? How can we recover from the loss of all hope? What does it look like to have peace in unpredictable circumstances?

In the depth of each of those questions, there is the potential for any person to feel helpless.  Situations that challenge our inner-person put our true character on the line.  To even have character, we have to experience character-building situations!  No person can will themselves to have strong and moral character that's filled with integrity.  But, how? How do we remember that character is formed during the storm?  I don't really know if we can.  Sometimes all we can do is stand in the midst of the storm and wait.  I am just a human but I believe that in the wait is where the strength, character, and integrity is formed.  The wait is the place that is the most painful, most uncomfortable, most foreign, most lonely, most disrespected, most misunderstood, most betrayed,  most _____________ (you fill in your storm).

In those stormy moments, influences all around can either help or hinder the wait.  Some situation happen so unpredictably.  Those are the ones that force us to choose.  They require us to choose.  Sometimes when there is loss and grief, there is no light in the storm, in the wait.  Those are the most humility-producing moments because we are not in the control of the situations that affects us.  In those moments, we have to choose to relinquish the desire to know the outcome of the storm.  That is a foreign concept for most people....we want to know.  Sometimes we don't know why OR what we want to know.  But, we want.  We want in the wait.  We want anything other than the wait because it's not very comfortable.  The wait is the hardest place.

I recently received an email that said something similar to this:

"I can't believe the war there! That fighting is so insane! I hope you're coming home soon. I can't believe you haven't been evacuated yet."

 

That email caused me to think in a way that I had not entertained before.  I hadn't really thought of that....should I want to leave?  What would be my motivation in desiring to leave?  Is it to escape the storm?  Can I really escape a storm if I am standing in the midst of it?   Sure, I can run for cover but the storm will still rage on.  I know this will sound a little crazy, but I have no reason to leave.  I don't claim to be some hero or martyr in my choice to stay in Israel.  I choose to stay because I know I'm supposed to.  Just like when the offer came for me to come, I prayed about it and knew I was supposed to come.  And, it was just that simple for me.  It's still just that simple for me.  I have peace to be in the storm.  Each day, I have to stand in the wait. Even when I'm running to the bomb shelter and hearing deeply-grieving tragedies from the evil and ugliness of war, I choose to stand.  Today is the only day I (WE) have anyway.  I "own" nothing of tomorrow until tomorrow comes.  My heart is comforted in the simple peace that this war in Israel, this storm, is too big for me to fathom. I surrender to knowing the outcome. So, I stand in the wait.  As stated in previous posts, I see the hand of God protecting this land.  I know He is on my side and He's on Israel's side.

 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm. So, that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand. Ephesians 6:10-11, 13

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles. Isaiah 40:31

 

Even as I am typing, a close siren breaks the silence of the night.  It is 10:09pm here and we all enter the bomb shelter in our sleeping clothes. Some were sleeping and shocked awake by the siren's cry.  We quietly sit in the shelter and listen for the "booms".  I count three.  We wait.  We exit.  I am filled with adrenaline, but I still stand.  My hope is in the Lord. He always renews my strength for every moment.

Israelis are calling it a "double-miracle." On July 24th,  an IDF soldier was shot in Gaza, felt the impact, but found no bullet wound. Upon further inspection, one of the grenades he was carrying on his chest had absorbed the bullet.  Even more incredibly, the grenade failed to explode for reasons we cannot comprehend.  This is a true miracle.

As I stand, life goes on.  I am thankful for the support from friends, family, and even strangers.  Moments come of joy, happiness, beauty, and laughter. They shed a ray of light, even in the darkest of storms.  Those moments bring hope.  Thanks to all for the love, prayers, friendships, and support.

I am surrounded by great and new friends here in Israel.  I love the last picture in this above group of pics.  Yes, we are in the bomb shelter.  But, look....everyone is smiling!

 Israel remains my #1 favorite. Its beauty is really incomparable to any other place I've been. The tree with the red and green fruit on it is a wild fig tree.  They are edible and delicious.

Above: Apollonia National Park.  In the distance you can see the city of Herzliya.

Above: Gan HaShlosha National Park, literally translated: "Park of the Three. It has naturally warm water where visitors can swim all year. The spring water maintains a constant, year-round temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (about 82 degrees Fahrenheit).  Gan HaShlosha National Park is in the northern part of Israel.  While we were there, we missed four sirens in our city. I was a great day of fun, swimming, and some impressive sunburns.

 Above: The Sea of Galilee.

 That time when we had a balcony picnic during a wind storm....

I have learned so much from these four amazing student's! (Also, that's not real grass)

 

what is happening

 

I bend over to pick up a feather.   It was deep grey on the tip and then it faded into a bright white at the base.  It was in pristine condition, without any rips or tears.  It is a special treat to find a unique feather in perfect condition.  As I stood up to continue on my walk, the seventh distant explosion sounded.  Since I had begun my walk twenty minutes prior, I had heard six distant explosions that sounded like powerful, pounding thunder.  I wish there was a word to describe the sound, but there is nothing to compared it to.  Explosions that shock and break sound waves create their own indescribable and memorable sound.

As I continued walking,  I heard eight more of these indescribable explosions.  Upon the completion of my walk, there had been 15 explosions in all.  I was gone from my apartment for 25 minutes total. Although I do not need a reminder, they signal the reality of this moment in my life: I am living in a war zone.  How do I describe this moment that is new and indescribable?  I don't and I can't.  I can only tell what is happening.  I walk on, holding fast to the faith that is seated in my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  I do not live in fear. God is protecting me and He is protecting Israel.

Between July 7th-July 24th, over 2,350 rockets have been fired into Israel from palestinian terrorists in Gaza.

The link below shows the Iron Dome intercepting two rockets that are flying toward homes in Israel.  As you play this video, I ask you to turn the volume all the way up on whatever technology you are using at this moment.  Please imagine this sound; outside your home, blaring into your bedroom, while you're driving to work, while you're reading a little one a story, or in the middle of the night. 

I was running to the bomb shelter during this sound.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=819808488042023&video_source=pages_finch_main_video

Inside the bomb shelter 

This land, Israel, and its people are burdened and heavy with the attacks and the fierce condemnation that is being spoken against them. They keep going in life, but there is a dark, heavy cloud that overshadows the nation. The cloud pierces the hearts of those that call Israel home. I have never really experienced anything like this, but the whole nation is like a big family. I do not know how to describe it, but they are.  The Jewish people know loss and hatred.  As a people, the remnant of the Holocaust is still an ever-present memory.  I do not know what it feels like to live with that memory, but I do see the people. They are a people that had to walk on a broken road for freedom.  They walked on that broken road together.  That made them strong and like a family.  But this great strength doesn't make the situation right.

Because they are like family, they are very humane.  They do not want to hurt the innocent, but they also do not want terrorism to run free. This is especially true of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).  They are not proud, arrogant, or happy about innocent civilians getting hurt or killed.  They are not applauding this.  On the contrary, it is very sad to see a child or humans life end.  There is not rejoicing for the loss of lives.  This is the truth. I see it. 

Yesterday, I came across this:

 This is why the people are burdened.  This why their hearts are heavy.  Falsities are spoken, or in this case, drawn, without any shred of true knowledge. I only add this to shed light on manipulative propaganda. I do not agree with any part of it.

Not be forgotten, false and manipulative propaganda
was also circulated during World War II.
This poster was made by Hans Schweitzer in 1943. 

The translation reads: He is to blame for the war!

In my writings, I wish I could remove all that may seem politically implied.  I just see what is happening firsthand and not through the media.  I am not trying to be cruel.  I just see what is happening firsthand and not through the media.  I am not trying to be one-sided.  I just see what is happening firsthand and not through the media.  I'm just a human in a war zone.  Taking all potentially implied politics out of it, here's my view: I don't want anyone innocent to get hurt, no matter what "side" they're on. 

Every human life matters.

The following is just a scenario, but please try to understand why I am writing it.  I would like you to imagine this picture for a moment. I would like you to imagine the largest city in relation to where you, personally, are living.  In this large city there are terrorists who have been allowed to live there. They want to take your city and your personal home that is rightfully yours.  They began to launch rockets at your city.  They want it, so they're going to try to take it by fear, power, and force.  Your city doesn't want to hurt anyone or even fight, but they have to defend themselves and their homes.  Your city gets helps from all the other cities around you.  They are very strong and very good at protecting.  They defend and protect you and your home, your family, your children, your land, your friends, your loved ones, and your neighbors. The terrorists in the large city launch from and hide rockets in schools, churches, and hospitals.  They do this while their children and people are there. The terrorists keep on launching rockets and have even been digging tunnels underground to get into your neighborhood.  They want to get to your neighborhood to attack you in your own backyard.  They are ruthless and will do anything to have your home and city.  Your city has stop the attack.  Your city keeps defending themselves and tries everything to do only that: defend and not harm.  They don't want to harm, but they have to stop the attack.

Pretty soon, other big cities and countries see what is happening to your own city.  But, they don't see what you see.  In fact, they can't believe that you are defending yourself and the land that you own.  These other big cities and countries shame you for wanting to protect your home, the land that is rightfully yours, your next door neighbor, your own children, your spouse, your best friend, your mother and father, and your loved ones.  They even seem blinded to the terrorists actions and tell you that you want to fight and hurt the people in that large city.  The media even gets involved and begins to say that you are the bad ones for defending yourselves, when your city didn't want to have to fight or hurt anyone in the first place.

I know that not everyone is blinded by the media,
but I've seen enough to know that some are. 

Again, I don't wish to ensue any political debate.

 I am just a human in a war zone. 

 I just see what is happening firsthand.

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A few days ago, a rocket fell and hit in a neighborhood. 

No one was killed or hurt. 

This happened less than three miles from where I live.

I heard and felt the rocket hit.
Three miles is not very far.
Three miles.

Above photo: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

 

The below article is from United With Israel.

 It is written by Aryeh Savir,  Tazpit News Agency

Sunday, July 27th, 2014

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IDF Mission Prevents Massive Hamas Genocide in Israel

 

Hamas was preparing a murderous massive assault on Israeli civilians during the upcoming Jewish New Year. The current IDF military operation saved the Jewish state.

 

Hamas had been planning a surprise attack on Rosh Hashana– the Jewish New Year holiday, which falls in September – where 200 fighters would have been dispatched through dozens of tunnels dug by Hamas under the border from Gaza to Israel, according to an anonymous security source cited by Israeli daily Ma’ariv.

The terror organization aimed to seize kibbutzim and other communities while killing and kidnapping Israeli civilians. In total, thousands of Hamas terrorists would have been swarming across Israel, wearing IDF uniforms, which would have further complicated an Israeli response. Reports further indicate that Hezbollah may have planned to join the attack as well, opening another front in the north.

The source stressed that the current unplanned war with Hamas inadvertently thwarted a catastrophic event of an apocalyptic magnitude such as the Yom Kippur War, which would have ‘brought the State of Israel to its knees.’ The destruction of these tunnels takes away from Hamas a strategic weapon it has been working on and investing in heavily for years, according to the source.  Each tunnel has arteries, veins and offshoots of offshoots designed in intricate and complex arrangements. As one Israeli spokesman said, “There are two Gaza's – one above ground and one below ground: an underground terrorist city.”

A senior Israeli defense official said the Israeli military had considerable prior knowledge of Hamas weaponry and tunnels, but was still “surprised” by the extent of it. He added that the network had not been detected by aerial surveillance because Hamas had solved the most obvious problem: how to hide the piles of sand removed from the tunnels. This, he said, was painstakingly taken away, a few bags at a time, and stored out of sight in buildings and underneath greenhouses.

The official said Hamas had diverted huge quantities of cement, imported for civilian construction, into the building of concrete-block walls and roofs for the tunnels. As an example, he cited a 1.7-kilometer tunnel discovered in February 2013 that Israeli engineers estimated would have required 500 tons of concrete, “enough to build a three-story hospital.”

Israel has discovered 31 tunnels so far and has destroyed several of them by employing bulldozers, explosive and other methods. IDF excavation of the tunnels has resulted in the seizure of tons of Hamas supplies as well as the discovery of plans for future operations.

Israeli soldiers have already frustrated several surprise assaults by Hamas through tunnels from Gaza into southern Israel. On July 21, ten Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel. They were immediately spotted and eliminated, but the clash cost the lives of two IDF soldiers.

Speaking with Tazpit News Agency, Minister Ya’acov Perry, a member of the Israeli Security Cabinet, commended the IDF for its outstanding achievements. “The IDF is working to uncover a network of underground tunnels that could have created unbearable terrorist attacks,” he said. He further commended the IDF’s prior intelligence, which enabled these achievements. “I am sure that Israeli technology (I like to call this technology "God". Added by Sara), which has provided us with the Iron Dome, will provide us with a solution for the terror tunnels as well.”

Writing for Gatestone, Lawrence Franklin says that the construction of network of tunnels used hundreds of tons of concrete that might otherwise have been used by the Palestinians for building homes, shopping malls, parks, schools, hospitals and libraries.

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*Photos: IDF