Last September, Harry and I traveled to Israel on a study tour led by Ray Vander Laan. We went with about forty others from our church. It was an amazing trip...a difficult trip, challenging us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Many months before our scheduled journey, we were given a daunting list of books to read, we were encouraged to begin training our bodies with some uphill walking, and we were told to start shopping for clothing appropriate for the intense heat that is a part of Israel's clime. The preparation ate up hours and hours of the days, weeks, and months that preceded the trip.
The decision to join the tour was not an easy one. Tour information stated that participants must be in good health. "Good health" is a vague term. Examining the names on the sign-up sheet, I saw some with health issues. And our guide, Ray Vander Laan, was still recovering from recent heart problems. Though I had not considered myself a candidate for such a trip, I gathered hope when I surveyed the list. Perhaps I would be able to do this study tour - something that I wanted very badly - even though I have MS. It was a-very-tentative-me that added her name to the list.
Since receiving the diagnosis of MS in October of 2000, I have done very well. Probably the most difficult issues were coming to terms with the diagnosis, learning to self-inject Avonex each Monday, and dealing with the side effects of that treatment. My neurologist hesitantly gave me the green light for the trip. Reminding me that exposure to excessive heat and becoming overly fatigued would not be wise, so to pace myself. I promised that I would hang back if pushed too hard, perhaps catching a cab back to the hotel and enjoying the pool, if the expectations of the day were too heavy. Well, by now, those who have taken the tour will be laughing. Because they know the tour is not structured for that to be an option. There are usually no roads, no cabs at the sites visited. And, further, Ray Vander Laan's teaching metaphor is one that boldly suggests that the measure that you push yourself physically stands in direct relationship to the measure of how passionately you want to follow Jesus. I hated the man for adopting that metaphor. How unfair!
Had I been an idiot for signing up for this trip, or what?!?
A year has gone by now, and as I reflect on that question, I must conclude that it was idiotic for me to be a part of the Israel Study Tour. But I am so thankful for that idiotic decision. I learned so much. It was a rich experience to be able to hear the Bible stories and stand on the places where these things actually happened and to hear the explanations of how knowing the culture of the time in which the Bible was written is so important to understanding the text correctly. But most of all, I appreciate the challenge to live differently because of what we learned.
Ray Vander Laan is a wonderful crazy teacher. It's true that I hated him at times, but mostly I loved him for his enthusiasm and hot passion for the task at hand. I pray that God will protect RVL's health and allow him to continue with this work. If those whom he teaches on these trips to Israel and Turkey can go home and "stay dusty", the world will be better because of it.
Many months before our scheduled journey, we were given a daunting list of books to read, we were encouraged to begin training our bodies with some uphill walking, and we were told to start shopping for clothing appropriate for the intense heat that is a part of Israel's clime. The preparation ate up hours and hours of the days, weeks, and months that preceded the trip.
The decision to join the tour was not an easy one. Tour information stated that participants must be in good health. "Good health" is a vague term. Examining the names on the sign-up sheet, I saw some with health issues. And our guide, Ray Vander Laan, was still recovering from recent heart problems. Though I had not considered myself a candidate for such a trip, I gathered hope when I surveyed the list. Perhaps I would be able to do this study tour - something that I wanted very badly - even though I have MS. It was a-very-tentative-me that added her name to the list.
Since receiving the diagnosis of MS in October of 2000, I have done very well. Probably the most difficult issues were coming to terms with the diagnosis, learning to self-inject Avonex each Monday, and dealing with the side effects of that treatment. My neurologist hesitantly gave me the green light for the trip. Reminding me that exposure to excessive heat and becoming overly fatigued would not be wise, so to pace myself. I promised that I would hang back if pushed too hard, perhaps catching a cab back to the hotel and enjoying the pool, if the expectations of the day were too heavy. Well, by now, those who have taken the tour will be laughing. Because they know the tour is not structured for that to be an option. There are usually no roads, no cabs at the sites visited. And, further, Ray Vander Laan's teaching metaphor is one that boldly suggests that the measure that you push yourself physically stands in direct relationship to the measure of how passionately you want to follow Jesus. I hated the man for adopting that metaphor. How unfair!
Had I been an idiot for signing up for this trip, or what?!?
A year has gone by now, and as I reflect on that question, I must conclude that it was idiotic for me to be a part of the Israel Study Tour. But I am so thankful for that idiotic decision. I learned so much. It was a rich experience to be able to hear the Bible stories and stand on the places where these things actually happened and to hear the explanations of how knowing the culture of the time in which the Bible was written is so important to understanding the text correctly. But most of all, I appreciate the challenge to live differently because of what we learned.
Ray Vander Laan is a wonderful crazy teacher. It's true that I hated him at times, but mostly I loved him for his enthusiasm and hot passion for the task at hand. I pray that God will protect RVL's health and allow him to continue with this work. If those whom he teaches on these trips to Israel and Turkey can go home and "stay dusty", the world will be better because of it.
Receiving the call to "stay dusty"
"Whoever claims to be in him, must walk as Jesus did."
1 John 2:6
"Whoever claims to be in him, must walk as Jesus did."
1 John 2:6
To experience a virtual study tour of Israel, visit "follow the rabbi" on the internet. Click on "more" in the faith lessons box, then click "Israel Study Tour".
No comments:
Post a Comment