Kappoof: Ben-Jamin

What would it feel like to live within a picture? The greatness of your world would extend only to the outer perimeter of the photograph, life would only reflect the exact colors captured, and the your reality would be only that of a 4X6 exposure. If this were life, what photo would you choose? The business woman may choose a picture of herself on Wall Street. The sports fan, may want to live within the edges of a world series baseball game. The five year old boy would most likely choose a photo of himself winning an intense game of pogs (obviously this kids is stuck in a picture taken in the 90’s). What would have the Israelites chosen? I highly doubt that the Israelites would have chosen the photo below.

This picture is of the Wadi Qilt between Jerusalem and Jericho. The hills and valleys dig deep into the earths crust, the color is dull and lifeless, and the main reality is: if you are stuck here, you will surely die. What poor person would dwell in this l wilderness? Better yet, who would cast a people group into such a wilderness? Answer to question #1 many (Israelites were lost for 40 years with Moses, David, Jesus’ 40 days of temptation, and more). Answer to question #2, God himself.

I found myself in this exact location last Sunday. My Thoughts? I would never want to live here. It would completely suck. However, my professor offered a Biblical interpretation of the Wadi Qilt that offered hope instead of despair, life rather than death, and joy as opposed to numbness. Dr. Wright read from Deuteronomy 32:10, “In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye.” The ending of the verse is the exact reason for the hopeful aspect of the wilderness. When we look up close and personal in the eyes of our neighbor, in return, we see ourselves. It's the same when we look into the eyes of God, we see ourselves and He sees himself. He had made us in his image. Following down to verse 12, “The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with him.” And so, maybe I would be a bit unwilling, but if I could have the one true Lord pick me to live in a photo taken of the Wadi Qilt,so be it. In the words of Dr. Write, "Theres something about the wilderness where we have nothing, yet lack nothing." Or... maybe ill just live with this guy...

From the Qilt, we ventured down to the land of Jericho, also known as, "The Land of Palm Trees" (im learning dad, money is being well spent). In this Oasis, we visited palace Herod built for himself. Leave it up to Herod to build himself an elaborate, pleasurable winter getaway. The location of this palace is the center of economics, special trade, and the very fist bridge. Standing in the supposed “Great Columned Reception Hall”, we can see the Wadi Qilt’s drain into the Land of Jericho. I hope Herod doesn't mind that we stood on his Great Columned Reception Hall pillars,which were probably worth more then my life in that time, and spelled out "Santos" (one of the guy's last name in the group). well, too late now.

(Slightly dyslexic... look a the "S")

After peacing-out and Herod's palace, the group made their way onto the bus. Hot, sweaty, and hungry the group started to zone out. Dr. Wright grabbed his mic and with his tour guide voice, he offered band-aid assistance to anyone in need. Unwilling to move, the group stayed quiet. Until, the clever and witty Dr. Wright chuckles at his purposeful "mistaking" of band-aids for homemade chocolate cookies. The once glazed-eyed group switched into a bundle of pregnant women fulfilling a midnight craving. Those cookies tasted so good that I literally cannot describe them. I want to personally thank whom ever put so much love and care into the creation of those lovely cookies. Thank you!

(Pitstop at a well on our way to Gezer. School is so much cooler outside)

We ended our Benjamin adventure in Gezer. Gezer is know to be the home of the main entrance or “Front Door” when moving from the coast towards Benjamin territory. Her land is immensely popular due to her connection with the coastal trade and escape route. Following the tell up and over, the agricultural beauty of Gezer allowed me to see the value in her land and her desirable cooling breeze. As the day was ending, the sun created a barrier of color around the plateau. Continuing down the page you will see what happens when you add 20 year old girls and a sunset: picturesque silhouettes. oh, and how could I forget... I can honestly say that I had my first and last fig in the land of Gezer (proof is down below).