The nectarine was warm, almost hot, and so full of flavor. It was a journey of seconds from the tree to my mouth. “O Taste and see that God is good” writes the Psalmist. The body of the nectarine was beautiful, the color and flavor deeper than any I have ever bought in a store. It was an especially delicious surprise to find after walking a long way on a hot, dry day in Israel. It was not my first nectarine, but it was the first time I met a nectarine tree. They are beautiful and I was walking through a whole orchard of them. The one I ate had been left behind by the harvesters.
Later we sat in the shade of a sycamore tree, sipping water and resting from the sun. Around almost every corner there was a new plant: a tree or flower I had never seen before. From ancient olive trees to towering almond trees, I tasted new flavors and textures. Several mornings I got to pick grapes and mulberries fresh from vine and tree. And around almost every corner I would see fig trees or date palms or capers with their delicate, beautiful blossoms unfurling amidst stone and sand, curling out of crevices in surprising places.
I saw enough in two and a half weeks to fill several lifetimes. We visited national parks and explored the ruins of ancient people and places. Everywhere we went I met kind and gracious people—Palestinians and Israelis, people from all over the world. I heard more languages being spoken than ever before.
Listening to the headlines it is easy to imagine the Middle East as a place of violence and hatred, danger and despair, but that is only part of the story. Each day I heard people praying, mostly in languages I could not understand. I never saw anyone being disrespectful or violent. Swimming in the Dead Sea or the Mediterranean Sea, I watched families picnicking and swimming, children laughing and dogs barking.
It surprised me how grateful people were for my visit and how much they hope others will come and see them and the land they love. We traveled on quiet country roads and through the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, but everywhere there was beauty and friendship to be found. It filled me with hope, not that leaders and governments will establish peace, but common, everyday folk all across the earth are each day calling forth peace and grace, justice and joy.
Yesterday someone handed me a little basket of red and orange tomatoes. They were small, not more than a bite in each fruit. They came from the garden warm and sweet, bursting with flavor. As I savored each bite, memories of Israel and Palestine washed over me. Whether here in Cook County or in the Middle East, there are people bearing gifts that invite us to taste and see God’s love for all creation. What a gift to live in this amazing world, this earth that holds us as one body, freely giving of God’s bounty. “O taste and see that God is good.” Wherever we wander, God’s goodness can be tasted and seen. Thanks be to God!
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church – UCC in Grand Marais.
Leave a Reply