Stranded or Planted? |
This week, I had the privilege to host a powerful and very personal conversation for the “Inspiration from Zion" podcast and webinar series, which was so profound that I have to tell you about it. The program was entitled “Stranded: Christian Americans Stranded in Israel and Israeli Jews Stranded Overseas,” reflecting that, as I write, I am stranded in the United States, several thousand miles away from my home and family in Israel. Due to the war, presently, except for “rescue flights” being organized to bring Israelis home, there are no commercial flights available in or out of Israel, along with other Middle Eastern countries caught in the fire attacks from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. I have a ticket to return before the end of the month, but only God knows if it will actually happen. It’s interesting and perhaps the only example, ever, that in Israel, when we are at war – something that raises its ugly head too often – we are the only people who actively rush to get home, as compared to fleeing the fighting.
It was also entitled “Stranded” because my two good friends and panelists in the conversation, Pastor Jen Mallan and Rev. Dr. Tricia Miller, are stranded in Israel. Or so I thought. Early on in the conversation, Mallan corrected me that she was not stranded, but “planted.” That it was part of God’s plan to have her in Israel at this time. Miller agreed and added, based on her dissertation and book on antisemitism and the Book of Esther, they were specifically in Israel to celebrate Purim – the 2500-year-old salvation of the Jewish people in Persia. For such a time as this. This idea became one of several “bumper sticker” thoughts to come out of the conversation.
What ensued was a heartfelt,........