My thoughts for the month

If you would like to go back to the home page, click here

If you missed the jottings from the third quarter of 2006, please click here.

Hi, everyone! It’s been a long time since we updated this section of our website. Much has happened during the last six months, but perhaps the most significant event for us was a trip to Israel. So we’re going to devote “Jackson’s Jottings” to:

MY IMPRESSIONS OF ISRAEL

My loved and respected father-in-law, Mr. H. R. Ozanne of Guernsey, used to say, “At least, half the joy of a holiday was anticipation.”

Certainly, my anticipation was near fever pitch as the weeks thinned into days, making way for the day of departure.

I had never anticipated a holiday so much: the reason being that we were going to Israel, the Holy Land, and would be visiting places that I had heard and read about since primary schooldays. Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Calvary, the garden tomb, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee – so many places that I’d been to so often in spirit.

The first impression was when we landed at Tel Aviv, and the announcement came: “Welcome to Israel”! I am actually here, in the Israel of my childhood, my adolescence, and my adulthood: it was hardly credible.

We were a group from Guernsey and Northern Ireland, thirty-three in all, and Margaret and I were included through the generous kindness of friends in Guernsey.

I have no visual memory, having been blind since I was one-and-a-half years old. Whatever was described to me was by its very nature secondhand. But atmosphere is definitely firsthand, and this varied considerably from place to place.

There was the busyness of Jerusalem, just like any city, the feel of rubbish in the narrow streets of the old city with its distinctive smells of food and fabric. The seemingly wider, cleaner streets of the newer city, and underlying all of this, an atmosphere that one knew was not necessarily permanent and stable. (This was borne out the day we left Jerusalem when there was a military incident.)

On that first full day, we walked down the Mount of Olives, first of all to the place where Jesus had wept over the city, his heart at breaking point because of their refusal to come to him for refuge.

We came to the garden of Gethsemane where my preconceived ideas received a blow.

I had expected an enclosed garden, a kind of secret, secluded place, with centuries-old olive trees that I would be able to touch. That place where Jesus often went, and where he made that historic surrender to his heavenly Father. But the place was hardly a garden at all, with traffic rushing by, robbing any vestige of secret atmosphere.

Yet there was plenty of atmosphere to be had. We went down to the actual pavement (Gabatha) where Jesus was tried before Pilate, and we worshipped there. For the first time, but not for the last, I sensed something which was more than the physical. Some of us cried; others sang softly in that cavernous place, and to emerge into the bright sunshine outside was a shock.

We prayed with the crowds at the Wailing Wall, and worshipped with groups from different nations at the garden tomb.

Jerusalem was a rollercoaster of emotions, and Galilee brought a new perspective with its peace and tranquillity.

We went on the lake where Jesus had stilled the storm, and went to his fearful disciples, walking on the water. But once again, I felt I needed something; there was something that was not quite right. It was the pulsating motor, powering the boat across the water. For some reason, I had expected a rowing boat, like the fishing boat of ancient times. There was a CD churning out music which to me was intrusive.

But then, on this Sunday morning, the engine died, and the boat was allowed to drift lazily on the water, and peace enveloped us all, making us quiet and reflective. Those were beautiful moments to be treasured in the memory for all the years left to us.

All the time we were in Israel, the weather was fine, sunny and hot. As we were driven in the air-conditioned coach, covering many miles, we were shown so much that was recently brought into cultivation: orchards, plantations of every kind of fruit and vegetables. There were new towns with tastefully built houses and shops, and as all this was pointed out, I knew that I loved Israel. They care for their land, and they only want peace, and one could sense that wherever we went.

There’s an added dimension to my Bible reading now. And I will quote one passage which seems to sum up all that the land of Israel is...

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and the hills;

a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;

a land where bread will not be scarce, and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
(Deuteronomy Chapter 8.)

To return to the home page - click here


	Welcome to Jackson's Jottings for first half of 2007
	If you would like to go back to the home page, click here If you missed the jottings from the third quarter of 2006, please click here. Hi, everyone! It’s been a long time since we updated this section of our website. Much has happened during the last six months, but perhaps the most significant event for us was a trip to Israel. So we’re going to devote “Jackson’s Jottings” to: MY IMPRESSIONS OF ISRAEL My loved and respected father-in-law, Mr. H. R. Ozanne of Guernsey, used to say, “At least, half the joy of a holiday was anticipation.” Certainly, my anticipation was near fever pitch as the weeks thinned into days, making way for the day of departure. I had never anticipated a holiday so much: the reason being that we were going to Israel, the Holy Land, and would be visiting places that I had heard and read about since primary schooldays. Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Calvary, the garden tomb, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee – so many places that I’d been to so often in spirit. The first impression was when we landed at Tel Aviv, and the announcement came: “Welcome to Israel”! I am actually here, in the Israel of my childhood, my adolescence, and my adulthood: it was hardly credible. We were a group from Guernsey and Northern Ireland, thirty-three in all, and Margaret and I were included through the generous kindness of friends in Guernsey. I have no visual memory, having been blind since I was one-and-a-half years old. Whatever was described to me was by its very nature secondhand. But atmosphere is definitely firsthand, and this varied considerably from place to place. There was the busyness of Jerusalem, just like any city, the feel of rubbish in the narrow streets of the old city with its distinctive smells of food and fabric. The seemingly wider, cleaner streets of the newer city, and underlying all of this, an atmosphere that one knew was not necessarily permanent and stable. (This was borne out the day we left Jerusalem when there was a military incident.) On that first full day, we walked down the Mount of Olives, first of all to the place where Jesus had wept over the city, his heart at breaking point because of their refusal to come to him for refuge. We came to the garden of Gethsemane where my preconceived ideas received a blow. I had expected an enclosed garden, a kind of secret, secluded place, with centuries-old olive trees that I would be able to touch. That place where Jesus often went, and where he made that historic surrender to his heavenly Father. But the place was hardly a garden at all, with traffic rushing by, robbing any vestige of secret atmosphere. Yet there was plenty of atmosphere to be had. We went down to the actual pavement (Gabatha) where Jesus was tried before Pilate, and we worshipped there. For the first time, but not for the last, I sensed something which was more than the physical. Some of us cried; others sang softly in that cavernous place, and to emerge into the bright sunshine outside was a shock. We prayed with the crowds at the Wailing Wall, and worshipped with groups from different nations at the garden tomb. Jerusalem was a rollercoaster of emotions, and Galilee brought a new perspective with its peace and tranquillity. We went on the lake where Jesus had stilled the storm, and went to his fearful disciples, walking on the water. But once again, I felt I needed something; there was something that was not quite right. It was the pulsating motor, powering the boat across the water. For some reason, I had expected a rowing boat, like the fishing boat of ancient times. There was a CD churning out music which to me was intrusive. But then, on this Sunday morning, the engine died, and the boat was allowed to drift lazily on the water, and peace enveloped us all, making us quiet and reflective. Those were beautiful moments to be treasured in the memory for all the years left to us. All the time we were in Israel, the weather was fine, sunny and hot. As we were driven in the air-conditioned coach, covering many miles, we were shown so much that was recently brought into cultivation: orchards, plantations of every kind of fruit and vegetables. There were new towns with tastefully built houses and shops, and as all this was pointed out, I knew that I loved Israel. They care for their land, and they only want peace, and one could sense that wherever we went. There’s an added dimension to my Bible reading now. And I will quote one passage which seems to sum up all that the land of Israel is... For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and the hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce, and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. (Deuteronomy Chapter 8.) To return to the home page - click here

Welcome to Jackson's Jottings for first half of 2007

Welcome to Jackson's Jottings
for first half of 2007