About this Blog

"Ordinary People" is something of an intentional misnomer. I live and work with Palestinians practicing nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation. They are doing things that are hardly "ordinary": committing themselves to active nonviolence and to loving their enemies -- following the commands of One who was anything but ordinary. And yet, the Palestinians with whom I work are also very ordinary -- they are not some kind of spiritual superheroes/superheroines who do things most folks can't do. They are simply ordinary people daily committing themselves to living a higher calling -- a calling of love and active nonviolence.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Night Sky

Our office/kitchen/living area apartment opens to a lovely patio, with a beautiful view of the city of Hebron. The building continues to either side, framing the view and commanding the observer to look up into the clear blue Middle Eastern sky. At night, I look up to see the constellation of Orion -- brighter and clearer and more prominent than I've ever seen in the States, I think.

The old adage that the stars connect folks who are far away is true, I think. Looking up from our patio, I am connected to folks back in the States. We share the night sky (even if it comes hours later to the States.)

Being in Palestine is wonderful -- I am falling madly in love with this place. If only I could bring all the beautiful people that I know onto the same continent. :o)

Next time you see Orion out at night, say a prayer for me, the team, and Palestine. I'm thinking of and praying for the beautiful folks in the States.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will, J. :-) I'll bet the sky is lovely there! Like when we lay out by the Bertram house?

Jessica said...

Actually, the sky isn't so clear as it was near the Bertram house; it is hard to see most stars, because we are in the city and there are all kinds of lights everywhere. But Orion is very clear -- maybe because there aren't as many stars visible to compete with it! I love it for its clarity here.