We are having a workshop in our church this week-end, a walk through The Old Testament. During 6 hours, three last night, three today, we learn the whole Old Testament history, and through movements and a very few words, we learn to remember it all. A lovely way of learning, of being together, of remembering the old story I've known since I was a child, of learning new details.
Abraham walked through Syria on his way to the promised land, and I am back there with all my senses. We drove through the desert, smelled the dry air, felt (through very slightly) the thirst, the burning sun, missed the colours in the light brown world of stones and sand, felt the hugeness, the emptiness which ended up not being empty at all when you looked close. We did not drive through the same desert where Moses and his people walked around for 40 years, but we were under the same sun.
The Bible is coming alive for me this week-end.
In Damascus we visited the church in Ananias' House, the place where Paul were taken after he was blinded. The dean of Nidaros cathedral, Ragnhild Jepsen, read for us from Acts 9.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about his a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying onto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said. Who art though, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thouh persecutest: it is hard for though to kick agains the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told there what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brough him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight,and neither did eat nor drink.
And there was a certain disiple at Damascus, names Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might recieve his sight.......
A bookwinner: Fran H-B, congratulations :-)