by Barry Britnell
Synopsis: Traveling to Israel can have a powerful impact on the traveler. . . and the people of Israel. Our experiences on a recent trip reminded me of an important spiritual lesson.
For all of us who write these articles for Truth Magazine about the geography and archaeology of the lands of the Bible, 2020 was a tough year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to travel to the lands that we so dearly love.
However, we knew that, one day, we would be able to return. For me, that was in July 2021. Through prayer, hard work, and a bit of luck, I could finally take a tour group back to Israel. Making the trip was not easy for me or the travelers in my group. Besides having to be vaccinated, we had to pass four different COVID tests and complete much more paperwork than usual.
Yet, our hard work paid off; we were able to travel everywhere we wanted to go, see everything we wanted to see, and do so with almost no crowds. Overall, it was a wonderful trip, and I was thrilled to be traveling once again.
With almost zero visitors in well over a year, I knew that the tourism industry of Israel would be desperate to see people again. However, I was not mentally prepared for what we experienced. Their gratitude for our group was overwhelming. Let me give you a few examples.
The people in Israel (and especially those who work in the tourism industry) were deeply grateful to see us walking around their parks, sleeping in their hotels, and eating in their restaurants.
When we landed, we were greeted at the airport by the staff of the local travel agency that I use to help me coordinate the tour. They brought us gifts and we took plenty of pictures. However, their main purpose for meeting us was to simply say, “Thank you for coming”.
During the first night in Tiberias, the hotel staff served us dinner. After we said our prayer, one of the owners came to us and said, “You are the first group to stay here since March 12, 2020. Thank you so much for coming.”
When visiting the ancient city of Hazor, the gentleman in the ticket booth passed along a message through our guide: “Tell them ‘Thank you’ for coming.”
We went into a small deli just north of Jericho which was operated by two Palestinian brothers. Upon leaving, one of them flagged me down and said, “Thank you for coming.”
At Kando’s Store in Bethlehem, the owner gathered my group around him to talk to them. He started off by saying, “Your group is the first group to come into my store since March 6, 2020. Thank you so much for coming.”
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the Ministry of Tourism invited my group to their downtown office. We took a picture and shook hands while they continually said, “Thank you for coming.”
Overall, our small group had almost no financial impact on the country of Israel, but that mattered not. What mattered was that we were there. After sixteen months of not seeing any tourists, they were thrilled to see us. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with smiles, friendship, and genuine gratitude. Our simple presence gave them hope for a brighter tomorrow in which they would be able to do all the things that they love to do.
I am often asked, “Why do you keep going back to Israel?” The answer is simple: I love learning new things. When I am there, an hour does not go by in which I do not learn something new. On this trip, I learned many things, but the lesson that I will always remember is this: Sometimes you just have to be there for others. Just simply being there had a positive impact on everyone with whom we came into contact.
We see this in the Bible. In John 11, Jesus and His disciples headed to Bethany because Lazarus had passed away. As they approached the city, Martha ran out to meet Jesus. The very first words out of her mouth were, “Lord, if you had just been here”. A bit later, Mary comes to greet Jesus. Like her sister, her first words were “Lord, if you had just been here”.
Never underestimate the power and positive influence of just being there for others. Like many of you, I know people who are sick and suffering. I am not a doctor, so I do not know what to say to ease their suffering. Yet, I can be there for them. I can send a text or call and let them know they are not alone. Just be there for people.
Do you know someone who has lost a loved one? Most people do not enjoy going to visitations or funerals. It is awkward and we rarely know what to say. Perhaps we do not have to say anything. Perhaps we just need to be there for them.
What about our worship assemblies and Bible classes? As much as I enjoy singing with my brethren, studying with my brethren, and praying with my brethren, I equally enjoy just being with my brethren. Truly, one highlight for me is to see my brethren arrive at the church building. Just the fact that they are there is a positive influence on me.
In the future, when I think about my tour in 2021, I will always remember the lesson that I learned: Never underestimate the power of just being there for others.
