DAY FOUR - EASTER: Dawn on the Sea of Galilee
Trip Start
Mar 31, 2010
1
15
38
Trip End
Apr 10, 2010
Tiberias, Northern District, Israel
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Before we even dreamed of this pilgrimage, I always wanted to see two things in Galilee: the gospel's "lilies of the field" (wild flowers) and sunrise over the Lake of Genessaret. Today I have a chance to catch a very special sunrise: it is Easter Sunday.
I rise quickly before dawn and rush downstairs and outside the hotel, to a small field on a hilltop overlooking the Lake, trying to guess where the sun will appear.
I get there when the moon is still out on a deep indigo sky, and darkness is very slowly giving way to dawn. There are two other people already here, standing around, praying, waiting. All the birds are up this morning, singing cheerfully together, as if they knew why.
Gradually, a few more people arrive; someone carrying a guitar begins softly singing a praise & worship song; but each of us is focused on our particular moment. Eventually, the pale gray sky over the hills yields to the fiery globe rising in glory over all. As I turn to leave, the field is full of people! I wish them all a happy Easter and go to breakfast.
