In a few days Beverley and I will be traveling with a group of about fifty pastors and spouses to Egypt. There are many things I am eagerly anticipating about this journey, but here are those things that stand out to me as we prepare to begin this adventure.
Early in the trip we will travel to the base of Mt. Sinai, late at night, and begin the hike to the peak. We will arrive a little before sunrise, and we will witness the sunrise from the place Moses encountered God and received the Ten Commandments. There also is the place mentioned in Exodus 33, the “cleft of the rock,” where Moses stood when God passed by.
When we descend Mt. Sinai, we will then stop at St. Catherine’s Monastery, which contains the site traditionally believed to be the place where Moses encountered God at the burning bush. St. Catherine’s was built in the mid-sixth century, and is the oldest Christian monastery still in use today. In the 1800’s a manuscript of the Bible was discovered there dating to the fourth century, and is one of the most important Biblical manuscripts.
In addition to these biblically significant sites, we will also see the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, and many of the Temples and burial shrines so many travel to Egypt to see.
Of particular interest to me is to be in the place where many of the Desert Fathers and Mothers lived in order to practice authentic Christian faith. After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, many Christians felt that the faith was eroded in order to accommodate the culture, and they fled to the desert to live an authentic Christian life. I have spent several months reading and learning about these early Christians, their sayings, the stories that surround them, and I look forward to be present in the place they lived out their lives of faith.
And finally, I look forward to this time as a period of rest and renewal. One of the leaders of the trip sent a message to the group yesterday afternoon, and here is the invitation she offered us:
For those who led worship one more time this morning before we go…blessed 11th Day of Christmas and/or Epiphany Sunday! You did it.
Clergy lead. A LOT. As we prepare for this trip, I wonder about the last time you just got to BE. No one to coordinate, caregive, remind, shepherd, or be “on” for…When’s the last time you received the gift of being led?
That gift will look different for each person in the group. I hope you’ll take some time between now and Wednesday to think about what you might let go or set down so these days in Egypt can be a gift for you. You are worthy of this adventure - and also the rest and renewal it offers.
Traveling with clergy, led by competent and engaging pastors and seminary professors, it is truly a time to allow others to lead and caregive on my behalf. Doing this with Beverley, away from the demands of life, it is truly a blessing. And while traveling is physically tiring, the rest, renewal, learning, and adventure this trip will bring offers strength and nourishment for my soul.