Let's Blow This Popsicle Stand!

Tomorrow it begins people! The big trip to Israel. Now I know what you're thinking, "Van please bring me something back!" Sure, no problem, I'll accept your donations of $100 and in return you'll get a wooden necklace bought from the street market in Jerusalem that was most likely made in China. It will only cost $1, but don't worry, the other $99 I'm saving so I can buy a camel whose legs are backwards. This is cool because it can go forward and backward at the same time. But I digress...

Speaking of the market, I cannot wait to go! Who wants to haggle? This guy! "One hundred, one hundred!" No, no, no, fifteen, fifteen. "Fifteen? FIFTEEN? If it's worth a nickle it's worth a hundred!" Wait, what if I don't want to haggle with anyone? Oh well, nah, I probably do want to haggle! It'll be too much fun. But, maybe I will see an old ex-leper or a few prophets?

All this haggling about, well, haggling does beg the question: how will I react when I'm over there? This is the Holy Land after all. I'm only a little holy, not mostly holy. We talked in class yesterday about what other peoples' reaction might be. This is, remember, the holy city we're gonna be visiting. It's not just holy for me, or for other Christians, but for two other major world religions. Some people may just stand in quiet reverence in awe of their holy site. Some may stand in silent prayer. And what about the old lady who comes to the tomb to weep for her Savior? We all must keep in mind that what's not sacred to us might be very sacred to someone else, and that is worth respecting.