Advent Devotional by Kristin Wooldridge

Micah 4:1-5

He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid for the Lord almighty has spoken.

Micah 4:3-4

A Glimpse into my recent past: In early September, Sue Wright sent out the call for Advent writers, to which I replied, "Yes, from Israel." I dreamed of what I could write while on my trip with Amon to The Holy Land. I knew it would be a joy and my pleasure to share for Advent.

So after our ten-day tour, which was 40+ miles walked with 100+ flights of stairs climbed, 640 miles traveled on our chartered coach, and two long international flights, we were home.

Early on, I would describe the trip as a fever dream. I was longing for the jet lag and pure exhaustion to loosen their grips so I could bask in the memories and remember all I had absorbed. About the time my body and mind recovered, my heart and spirit broke.

On October 7, Hamas from Gaza began attacking Israel. All flights were canceled. Death tolls climbed. Chaos. Sadness. Fear. Pain. Loss.

We were just there. In Israel and Palestine, visiting Bethlehem and Jericho.

Our group followed instructions from our Israeli guide, Tali. We traveled with no fears. No worries. We had wandered Jerusalem at night on foot with some of our fellow pilgrims. Near potentially hostile areas, yet we had been safe.

To be home now and be confronted with how thankful we are to be safely back is hard. To be home safe and sound with our children is hard since so many there are not safe.

I’ve struggled with deep sadness since the attacks began. The verses from Micah 4:3-4 ground me:

He shall judge between many peoples and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up swords against nation; neither shall they learn war any more, but they shall all sit under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

Shalom, dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Kristin Wooldridge