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	Quaker Life March/April 2006 Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Valiant for Truth	Contents
By Patricia Edwards-Konic Jordan, Israel, Palestine—27 days within six weeks. I’ve always wanted to go to the Holy Land and during November and December I was immersed! And my life is now different because of it. Jordan—a land trying to live in peace in “a tough neighborhood” according to King Abdullah II. And, duh, the Holy Land is on both sides of the Jordan River—the land of Moses and Elijah, Jacob and Jesus. I stood on Mt. Nebo and saw the Promised Land; I stood on Elijah’s Hill but saw no chariot coming for me. Israel/Palestine—a land carved from guilt of World War II and from people already living there. What a complicated political situation with no easy answers 58 years later. I walked in places I had heard about since childhood—Jerusalem, Jericho, Nazareth, Bethlehem. I sat on the hill where Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount, I rode in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, I sat in the cave where Gabriel spoke to Mary. Everywhere the Bible stories came alive and renewed my faith. As I enter into Lent, moving toward Easter, I see the events with new eyes—the long journey walking from Galilee to Jerusalem, the Old City of Jerusalem where the final footsteps of Jesus are traced. As I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane among the 2,000-year-old olive trees, I could finally see what I had read about. The hillside garden faces the Old City and a gate is directly across. At night you couldn’t miss a legion of Romans coming out the gate, down the valley and up towards you, their torches lighting the way. I marveled that Jesus didn’t leave the place but stood his ground, waiting. Waiting to be humiliated… waiting to be tortured… waiting to die… all because it was God’s plan. And among his final words, were—“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” His example of forgiveness should permeate all of our Christian life. As you read through this issue of Quaker Life, may you be inspired by these modern-day stories of forgiveness, inspired to forgive like Jesus. ______________________________________ On the Cover At the base of Mt. Herman, Israel, springs forth Herman Springs, the beginning of the Jordan River. This was the area originally given to the tribe of Dan by Joshua; centuries later Caesarea Philippi with its worship of the god Pan was located here and Peter received the keys to kingdom in this pagan city. Photo by Trish Edwards-Konic. In this Issue The photos in this issue of Quaker Life were provided by Margaret Hawthorn, Bob and Louise Secord, Lois Jordan, Ann Lee Nichols, Kimberly Sheckles, James and Eden Grace and Trish Edwards-Konic. Thanks to all the contributing photographers!	6 Try What Forgiveness Will Do Retha McCutchen 8 Finding Hope with Father Chacour Margaret Hawthorn 10 Yusif Lives John Hishmeh 12 Hope within a Refugee Camp Margaret Stoltzfus 13 Living with a Ramallah Family Lois Jordan 14 A Present of Presence: A Visit to Ramallah Peggy Hollingsworth 15 Was it God's Work? Joshuah L. Lilande 16 CPT Letters From CPTnet 18 Applying the Sermon on the Mount Marvin Hall 19 Forgiveness: The Most Powerful Force Ann Lee Nichols _______________________________ Features 4 News from Friends United Meeting 20 Family Life 22 Soul Food Stand-up Jesus Howard R. Macy 23 Salt and Light How is Your Welcome? Sandy Davis 24 Leader's Guide and Resources 26 News 28 Reviews 30 Passages 32 Classifieds 34 Meeting Directory 37 Friends United Meeting Member Yearly Meetings 38 Centering