Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. ~Psalm 122:2
The Psalms of Ascent accompany us to Jerusalem; they are the songs of all pilgrims. As we pass through the ancient stone gates of the Old City of Jerusalem, Psalm 122 drifts through our shared memory. Here we are, standing on our feet within the gates of Jerusalem. A ripple of delight passes through me!
The light is low because the streets are as narrow as alleyways. Robed women move along smoothly, carrying burdens. Men squat beside open bins on the ground, selling fruits and vegetables.
The air is scented with saffron and other spices. Falafel is frying nearby. A cat darts past our feet. Carts rumble by on the uneven ground. Cacophony surrounds us. There is so much life within these gates!
Can you stop, right now, wherever you are, to feel the pulse of life around you?
Prayer: O Creator, you are here, where my pilgrim feet are standing.
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is mine, taken in the Old City of Jerusalem in 2018.
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