"Unpacking" the Trip

The pilgrims have returned. Maribeth de Jong is back in Chicago, Katherine Fulton is in Florida for a work conference, Peter and Susan Purdy flew back with the rest of us and are now on their way toward southern California visiting friends along the way. We have all begun the process of "unpacking" our trip.

Hossam, our guide in Israel, told us that our pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine and Jordan was far from over. He advised us that, in fact, it had just begun; as we started to tell friends, relatives, workmates, and others about our travels, we would discover aspects of the trip and have reflections on the experience that we didn’t have time to consider while moving at such a rapid pace. I am taking his wise counsel seriously.

Little bits and pieces:
As I unpacked yesterday, I found pink sand from Petra sprinkled liberally over the right side of my suitcase. I thought of Patricia and how much she loves to find the sands of Lake Michigan in her shoes at the end of her summer stay there. I remembered the walk into Petra, the much-appreciated glass of hot tea in a cave, Pat Cross and Elizabeth waving to us as their cart driver shouted “Make way for the queen.”

As I took a shower this morning, I realized that I was washing away some of the henna on my hands and the shampoo from the Turkish baths.

As I ate my fried egg sandwich for dinner yesterday, I was once again impressed by the wonderful food offered to us morning, noon and night everywhere we went. We could have lived on the appetizers alone—plate after plate of small salads and great bread.

As I awoke this morning at about 5:00am, I was aware that I didn’t have to be down at the bus at 8:30 to begin our day’s activities. No one would be waiting for me. There would be no roommate check. I was on my own, outside the closeness of the group, writing lists of what I wanted to do today by myself.

None of these observations merit much contemplation. Perhaps the process of "unpacking" the trip begins as it began--with routine tasks and reassuring conversations. But I am trying to stay in the moment, noticing that I both appreciate being home and am longing for the community of the group. And, above all, I am remembering the incredible time we had together.