"So I leave my boats behind...."

Today we left the beauty and peacefulness of the Sea of Galilee to head back to the dry, cramped and busyness of Jerusalem. I spent an hour by the lake shore this morning watching the sunrise over the water and reflecting on the amazing experiences I have had in this special part of the Holy Land. I think I have felt Jesus' presence here more than anywhere else. Sitting by the lake, hearing the waves lap the shore, I can imagine Jesus sitting here with his friends, teaching them, calling them to follow him, and even having a laugh and a swim with them!
Just before we left, the whole group of us stood on the verandah overlooking the lake and sang the Galilee song together:
"So I leave my boats behind
Leave them on familiar shores,
Set my heart upon the deep,
Follow you again, my Lord".
I felt very sad to leave, and I wondered how Jesus must have felt leaving the safety of this place to make his journey up to Jerusalem for his final days.
Once on the bus, our guide started telling everyone about the conflicts that occurred in this land since 1947 - it was such a contrast to the peacefulness we had just experienced so I put my earphones in and listened to some reflective Rob Galea music instead!
Our first stop on the way back today was Zippori or Sepphoris - " the ornament of Galilee" - which was the capital of Herod Antipas' government in 4 BC. Because of its position on a mountain top like a bird (zippor), it was the most important city in the region. There was a stunning view from the top of the fortress.
I had a special once-in-a-lifetime moment when we were visiting the Nile House on the site where there were lots of beautiful mosaics on the floor. Drasko was trying to decipher some Greek words that were written in mosaic above an image of a centaur. I casually walked past and read the interpretation sign near it which said the inscription meant " Helpful God". This is the only time I have ever managed to upstage Drasko, and it will probably be the only time too!
After Zeppori, we travelled to the coast to Caesaria Maritima, which is right in the coast of the Mediterranean sea.
Here we visited some amazing ruins of a theatre, hippodrome and palace built by Herod the Great. We then went for a wonderful and refreshing swim in the Mediterranean sea, right in front of an ancient aquaduct, before heading back to our home in Jerusalem.
Our pilgrimage to Galilee was a very special part of our journey, and a time I will never forget.