Bold spelunkers: The waders of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an adventure in water system of ancient Jerusalem.
It has been a Long Season. So long, in fact, that I had to look at the tally marks and count.
140 weeks. 35 months. Two and a half years.
Two and a half years ago I boarded a plane in the Biblical Heartland and flew away.
During this Long Season we eyed the plague from behind our closed doors, masks, and computer screens. We watched as COVID-19 twisted up our world. We prayed quietly (and at times, not so quietly) as people and institutions that we loved shuddered and cried, wept and died. No one, seemingly, was beyond the reach of this sinister contagion with its shape-shifting abilities.
The travel industry curled up in hibernation. Could it outlast the virus?
The final answer has yet to be written. But there is hope. With each passing day we move closer to the end of the Long Season.
Group shot at the “Sacred Area” at Caesarea Philippi.
The “new normal” was recently pioneered by sixteen brave individuals from First Church of Christ in Burlington, Kentucky. Led by veteran host Tommy Baker, they crossed the Atlantic for a 12-day pilgrimage. For them, it was a long-anticipated dream; for me, it was a return from exile. For a few sacred days, we walked the streets of Jerusalem again.
We didn’t stop there. Our footsteps took us to Caesarea-by-the-Sea, Capernaum, Dan, Jericho, and Masada. Tommy ensured the spiritual agenda was as full as the educational one, filling our days with corporate worship, baptisms in the Jordan River, and songs echoing through ancient churches.
Baptizing in the Jordan River.
Spring is a breathtaking season in the Heartland. The days were warm, the nights cool, and the flowers were in such a riotous bloom that they seemed to celebrate our return. The Heartland felt familiar—hotel buffets operated as usual, and the pathways to the sites were just as I remembered. After the initial hugs with old friends, cooks, and shopkeepers, it was business as usual. The shawarma and falafel rolled out just like before.
Picnic beside the spring at Banias.
Of course, there were markers of the season we’ve endured. We navigated additional paperwork, masking requirements, and the “silent guides” assigned to insure compliance. Some sites had adjusted hours, and the cadence of travel felt a bit more deliberate.
Some sites have experienced changes. The excavations at the site of Jericho have been expanded in at least two areas. New and improved signage helps visitors appreciate the significance of the site.
Yet, these hurdles didn't dim the experience. Ask the Baker group—they were thrilled to be part of the “first wave.” Their journey is a signal that the heart of the travel industry is beating again and that biblically-focused tours are moving forward.
Friends from the al-Atrash family in Beit Sahour, Palestine. Shopkeepers, restaurant- and hotel-workers, and other members of service industry are eagerly awaiting the return of tourists and students to the biblical heartland.
The Long Season is breaking. I hope you’ll join us on a future journey to discover the place where faith begins.
We have four pilgrim-style trips scheduled for the Summer of 2022 and four more scheduled for the Fall. if you are interested in being a part of one of these, or wish to join one of our 2023 listings, see the “Find Your Trip” on our website at www.BibleLandExplorer.com
Love to have you aboard!