MILK AND HONEY

And then, just like that, my friend Paul and I were suddenly going to Israel.

Well not suddenly. Paul suggested a vacation a while ago, and there are still a few weeks to go before we’re actually en route, but nonetheless, it is now all booked! As someone recently put it with a smile, besties on tour! He seemed almost supernaturally excited as we clicked flights and accommodation - and who could blame him? I am too, although I’m wondering how emotionally intense it’ll be. I feel like it needs to be more relaxing than I’m imagining, and not overwhelming in all the dimensions. Maybe the Holy Land will be gracious to us as well as challenging? Neither of us have been before.

It’ll be an adventure anyway; and when it’s with someone whom you’ve been friends with for almost two decades, it’s bound to be a bit of a blast, wherever you are.

I don’t want to anticipate anything really, but there are really only two things I absolutely have to see. I’ll keep you posted on those. Meanwhile, I think published author and Biblical Studies expert Paul, will want to see many more, with his ancient-history spectacles on.

I closed my eyes while we talked about it in the pub, to the noisy backdrop of Manchester City beating Liverpool. Somewhere, somehow, I knew Heather would be beaming at the idea of the two of us jetting off together. And to the fulcrum of civilisation: the centrepiece of human history, the land of promise, prophecy, and purpose, where milk and honey flow, where the thickness of heaven overlaps the thinnest, deepest part of the Earth, in the very dust of our faith and the gold of its eternal glory!

“Maybe we’ll find you a Messianic maiden,” said Paul, grinning. Twenty years of friendship means I know that he knows I know he knows it’s okay to joke about that. I opened my eyes and smiled.

It is nice to have something to look forward to. Just to sink our feet into that land will be an honour, a privilege, and an adventure.