Our World Traveller Returns

Dinohunter just returned from spending three weeks in Israel and Palestine. He was fortunate to be one of only four students chosen nationwide for a program sponsored in part by the State Department to improve understanding and cultural exchange between U.S. and Palestinian youth. While there he was able to visit the Old City, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Ramallah and many other sites. He also stayed with a Palestinian family for a week and improved his Arabic. In short, he had an awesome time.

Annette and I were thrilled for him. The summer after we were married we spent two months in Israel and a week in Egypt and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some have asked whether we were worried for him. The short answer is no. Israel and Palestine can be dangerous, but to keep thing in perspective, he had a greater statistical likelihood of being involved in a traffic accident than being in a terrorist attack. With that said, he was two blocks away from an incident in which a Palestinian man overturned three dozen cars on a Jerusalem street with a bulldozer. Still I didn't worry. It helps that I've been there as well as many dangerous places in the world, sometimes knowingly and sometimes oblivious. Bad things do happen, but our fear magnifies it.

Upon his return Dinohunter gave out presents to each member of the family. In my case he was very generous. When Annette and I were in Israel and Palestine the one major purchase we made was to buy a nativity set in Bethlehem carved out of olive wood.

But there was one other thing I wished I had bought--a Herodian oil lamp. Believe it or not there are hundreds, probably thousands of these still around from the time of Jesus. These are the kind Jesus probably had in mind when he taught the parable of the 10 virgins. Dinohunter knew I wanted one and found one for a reasonable price, guaranteed authentic. I'm thrilled. It now has a prominent place in our curio cabinet in our living room. Thanks, Dinohunter!