May 23,2014: Mount Nebo
The soft glow of the sun filters through a thin haze. The group gathers around a timeworn pillbox and listen as Jeff describes the land in front of us, pointing out different landmarks. Deuteronomy 35 shares the story of the death of the Israelite leader Moses who died on top of Mount Nebo and of the God, in His glory, who buried him.
The light of the sun fades and lights from different buildings twinkle on while hushed whispers float through the air. The smell of sage filters through the air. It smells of newness, that although the ground is mainly rock and the valley that lies at our feet is unpredictable when it comes to vegetation, this is a place of oneness, of connection. A new place with God. A fresh start. With the light of the sun all but diminished, the temperature drops. There is a peace here that doesn’t come from being surrounded by the newest advances of technology.