Yesterday we were in Kingston to meet up with family members who are here from the southern States for a few days. They had lived in Israel for the better part of four decades as leaders in a Baptist ministry, in a country that doesn't countenance Christian missionaries or any form of proselytizing. We are miles apart in theology and political outlook yet we have a warm connection and they were wonderful hosts when we visited Israel for a couple of weeks last year.
We were a bit nervous about our time together and prayed about the direction of our conversation. In the end we enjoyed our few hours together. What proved to be unsettling was hearing about the emotional toll of living in Israel for nearly eight months after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas has taken on both of them. The conference centre and camp run by the Baptists became a refuge for displaced Israeli families and the work was all-consuming. They lived in an area where jets screamed overhead in those first weeks, sirens warning of rocket attacks sounded regularly, and on several occasions they saw Iron Dome missiles intercept Hamas and Hezbollah rockets high above.
They carried on in their work and everyday lives until their departure and while they are establishing a new life back in the US something as simple as a police siren triggers a visceral response. He has been an active, upbeat guy all his life yet he has been dealing with significant physical health issues which doctors figure have been brought on by stress. Thankfully they are responding to treatment. They hear from friends who live in areas such as Nazareth about the increase in rocket attacks from Lebanon. Other friends have children in the military and are constantly concerned about safety.
We continue to be appalled by the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon. The actions of Israel are unconscionable and it's likely we are at odds with our family members on this. We are hugely disappointed by the unwillingness of many countries, including the United States and Canada, to push harder against the indiscriminate killing. At the same time, the folly of war profoundly affects everyone involved, even those who have supposedly found a way to safety. An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. God help them all.
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