It has been almost two weeks since I arrived in Israel and I am still trying to figure out the reality of this so-called Holy Land. I have encountered many good people, particularly the Christian Palestinians who work at Tantur, lead churches in Bethlehem, drive buses between the checkpoint and Old City, serve as day laborers, and provide intellecutal power to a critique of life in this place. Our group of 29 from all parts of the globe including the USA, Philippines, Singapore, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand has built a Christian community on this hill called Tantur, this place over looking an ugly grey wall built to separate Palestinians from Israelis, but also separating Palestinians from their land and one another. As I look out from Tantur I see a home right next to the wall, separated from the "little town of Bethlehem." Then when I ride my bike through the check point and venture down toward the Church of the Nativity I travel along this wall. There are homes there, from which owners could view their very own orchards and olive trees. Now all they view is a grey monstrosity. Where is the justice? Where is the peace? I'm not sure. I wish we could give to the world the kind of community we have experienced in our little "city on the hill," but down below the reality of the situation tells us it will take much more than the pleasant experiences of clergy gathered from around the world. We shall see.