Throwing Rocks Can Be A Good Thing

On our last day in Palestine, we took a trip to the Dead Sea and visited Masada (Hebrew for Fortress), a fortress built by Herod the Great about 37 BCE and later occupied by Zealots who were determined to rebel against Roman occupation and domination. Masada is an awesome place. We saw how the Roman Army engineered a ramp to penetrate this fortress over a period of six years. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Inch by inch, anything is a cinch.

About 70 CE, Roman Governor Flavius Silva marched the 10th Roman Legion against Masada. The Romans built an incredible ramp made of 1,000’s of tons of stone and gravel creating a pathway right up the wall of Masada and overthrew the Jewish Zealots and took over that strategic fort next to the Dead Sea. The Romans brought with them about 1,000 Jewish prisoners of war and used them to build the ramp. I wonder what it would have been like waiting for six years as your enemy built a bridge to you?

Visiting Masada and the Dead Sea was a treat. You really do float in the Dead Sea. I waded my way into the water up to my knees but some of my companions got all the way in. This is a “once” in a lifetime experience. Imagine pouring salt on an open wound. The Dead Sea and Masada were fun but not as fun as watching the boys we brought with us from the Home of New Hope in Ramallah. Some had never been to Masada or the Dead Sea. It was fun watching them get excited about the trip. It was fun watching them have fun. I was reminded of the trips that I have taken with my boys.

On the way back our Bus broke down for the first time in two weeks. It just gave out. We were on the highway back to Palestine. We pulled over and just waited for another bus to come and pick us up. This was a nearly picture perfect day but then the bus broke down. We got out of the bus and sat on a pile of rocks (there are a lot of rocks in the Judean wilderness and in Israel in general) waiting for our bus. The boys looked bored and restless so I did what any dad would do to buy some time and keep the boys out of trouble.

I found aluminum can by the pile of rocks, filled it about ¼ full of dirt and placed it on another pile of rocks about 30 yards away. You probably know what happened next. I walked back to the group of boys, picked up one small rock and motioned to one of the boys, pointing to the can. Then I threw the rock at the can, and of course, missed it. Then the first boy tried his hand at hitting the can, then the next and the next. Soon about 9 boys from the Home of New Hope at Ramallah were trying to see which one would hit the can first. About 15 minutes passed by with everyone trying to hit the can when the substitute bus showed up. We had a hard time getting the boys back into the bus. And yes, finally one of the boys hit the can. I don’t remember who did it but does it matter? This was a good time to throw rocks.

This was a good day! A group of men from the United States traveled to Jericho, Masada, and the Dead Sea to hang out with some boys from Ramallah. It was a good day to throw rocks. I think we made a difference in their lives that day. More about this to come…

Comments

[Juan]

Can totally relate on the Rock story - been there done that. Except it wasn't in Israel. It was actually on our drive from Dallas, Tx. to El Paso, Tx. I must of been 11 or so when our family made the trip - We were about 2 hours from El Paso, when our Suburban broke down. And let me tell you, there is nothing out there but rocks. And yes, we set up the can on some bigger rocks while my father fixed the suburban. Finally, we hit the can. Does it matter who did it? No, but I know neither my brother nor I will ever forget that day.

[Albert Reyes]

Bro. Juan, so glad to hear from you. I don't know what it is about boys, rocks, and cans but it brings out the best in us. May the Lord give us the wisdom to take the time to spend with our children.

[Gary Snowden]

Albert,

Thanks for sharing a great story. I remember floating in the Dead Sea and the water was so buoyant that I posed holding up a newspaper with both hands and reading it without the paper getting wet. There was no need to tread water there to stay afloat. We also visited Masada on that trip and witnessed some young Jewish boys who were completing their bar-mitzvah there.

[Gary Snowden]

Albert,

Thanks for sharing a great story. I remember floating in the Dead Sea and the water was so buoyant that I posed holding up a newspaper with both hands and reading it without the paper getting wet. There was no need to tread water there to stay afloat. We also visited Masada on that trip and witnessed some young Jewish boys who were completing their bar-mitzvah there.