Israel Travel Diary
March 1997

Caesarea In The Rain

Driving into Caesarea never seems to match with my sense of history. I can hear the importance of a place that nearly 2,000 years ago developed buildings whose foundations are still standing. Where concrete was poured under water. Buildings constructed that rival our best built structures today. Now it stands, unimportant, unused, and unsung.

Crusader Entrance

Sandy beaches and looming structures greet us. The rain is pelting us in waves, with minimal sun between the looming clouds. I shot some video and a few pictures and we walked the entire Roman City and up the road the Crusader City. We noted the excavations they were feverishly working on along the seashore and Dennis informed us that it would include administrative buildings, Herod’s home that jutted out into the sea, another smaller theater and a racecourse. Interesting the way that Herod laid out the city.

What a builder. Valued by Rome. Hated by his family, neighbors and Jews. An evil man.

The rain pushed us onward and we soon completed the site visit and returned to the trip into the history of Israel. We drove across to highway 4 and immediately, at my suggestion stopped to get coffee at McDonald’s.

Security Guard at the Mall in Caesarea

It was closed but the small, new shopping mall just outside of Caesarea was open so we visited the stores and looked around. We got stuff at the Post Office, grocery store and a hot pot at an appliance store. In addition I had an interesting conversation with the 72 year old security guard who had come to Israel late in life from Paris. He enjoyed working, didn’t speak any English, French and Hebrew only, and we had a good conversation. It seems people are indeed people everywhere.

The drive up highway 4 to Muhraqa (where Elijah slew the prophets of Baal) was exciting and eventful. We were talking excitedly, Charlie expounding on this and that with Dennis uhing and ahing. Out of nowhere a policeman ahead motioned for us to pull over. When we spoke English the policeman indicated for us to move along. What had we done? Finally we realized that it was raining and we didn’t have our lights on. Dennis turned them on.

Through the Carmel forest and up the bedraggled road we drove to the Monastery. Once there, we climbed the steps to the top of the building to lookout over the Jezreel Valley where the final battle will be waged. It is stunning, important, interesting and at the same time simply a beautiful valley. What makes the difference? God’s interest and movement here makes the difference.

God Makes The Difference
A boy of three, scared of night, faces dragons and cries.
A mother worn without a life, imprisoned by her dreams.
Along the way an evil one eats seven little strays.
And kills the heart of the dreamer, imprisoned by his hate.

How can good proceed from hell’s deep hole? Seven born to die.
The truth be told, God knows. Heaven’s child has woes.
Life is not an easy guess. A road that’s full of holes.
God’s the one, the battles won. The difference He bestows.

Clay April 1997


- A Day In Acre