Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it. Jeremiah 6:16
When the Pilgrim Path Is Interrupted
I don’t know about you, but the last ten days (Has it really only been ten days?) have been a roller coaster of emotions. As a retired Army Officer, I understand and appreciate the “shock and awe” of the attack on Iran. It reminds me of the Desert Storm, when I was a supervisor in the Operations Center and watched the bombing of Baghdad unfold before my eyes…on CNN! This was another “living room” war that people all around see up close and personal in real time. The emotional roller coaster has taken me from joy for the Israeli and Iranian people to concern for the casualties of war (on both sides) to disappointment that our pilgrimage to the Holy Land had to be postponed (I really do wish President Trump had checked with me about the timing beforehand). Seriously, please pray for a swift end to hostilities and a return of peace to the entire region.
As I pondered these events and agonized about our trip, it occurred to me that disappointment is a deeply human experience. It sits in that space between expectation and reality—when what we hoped for doesn’t arrive the way we imagined. For me, the disappointment was not so much for myself, though I will miss seeing my old and dear friend, Reuven, for the time being, but for the people who cannot go now and for those who may never go. I do love taking groups to the Holy Land because of how transformative it can be to walk where Jesus, King David, and the prophets walked. Many people have told me how the experience of being there made the Bible
“come alive” for them. My late wife, Sandy, often said that “Being in Israel makes the Bible a pop-up book). Reading the Bible is one thing, but standing in the very geography of God’s Holy Word is something else entirely. For my own part, when something you love doing gets interrupted, the disappointment hits deeper than simply a canceled trip, because leading a pilgrimage isn’t just travel—it’s a ministry. You’re not just visiting places; you’re helping people encounter Scripture. Leading groups over the last 30 years, I have never felt that I was just organizing and running a tour, but rather that I was shepherding folks through sacred spaces.
Even though deep in my heart of hearts, I knew we would not be able to make this journey at this time, getting past those feelings of disappointment has been a difficult task. Ask Bonnie, and she will tell you. Disappointment, this feeling of profound sadness, sits in that space between expectation and reality—when what we hoped for doesn’t arrive the way we imagined. Pastor John Maxwell has said, disappointment is the “space where our expectations end and reality begins to speak.” And when reality speaks, we would all do well to listen. But I would add that it doesn’t have to be the final word. Sometimes disappointment causes us to clarify our priorities and helps us deal with unrealistic assumptions, but it can also build resilience and patience (And Lord, you know we all need more of that; I certainly do). When this pilgrimage finally happens, I believe it may be even more meaningful, because people will know that it almost didn’t.
All this to say, that our 2026 Pilgrimage from Jordan to Jerusalem is not cancelled, just postponed. While we are still working on the details, we plan for it to happen in early to mid November, 2026. I have been in touch with Reuven, and he will definitely be available to be our guide and companion on the way. If you were on the fence about whether you should go and missed the deadline, maybe this is a second chance for you to say, “yes.” If so, please contact me, and I will send the necessary information to you. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
Blessings and Shalom!
Steve+
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Psalm 84:5
