What can you learn from a Bethlehem cabbie?

Published 8:30 am Friday, March 12, 2010

I was privileged to visit the Holy Land in November of 2007. It was a great opportunity and brought the Bible to life in remarkable ways. It was also an excellent opportunity to see life in the Holy Land today. In fact, we spent much of our time on the trip in the Palestinian territories, especially Bethlehem.

I would like to share one moment on the trip that speaks to how we grow and nurture relationships as people of faith.

We spent one day in Jerusalem on our own and took a city bus back to Bethlehem. That meant we had to go without our ever helpful and protecting tour guide through the Separation Barrier, the 30 foot high wall that surrounds Bethlehem. That also meant we had to go through Israeli security and knew that could be a long and grueling process.

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We went through the seeming mouse maze of walkways to the check point. We saw the walkways above our heads where soldiers could watch us. Cameras were everywhere. Thankfully, there were not many people at that late hour. But there was a line. And we dutifully got into the line. Then one of the soldiers looked at us and said, “American?” We held up our blue passports and he waved us right through. No questions. No searches of anything or anyone. And we were all geared up for checkpoint chaos!

Then we walked to the Bethlehem side of the wall and our fearless leader, the Rev. Curtis Zieske, hailed a cab. We needed two cabs. There were several choices. Price negotiations began. Then we could tell the cabbies were getting into an argument among themselves — a loud argument. We found out the argument was about who would take us back to our guest house. Yes, it was about money. But it was also about who would be able to serve the Americans who had gone out of their way to stay in Bethlehem when most tourists stayed away from Bethlehem.

When is the last time I got into an argument because I wanted to help someone? I am inclined to say, “Go ahead. You do it. I’m out of here.” I also might say, “Not my problem.”

I think Albert Lea bears a resemblance to the cabbies of Bethlehem. Do you notice how people in this community respond when there is a need? Small towns are wonderful that way. There is a sense of family as we bear one another’s burdens and share in the chores of building a life and a community.

Please consider this question about going to church. Do you go to church for yourself or for others? We certainly go to church to grow in our faith as individual Christians. But do we not also go for others? We go to support one another as we rally around our Lord. We argue. But we sing together too. We may feel like we can’t do much. But God brings us together to make us more than we can imagine.

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24 NRSV).