DAY 174. SWORDS OF IRON WAR.

THURSDAY

שקדיה. Almond Tree.

Up at 05:00. There is a change in the atmosphere. The weather turned warm as well.

We slept with an open window last night and one less blanket. Spring had sprung. Flowers are blooming and the 'Shkedia' (Almond tree) is flowering its white flowers, always the first tree to bloom.

On my phone this morning: “The remarks of the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin: "We are at war. We have been at war for almost half a year now, and it doesn't end with Hezbollah. Tonight, we are operating against al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya, a successful thwarting of a large number of operatives, and this morning Hezbollah itself decided to respond against Kiryat Shmona. … We are determined to change the security situation in the north so that the residents can return to the north safely and with a sense of security. ...If we understand that we need to act, we will act tonight as well, and the readiness is there."

Also, there is a happy note from a friend, “... Headed to an early morning Bar Mitzvah... His Ima made Aliyah from Kaifeng, China. He's a first-generation Israeli...”

Years ago, I met a young poet in my mother's house. She immigrated to Israel from China. I will never forget her. She studied Hebrew and Poetry with my mother and visited often. She was the first person I ever met from China and her beauty and her loving kindness captured my heart.

I often think that after two thousand years of exile, we are living daily in the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 11:12 “He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. “

As I met the various nations just growing up here, I learned to appreciate all people and all cultures from everywhere. Living in Canada as an adult, enhanced my appreciation and acceptance of all nations. Canada also is a mosaic of nations. Since our people have lived all over the globe, they too experienced various nations and feel compassion toward all. It is God's design that encourages peace and understanding. It is for that reason that Israelis have embraced all its neighbours.

War in the region is against our nature, against our will to live in peace, against all that we learned over Four Thousands years of our existence. A friend said to me many years ago, “Israel is a nation of farmers, not warriors.” True, but we had to learn to protect ourselves physically, and God Himself sent us to war even as He brought us up from slavery to freedom.

It is 07:30 and the booming is loud and continuous on the border. 

Yet, we truly seek peace.

I pray that our mighty God will heal the shock and pain of wars and will bring us everlasting peace, quickly, in our current days, Amen.