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Century Wine & Spirits

On Century Blvd. * 952-401-WINE

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What did Paul Learn from this trip to Israel that he didn’t learn from newspapers and television?

“I definitely appreciate the complexity of the Middle East and Israel,” he replied. “I didn’t appreciate how close everybody was, the proximity of cities, the proximity of enemies.

“I better appreciate the historical places. Just to experience where Jesus walked was very moving and very special. It’s hard to describe.

“I appreciate having the opportunity to pray at the Western Wall.”

What is the particular significance of that Wall? Explained Paul, “The Jews believe that when their Messiah comes, this Jewish temple will be rebuilt. It’s an incredibly holy site for Jews.”

Continued Paul, “It’s amazing to me how small the community was and how it evolved. Jesus was walking around this land with a dozen guys and now Christianity is the largest religion in the world.”

Paul leaned forward and added, “It’s pretty clear to me that the State of Israel has a right to exist. I do think there can be a resolution to the conflict and it probably involves two states. It’s hard to reach that peace, however, when one side declares the other doesn’t have a right to exist.”

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And then Paul exclaimed, “Hang on a minute. I’ve got something to show you. It’s the coolest souvenir.”

He dashed upstairs, where Kelly was getting Stanley and Caroline ready for bed, and returned to the kitchen holding his hands behind his back like a kid with his favorite candy bar. Should he share it?

First he gave some background information and told about the new excavation being done in the Old City of Jerusalem at the base of the Western Wall, and how the group of nine travelers from Minnesota was privileged to go down into the excavation because of their various Jewish connections.

Paul said that one of the underground rooms was buried and preserved intact, and the room was full of clay that had been stored for the making of pottery. Well, the room was so tightly sealed that nothing dried out. Moisture couldn’t escape and so the clay was still pliable even after all these centuries -- two millennia, in fact.

Slowly Paul of Victoria brought forward a small plastic baggie that contained a golf-ball size chunk of clay. He took it out and pinched it and rolled it smooth and I, too, fiddled with the clay. It was dark brown in color and moist and pliable. I put it to my nose and it smelled like earth. Then he returned it to the baggie and declared, “Isn’t that amazing? Two-thousand year old clay! It’s the coolest souvenir!”

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When we see the nativity scene during this Christmas season, maybe we’ll be reminded that it’s not just a pretty picture or a sentimental time and place that existed long ago in a far away land. Maybe we’ll be reminded that the scene was foretold for generations before it occurred, and then it was told and retold to this very day, around the world and even in the Victoria Gazette.

Thank you, Paul Kohls of Victoria, for telling us some of the story, having traveled afar.