Chicago Team goes to the Middle East

We’ve just returned from two weeks in the Middle East: Israel: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Palestine: Gaza and the West Bank (Bethlehem). This trip has been what some would call a “defining moment” in my life. What I have seen I cannot unsee. Life feels somehow fundamentally shifted for me. I won’t go into my feelings on the politics of the region and what I learned, other than to say I REALLY had no idea what the political realit(ies!) were until I saw them and felt them firsthand. Let me just say, I truly believe that if we could all look into the eyes of “the other” and see their plight we would be less nationalistic, less political, less religiously divided, and more human! Exactly how we came into this world.

What I want to share, more than anything, in reflecting upon this trip is a broader feel for the simplicity of human being-ness and the willingness to work together to go beyond the stories that we historically cling to. I saw this simple humanness in both deep examples of poverty, isolation, and hopelessness, but also in incredible vision, commitment and bravery, the likes of which I’ve never met in person before these two weeks. I’m not describing it right, because I don’t have the words yet. I think I’m still digesting it…but there was something about how f*&^ed up and beautiful it was that made me feel more connected to all of humanity. I was humbled to the point of tears on more than one occasion. Individuals that sat with us and shared what they have been able to accomplish in circumstances that are FAR more restrictive than anything I’ve ever even imagined. I shed tears of overwhelm as I learned from these people that dreamed and acted bigger than anything in their immediate line of sight would’ve told them was possible. Only to then say…actually, I dreamed too small. I could have and should have done more. I thought I had met visionary people before. I thought I had felt awe before. But NOTHING could have prepared me for the depth of gratitude I felt sitting and learning from people who had risked their lives to help others, to change a rigid and cruel system, and to dig deep into the wells of hope and creativity to do it even without financial means or social support. I have new heroes now. And for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why they would take time out of their mercilessly busy schedules to sit and talk to me. Little old me. Who has a desire to help humanity, some ideas abut how to do that, but in comparison to these people, I’ve actually accomplished next to nothing, all while having practically zero obstacles; financial, political, social or otherwise. But they did talk to me, to us, to our little baby non profit team of three. They shared and they listened. They were open and curious and willing to explore partnership. I found myself feeling guilty…for sure we would be getting the better end of the stick in partnering. What could we offer them in comparison to what they’d already managed to accomplish themselves. But that’s when I realized, oh this is not the same realm. This is not business. They are not looking to get something from us. They see a shared vision for humanity that must be linked arms with. No matter how small or big, for every individual or organization that links arms and creates a counter force in the world; one which says: there are no differences but the ones we imagine, then believe in, then force our children to believe in too…before that happens, we are a human species, with every potential to flourish and experience peace. But for the man-made forces of land ownership, political power, religious separation, and capitalism distorted into greed, we are all like the little girl walking out of the dilapidated hut on the beach. Wandering around. Curious about the world around her. Playing with whatever she finds. And approaching all humans without fear. Asking for help. With no understanding at all yet that she lives in an open air prison, and likely will for the rest of her life, because of nothing she had anything to do with…other than being the result of a sperm that met an egg inside the body of a woman who happened to live in a spot on the globe we humans have named Gaza.

And to be clear, these heroes we met, that were so open, were from a variety of “sides” not just one. Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and none of the above. And together they will link arms with us to explore inspiring projects in parts of the Middle East and beyond. As much as I learned a lot about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this trip was so much more than that. I really learned that there are people who have seen and touched hope and bravery on far deeper levels than me, but they are willing to teach me. And I am so grateful to be their student.

Thank you to Stephanie Fox, Valerie Todenhöfer, and all of our incredible hosts and friends in Israel and Palestine!