Flooded with Delight at the Western Wall
Today's the day. Today's the day it finally hit me.
I woke up this morning in Jerusalem and looked at Google Maps to figure out how to get to and through the Old City and make my way to the Western Wall. I saw that it was in walking distance, so I got dressed, headed out, had breakfast along the way and ended up at the Wall.
And then I was there. Standing in front of the Western Wall. Flooded with feelings.
Since childhood, every time I have seen an image of this pilgrimage site I have felt a deep desire to visit. Unfortunately, it always felt unattainable. I never thought I could get here in my lifetime, it just felt like something other people do. Like something I wouldn’t have access to for a variety of reasons. There was no validity to these thoughts; if other people could go, why couldn’t I? But I had this limiting mindset remained - this wasn’t something that Roshida would do.
And then I was there. Standing in front of the Western Wall. Flooded with feelings.
It was here, surrounded by people who had made their own personal pilgrimage to this holy site that I realized the magnitude of this journey I’m on. I am in Jerusalem, visiting holy sites and I didn’t even see it coming. This trip has been completely unplanned, only last week I put Jerusalem on the itinerary because I had four free days between Paris and Amman.
When I left Oakland on this #JourneytoWakanda, Israel wasn’t even a destination I considered. Two weeks ago, I never imagined myself touching the Western Wall. But I’m here. And I’m here because when a chance of adventure showed up, I said yes. I stepped into the wild unknown, instead of recoiling in fear (which I considered doing and my therapist had to talk me out of).
This morning without even realizing it, I walked on the path Jesus took to his crucifixion. I passed the birthplace of the Virgin Mary, visited some of the stations of the cross, and was taken by the beauty of this land.
The lesson I learned today is that if you want something, you don’t have to spend your entire life fighting to get it. You don’t have to put it on your #goals or to-do list. Order your steps in the right direction, and you’ll be surprised where you end up. Believe in yourself and your ability to step into the unknown and thrive. Open your heart, leave fear in your rearview mirror and say yes to adventure. Your bucket list items will find you when you are ready.
The Men Only section of the Wall