Not a day has gone by that I haven't reflected on the experience that I had living in Jerusalem for a semester. I wish I could convey the depth of love and gratitude that I have for this holy land. My time there seriously changed my life. In a way that was totally unexpected, and yet somehow made perfect sense as I experienced the lessons I learned. There is not a single aspect of my life that was not affected by my time in Israel.
I intellectually learned so much about the life, culture, and history of the people that have lived in and fought for this country. Although I only touched the surface of all of the knowledge one can learn, I for sure learned that there are always two sides to every story. That not everything can be fixed simply. That conviction and devotedness to a purpose is not to be taken lightly. That really, most of us have no idea and cannot really relate, and therefore should not exercise judgement.
This semester even impacted me physically. Although this may seem like the least important of the impacts that Israel had on me, it has truly made all of the difference. Your physical being affects everything else. I learned to love my body in Jerusalem. My whole life I have struggled with being overweight, especially during my college years. While in Jerusalem, I naturally became healthy. We walked everywhere. And I wasn't feeding myself fast food and junk food 24/7 (mainly because I didn't have access to it!). But without even consciously trying, I lost 20 pounds in Jerusalem. And that started me on an amazing journey to be a healthier, happier me. When I returned home, I joined a gym and continued healthy eating habits. And I lost another 30 pounds. The freedom and joy that I have felt has been amazing. And I once again, have Jerusalem to thank. I had never realized the importance of treating my body like a temple until Jerusalem forced me to start.
Going to Jerusalem had been a dream of mine for a long time, so of course when the chance arose, I jumped at the chance. Although I was excited, going was going to be a large step out of my comfort zone. And I haven't always been so good with that. I would be going to a foreign country, not knowing a single person before hand, and I have always struggled with extreme shyness. Not a good combination, right? Everything changed in Jerusalem though. I socially became a better person. The people I met and lived with there changed my life in a way that I can't describe. I learned to just be myself and that people would like me for it. And that I have something to contribute. And that I can learn something significant from every single person I meet, even if they are different from what I would have expected. My Jerusalem family will always have a special place in my heart. No matter how much time passes.
Although there are many aspects I wish to touch on, I will wrap it up to the most important one. And it's the most important one because all of the other aspects of my life lead to my spirituality. My relationship with God and my knowledge of the gospel. I have never felt closer to the spirit than the moments that I spent in the holy land. The Lord truly showed me who I am in Jerusalem. Although it sounds cliche and cheesy, I truly found myself there. I recognized the potential that God created in me. And I took that confidence and spiritual knowledge home with me. And that is what has made all of the difference. And that is why Jerusalem changed my life. I learned who Grace is. And I learned that it's ok to have made mistakes. And that when my will aligns with God's, amazing things happen.
And so many amazing things have happened since Jerusalem. Which is why I constantly reflect on my time there. The confidence, knowledge, and spiritual strength that I gained there will be with me forever. I'm so incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to be there. My eyes filled with tears as I watched the National Geographic movie on Jerusalem. As I looked out on the city, that in a way, feels like my home. And always will. Not because it's the "holy land" or because Christ was there, or because it's just a cool thing to say, but because of the things I felt, experienced, and learned there that have forever changed me for the better.
I will return some day. If not multiple times. I want to share this experience with those nearest and dearest to me. I look forward to it.
Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem...I will never forget thee.
