Why am I going on this trip?

Just like the conflict, this question has many different levels. (Being an out-of-work pastor at the moment, you can forget about getting a simple answer to a simple question. If you need the quick answer, here you go: the timing was right and I’m a sucker for fresh olives.)

1) The first level is about my sense of purpose. My faith tells me that my purpose is not found in my athletic ability, bank account, video game skills, political power, or number of children. Having a building named after me on a college campus is no more important in the grand scheme of things than my uncontrollable dominance at the Atari game Frogger. (This is not an exaggeration. I was the Frogger master of the entire sixth grade class. My dominance was legendary.)
No. My faith tells me that my purpose comes from responding to the unique call of God on my life. It may be to give a kind word to someone at a certain time, or to work together with difficult people, or to NOT work together by standing up against unjust laws, or something completely different. It all stems from an unpredictable, seemingly irrational man from the middle east, who responded to God’s call by eating together with outcasts and priests alike, giving hope to the hurting, calling the religious self-righteous to account, challenging legalism, loving the “enemies,” and eventually getting executed in an apparent display of utter weakness. While we spend our days creating different ways to rank ourselves – trying to prove ourselves “better than” or “worse than” others (depending on whether you fancy yourself a hero or a martyr), the example of this man testifies that none of it makes a hill of beans difference if it’s not initiated by the Spirit of love. So drop the ranking system and listen for the new thing God wants to create through you.
God’s call is unique to every person, because every situation is completely unique. But you can count on one commonality: we are always called to love beyond our current capacity. We must love that person we hate. Does somebody offend you? Really get under your skin? Yeah, that’s probably God’s call to love them. Annoying but true. It usually requires overcoming fear, too, and often yields fruits of joy and peace, though it may take a while to get there.
So this is the first level answer to the question: I am going because my life’s purpose is wrapped up in God’s purpose, and I feel an indescribable, irrational sense of calling to take this step. Not to go “fix” or “save” anybody, but to go there, be present with the conflict, pray like mad, and await further orders.

2) The second level answer relates to the short-term response to the conflict. There’s a lot of pain over there; deep, long-lasting pain. Emotional pain is typically the most difficult to endure, but physical pain and economic hardship only make it worse. If my presence can possibly provide any comfort to those who find themselves stuck between Palestinian factions on the one hand and Israeli military occupation on the other, with its unequal system of laws and rights, that’s what I want to offer. Sometimes, just like with a grieving friend, being present with them in their pain and saying, “Yeah, this sucks, and I’m sorry,” helps them know they’re not alone. If my presence can also help bring accountability and self-consciousness to situations of violence, and thereby lower the tension level and avoid a violent clash, then all the better.

3) The third level answer reaches into the long-term response to the conflict. Whether we like it or not, we U.S. citizens have a huge role in this here board game. We are the banker, which gives us a lot of influence. While our foreign policy toward Israel is not the only factor in an eventual solution, it’s a big one that could realistically mean the difference between a conflict moving in the direction of dialogue, accountability, and peace, or in the direction of apartheid and Armageddon.
Our cross-country bike trip last year affirmed for me in a new way that the people of the U.S. are good. We met so many wonderful, hospitable, charitable people, it’s hard to doubt that the majority of Americans would not want our country to support justice and freedom in this situation. If there are other folks anything like me, they haven’t had an understanding of the conflict beyond “these guys hate those guys and they’ve been killing each other since biblical times.” Therefore, why would I know anything or care about U.S. aid to the area? In my preparation for this trip, I’ve learned that the conflict does indeed have some important details, some solvable elements, and a possibility for resolution. I hope that adding one more first-hand experience to our conversation here in the U.S. will help bring us closer to a foreign policy that pushes for a real, lasting, and just peace for everyone involved.

4) The fourth level answer is personal. There comes a time in any endeavor, be it a relationship, a career, a sport, or a faith journey, when you have to take a risk. It just seems to be part of the formula. Every great politician, successful businessperson, great pillar of the faith, and even every Dukes of Hazard episode faced some moment of crisis, where success was lying just out of reach, requiring a risk be taken; a leap of faith.
I don’t dare equate this little jaunt into Israel / Palestine with my grandfather’s leap of faith, a WWII flying ace sent on a suicide mission from Guadalcanal where his chances of returning were far below 50/50. (He did return, by the way.) Nor does it measure up to the risks of early Anabaptists, who lost their lives for their faith. No, I see this as one more little practice leap. Just one in a long series, starting with that risky first step away from the coffee table, then that risky phone call to Crystal Sawyer in ninth grade asking her out (she said no), a risky move away from home to Montana, a risky proposal to Brooke (she said yes), and a risky move out of the business world into pastoring. I think this is how God prepares us for the big risks. Like children. My hat’s off to everyone who’s taken that leap.
In my own journey, I feel I’ve studied and talked and read enough, and the time has come to put up or shut up. I say that I believe Jesus’ way of peace is the way to solve conflicts, now it’s time to put some money where my proverbial mouth is. I must start walking that walk, and traveling into a militarily occupied territory is the risk that I have to face.
My plan, of course, is to remain in denial as long as possible – hopefully until I board the plane. Then the shock of my upcoming mission can all descend upon me at once, I can get a little woozy, take some Tums, and get it all out of my system in a relatively short period of time. I am succeeding in this by putting off my packing until the very last minute. I’ll let you know how that works out.

Trip Update - Three Weeks Before

Hello friends,

With only three weeks before I fly out to Israel/Palestine, I wanted
to update y'all on a few details before cramming myself into the
airplane.

First of all, I now have an online "blog" for this trip. A
computer-savvy friend of mine (ten years younger, of course)
recommended it, and apparently the technology has "dumbed itself down"
to a level that someone like me can use it. I plan to post any
pictures straight to that page (assuming the digital camera cooperates
with computers over there – anybody know if there's a patron saint of
technology that I could carry with me for luck?) I've also posted a
couple of articles there about pre-trip lessons and good sources of
info on the conflict. I hope to add one or two more articles and some
web links before leaving. Here's the address:
www.johnstonontheweb.blogspot.com

Secondly, I've been really encouraged by all the support. So many
people have sent along good wishes, prayers, advice, and information.
I never would have guessed how closely connected we are to that part
of the world. The number of people who have lived there, visited the
holy sites, those who have friends or family in the area, or have
other ties to the region has surprised me – the connections really
come out of the woodwork when you start asking around. It leaves me
wondering how I could have remained so clueless about the situation
for so long? The answer, of course, is the medical condition known as
Selective Hearing Syndrome, where one only hears information that may
affect my weekend plans or that supports my point of view. Now that
my wife is a doctor, she has been instrumental in officially
diagnosing me with this syndrome. I think she also prescribed a
rigorous treatment plan with very explicit steps, but I can't quite
recall what they were.

Also, a big thanks to everyone who donated to the trip expenses. I'm
honored you would trust me with your hard-earned money (or for those
in medical training, your hard-earned debt) and I promise to be frugal
and thrifty in every area except dessert. And a special thanks to the
First Baptist Church in Salt Lake, who will be my home congregation
for the trip. They have been eager to support me in many ways, even
though we are still getting to know one another. I hope to be
faithful with everyone's support and to represent accurately the light
and life I have seen.

The weeks are moving quickly, and I hope to finish preparing in time.
For the politics, I'm still trying to read as much as possible. Looks
like the current Prime Minister may be in trouble politically - Ehud
Olmert has lost his support because of his handling of the Lebanon War
last year. It could make for a lot of question marks during our trip.
For the enthusiastic anger and tension that we will certainly
encounter, I've been listening to talk radio - just a little bit at a
time so that I get used to it. For the intense Middle-Eastern sun,
I'm discovering that my hair conveniently expands outward as it grows,
creating a natural parasol. Looks ridiculous but my neck won't burn.
Otherwise, I think it's all coming together. If all goes well, I'll
send my next note from some Holy computer in the Holy Land.

Peace to you,
Andy

Top 5 Pre-Trip Lessons, plus "McFalafel"

Top Five Things I’ve Learned About the Conflict from Pre-Trip Research

1) The conflict is NOT "so complicated that it will never be solved."

Most people (like yours truly) have always believed that the politics in the Middle East are so complex that there can never be a solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict. Not true. The situation is very complicated and the history is very complicated, but the political solutions seem to be fairly straight-forward. Neither side is disputing that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, and are a primary impediment to any peace process. Neither side is disputing that the security fence / separation wall being built by Israel within the West Bank is illegal under international law, since it is not being placed on the original border between Israel and Palestine, but instead snakes through the territory enclosing water sources and Palestinians' lands. Neither side is disputing that killing civilians through military strikes or terrorist bombings is illegal under international law, as well as disrupting the peace process. Neither side is disputing that the state of Israel is here to stay, and will not be "driven into the sea" as some Arab leaders have claimed over the years.

Why then is the situation seen as too complex to solve? Good question. There are indeed some difficult matters to solve, such as the "Right of Return" for Arab refugees. Over 750,000 Arabs were displaced from their homes in Israel during the 1967 war. If they are allowed to return (as required by international law) then Jews will no longer be a majority in Israel. They would then have to choose between being a "democracy" or a "Jewish State." But I think there might also be other reasons we have come to see it as unsolvably complex. Maybe because peace is taking so long, “complexity” is a good excuse to throw in the proverbial towel and stop working for it. Maybe because those who are profiting from the conflict don’t want us to see the simple steps to peace. Maybe because it’s easier to say the solution is “complex” instead of “difficult,” because then people might start expecting real movement toward a just solution.

2) There are some who profit from the continuing conflict.

a. Hate groups – those who have built their reputation around having a common enemy. It’s amazing how you can galvanize support and allegiance for your organization if you have an enemy you can all hate together. What would Bill O’Reilly and the whole talk radio industry do if conservatives and liberals stopped being angry at one another? Both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have their share of hate groups. Anwar Sadat of Egypt was killed by a Muslim radical because he negotiated with Israel at Camp David. Yitzhak Rabin of Israel was assassinated by a Jewish student for his work toward peace with the Arabs. The very existence and power of many of these groups / religious factions depends upon the conflict.

b. Arms dealers – Lots and lots and lots of money to be made in the killin business. The $2,760,000,000 given to Israel by the U.S. each year is over 60% military. That makes for quite a shopping spree. And be sure that surrounding Arab countries are buying in bulk as well.

c. Media organizations – I know some reporters, and they have no interest at all in continuing any armed conflict. On the organizational level, however, when profit becomes most important, the headlines are typically focused on the violence. Conflict sells. If it bleeds, it leads. The result is that the public who relies on large media outlets never sees the important work of peacemakers. They see only the bombings, the retaliations, the attacks. Instead of an in-depth analysis, we get a shouting match. It’s more entertaining that way, and therefore more profitable. Just ask Jerry Springer.

d. Politicians – Arab politicians have been accused of using the conflict to build support and distract citizens from poor domestic policies. Israeli politicians have been accused of using similar tactics to support settlements, confiscate Palestinian land, and grab more power in the name of security. U.S. politicians know there is a powerful and wealthy pro-Israeli lobby in Washington, and taking steps toward a just peace would have big consequences for them back home (this includes both Democrats and Republicans).

e. Shaaban Abdel-Rehim. He's an Egyptian pop star whose 2002 hit song, "I Hate Israel" sold more copies than any other song in the country's history. He was signed up to introduce McDonald's new line of "McFalafel" when a complaint by the American Jewish Committee made the "restaurant" chain reconsider, and they dropped his contract. Friends, none of this is a joke! (On further reflection, I feel it's more accurate to say, "All these facts are correct - this really happened." It may indeed be a joke.) The world only narrowly missed seeing this Shaaban character bopping around during Saturday morning cartoons with Grimace and the Hamburglar in Ronald McDonald's latest 60-second brainwash. Honestly, I don't know what scares me more about this newsbite: the vision of that commercial or "McFalafel."

3) The path to peace REQUIRES us to avoid simply “choosing up sides.”

As soon as we select who we think are the “good guys” and who are the “bad guys,” we are forced to defend our choice at all costs. We have to ignore obvious errors and atrocities by the “good guys.” This also allows us to simply point out the errors of the “other” side to justify our allegiance. “If I can show that they are wrong, then we must be right.” This mindset blocks any critical look at history; it all becomes a sales pitch for our team. We sell out our critical thinking and become just another "party-liner" who never has to take the time and effort to really listen.

4) Information is vital to this conflict.

All parties to the struggle have come to recognize the importance of public opinion - we live in an age where the power of the media is at least as powerful as the gun, and everyone knows it. It seems there are people within each party who scrutinize every single scrap of information that comes out. If the info seems damaging to their cause, they will work quickly and efficiently - discrediting, counter-attacking, embarrassing, distracting, name-calling, whatever works. Yes, I'm still talking about Israel/Palestine here. (AND U.S. politics - motto: Deny everything! They might just believe it this time.)

However, I believe that every movement has within it a certain percentage of people who are more dedicated to the truth and the welfare of others than to "winning" their cause. When enough of these people start asking questions, or converse with the opposition, or get into power, or hold their leaders accountable, or are released from political prisons, or wear bullet-proof vests, then we can make some real progress. That's when we see peace and democracy in action.

5) The majority of people “on the street” want peace.

The majority of Israeli citizens seem to have no interest in maintaining the settlements and occupied territories if it means more bloodshed – they want safety for their children. The word from Palestinians is overwhelmingly “For heaven’s sake, why must our lives be constantly plagued by checkpoints, searches, unequal treatment under the law, road closures, curfews, embarrassment, loss of water rights, attacks from settlers, and confiscation of our land?” People there are much like people here, in that they want a chance to support their families, live in safety, have a home and a future. Of course, I have yet to experience this in person. We'll see how all this holds up to a first-hand view.

Info Sources

Bibliography:

Below are some sources I consulted for info about the conflict. I’ll give a couple of recommendations for those interested in learning more on their own. For a specifically Christian point-of-view, I recommend the MCC publication, “What is Palestine/Israel?” It gives perspectives from Mennonite workers who have been in the area for years building relationships. It’s simple to use for a Sunday School or youth session, and it’s available from the Mennonite Publishing Network: www.mph.org/hp/books/whatisPalestineIsrael.htm

If you find it easier to read a story-based book, I recommend “The Lemon Tree” by Sandy Tolan. It avoids simplifying the issue and is quite easy to read. It tells the story of a friendship between an Arab and a Jew in Israel, and gives enough background to get an idea about the overall conflict. Pretty long, but worth it.

Another really simple place to begin would be the youth section of the library. I found a book, "Understanding the Holy Land" by Mitch Frank. It's written for youth, but that's just about the right level for a tenderfoot like me. It helped me get a basic overview of the situation historically and politically.

Jimmy Carter’s book provides a unique viewpoint – hearing him discuss the political leaders from his personal interactions with them is powerful. I have a lot of respect for Carter after working for Habitat for Humanity, and then seeing the Carter Center’s work in Atlanta.

For a great movie, watch “Promises.” It’s a documentary interviewing Arab and Israeli children talking about the conflict. It’s fun to watch and painful at the same time. I just fell in love with these kids.


Books

Jimmy Carter, Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid, Simon & Schuster, NY 2006.
Alan Derschowitz, The Case for Peace, John Wiley, NJ 2005.
Israel Shahak, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Baruch Spinoza Press, NY 1994.
Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, Hizbu’llah, Politics & Religion, Pluto Press, VA 2002.
Ian Bickerton & Carla Klausner, A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Prentice Hall, NJ 2002.
Sonia Weaver, What is Palestine/Israel? Answers to Common Questions, Mennonite Central Committee, PA 2004.
Karen Armstrong, Islam, A Short History, Modern Library, NY 2000.
Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree; An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, Bloomsbury, NY 2006.
Edward Said, Covering Islam; How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World, Vintage Books, NY 1997.
Mitch Frank, Understanding the Holy Land, Viking, NY 2005.


Lectures/Classes
Norman Finkelstien lecture “What Americans Need to Know About Israel-Palestine,” University of Utah, 4/18/2007.
World Religions class, Dr. Terry Muck, Salt Lake Theological Seminary, Spring 2007.


Media Outlets - I checked both of these media outlets daily since March.
The Jerusalem Post online.
BBC online.


Newsletters
Corner Stone, the newsletter of Sabeel.
Getting in the Way, newsletter of CPT.


Movies
Promises, Justin Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and Carlos Bolado, New Yorker Video 2001/2004.

New Adventure Update - no bikes this time

Hello friends,

Some of you we've recently met here in Utah, some followed us on email
through our bicycle trip last year, and some are just stuck with us by
being related. I hope this finds you well.

Last year at this time, Brooke and I were frantically preparing for
our Virginia-to-California bicycle trip by eating lots of ice cream
and foregoing any sort of physical exercise. For those of you who
followed us via email along the way, it was encouraging and fun to
know that our friends all over the country were keeping tabs on our
adventure.

In the nine months since we joyfully dipped our bikes in the corrosive
Pacific Ocean, Brooke has spent lots of time bringing home the bacon
as a medical resident (so called because they spend more time residing
at the hospital than at home), and I have been tending to the house.
We have found ourselves involved with a small group of Mennonites and
attending the local First Baptist Church and the Church of the Risen
Christ, and I have spent time working with the local Ten Thousand
Villages store and an anti-poverty ministry called Crossroads Urban
Center. I also discovered a lot of pent-up snowboarding energy that I
had bottled up deep down inside during my years in Georgia. I have
been learning to express that energy in healthy ways here at the Salt
Lake ski slopes. I feel much better now.

But since springtime is here, I suppose it must be time for a new adventure.

On May 29, as Brooke begins her cardiology rotation at the hospital, I
will be flying into Tel Aviv for a two-week delegation to Israel and
Palestine. I will be there with an organization called Christian
Peacemaker Teams (CPT). CPT was started about 20 years ago as a joint
project of Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers, and now has broader
ecumenical support. It was basically the response to a question,
"What does it look like when Christians are as devoted to promoting
Christ's peace as worldly powers are to promoting war?"

During the delegation, we will meet with Israeli groups and
Palestinian groups working toward peaceful solutions to the conflict,
as well as spending time on the streets of Hebron. Since I happened
to be born in the United States, I have some influence in the world's
most powerful and wealthy government through voting, lobbying, and
advocacy. Therefore, by learning first-hand about the conflicts in
Israel and educating my fellow U.S. citizens, the opportunity is there
to have a positive impact on the lives of many. Also, just like the
apostle Paul's Roman citizenship was valuable in his ministry, a U.S.
citizen with a camera can help reduce violence when tensions arise
between Palestinians and Israelis. Therefore, I'm looking for two
main outcomes of this trip: 1) to see first-hand how God is working in
the most difficult situations – even ones we might think of as
hopeless, and 2) to see if there's any way God might want to use me –
whether to provide encouragement for those who are suffering, to let
everyone know that the world is watching, or to share my experiences
with my fellow U.S. citizens upon returning.

To sum it up, I feel like I have been given an extraordinary gift: a
faith that love really does triumph in the end. I have learned it
from many places: from the steady, day-to-day, in-the-trenches love of
my southern family, from a thoughtful and resilient spouse, from all
the welcoming and trusting people we met along our bicycle trip, from
countless mentors and teachers, from saints and writers in the
Christian tradition, from the nonviolent political movements in South
Africa, India and Atlanta, and of course from the gospel story itself.
Unless true, self-giving love is injected into a situation – either a
personal relationship or a world conflict – you haven't really changed
anything; you've just shifted around the pieces. I hope to carry this
faith along with me (probably need to be checked on the airplane along
with my toothpaste) and be one more voice calling for a true, lasting
peace.

Having said all that big-picture stuff, I'm also really interested in
finding some good baklava, and I hear you just can't beat that
Jerusalem hummus. Who knows - I may end up being scared witless by
all the Hebrew and Arabic and separation walls and stones and guns and
find myself retreating to the corner of some kosher deli somewhere and
eating falafel. Maybe all I'll get from this is a sunburn. Only one
way to find out, I suppose.

Between now and May 29, I'll be doing as much research on the
situation as possible. I just finished a book meant for 12-year-olds,
and I feel like I've increased my knowledge of the Middle East by
about 150%. If anyone has resources to recommend, or wants to discuss
any part of this trip, please let me know. I'm very interested in
having these conversations. I want to be as well-prepared as possible
before leaving. Plus, a big reason I'm going is to learn – feel free
to ask me if you have questions about the situation and I'll try to
investigate them while I'm there.

Any and all prayers and good thoughts are welcomed. If any of you
would like to contribute any money to the trip, I do need to raise
about $2200. That will cover airfare, food, and lodging for the
entire time. Any donations are tax-deductible, and you can send them
to:

CPT
PO Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60680.

Make any checks payable to CPT, along with a note saying something
like, "Please accept this donation to Christian Peacemaker Teams. I
am aware that Andy Johnston will be volunteering and I wish to support
this ministry."

Honestly, that's really not a lot of money to raise, so please don't
feel that social obligation to send something. Really. Especially
you folks we've just met. If for some reason I don't raise enough, I
can have a bake sale. I make a mean chocolate-surprise pie.

I plan to send out a couple of updates via email before leaving, and
then a trip report upon returning. If you know of anyone I should add
to the list, let me know. I also understand if you don't want to get
these updates – this can be a very difficult topic to discuss – just
let me know and I'll be glad to remove your name from the email list.

Also, the invitation is still open for guests to our little Salt Lake
valley! For all those back on the east coast, be sure to keep us in
mind for vacation plans – Utah is one of the most spectacular places
on earth. Plus, the best pizza in town just happens to be right
across the street.

God's peace to you,

Andy (and Brooke) Johnston