Of Monkeys and Men…

The morning sun peeked its golden head over the Mt. of Olives just as we pulled into Jerusalem. We have been gone only a week, but experienced so much life that it seems like a month. Not letting the Middle Eastern sand get hot beneath our feet, we are off to Europe in a few short weeks.

But back to the morning… The glorious early light shone on the Arab village of Silwan, and it stirred my heart to prayer for peace for this ancient place.

I love the twilight moments of dawn–gray sky with tinges of ethereal rose and gold… the Holy City on the verge of breaking into a “full court press” for another 24 hour cycle. And I love the quasi-home this space, full of prediction and contradiction, has become for my hubby and me–transient wayfarers that we are, always seeking a city whose builder and maker is God.

My post today is “Of Monkeys and Men.” In Ethiopia, we experienced the best of times and the worst of times… We chased monkeys, reached out to the poor, and offered prayers for the redemption of Israel and all mankind. That kind of poverty and spiritual need deeply influences the issues of personal life, choices, and destiny. Here’s a bird’s-eye-view of the past week.

I named her Tiffany. She posed for me, because she’s a little stuck on herself–so pretty and loves to have her picture taken. Tiff was the only monkey that behaved the whole time we were there!

This is Curious George. He stopped for only a twinkle to check me out, but he wasn’t into letting me adjust the lighting for my camera… oh no, he had bananas to conquer… or enjira (the local bread) to beg…

This is Sammy, short for Samantha. She is the cousin of Curious George and is usually the ringleader of the monkey’s mayhem. Here Sammy is just looking for trouble… or that infamous barrel created for just monkeys. Sammy likes to keep things stirred up in the Ethiopian jungle.

This is Patrick, and he’s on the run–in trouble with the Primate Police for stealing… imagine that! Therefore, he only allowed me to photograph his silhouette from a distance. He is pleading “not guilty.”

This is Marcia, Marcia Monkey. Don’t you just want to pull her white tufts of fur? Marcia, Marcia Monkey wouldn’t like that.

So much for the monkeys… here’s the men. I don’t know their names, but the Friend, who sticks closer than a brother, whose right arm of salvation has been revealed in strength to Israel, knows each one…