“Ah! My nose! Why is it burning?!” I shrieked after a mere three minutes floating in the Dead Sea off the coast of Jordan.
For months I had seen these beautiful pictures of tourists calmly floating in the Dead Sea, known for its high salinity that allows you to effortlessly float on the surface. Well, like most things in Jordan, it wasn’t anything like I had expected, and it definitely was not effortless. The waves of the sea were high and strong during our visit, making for a challenging abdominal workout and a fun fight to keep the water from touching your face. I, unfortunately, lost both the abdominal challenge and the fight to keep water out of my face when I got washed over by a wave and rubbed my nose. Big oops. I don’t think I have ever been able to feel the inside of my nose so…vividly.
Thankfully, the Dead Sea has many fun qualities that don’t involve ab workouts and burning your facial features. Many tourists and locals spend most of their time on the shore, rubbing the mud from the sea all over their faces, hair, and bodies. I was skeptical because it’s one of the worst smells in the world, but after 15 minutes covered in mud, my skin has never been so soft and plump. The Dead Sea contains many essential minerals and salts and has amazing benefits for your skin and hair.
Per the wise words of Miley Cyrus, we know that often in life it’s not about the destination but the journey we take getting there–the climb. On our trek to the Dead Sea, we stopped by the Jordanian River, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
The experience was overwhelming and a sensation I have never before felt. As Christians, we are often called to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Never could I have imagined what it would feel like to take such a calling literally; to walk where Jesus walked, to smell the same smells He inhaled, to see the same terrain He crossed, and to touch the water that once surrounded Him, is surreal in every sense of the word.
One of the biggest learning curves I have faced has been learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict has a complex religious, cultural, and political history that has displaced and hurt millions of people in the Middle East, specifically in Israel and the West Bank. After decades of human rights violations by Israel and a constant fight for statehood by the Palestinian people, Israel and Palestine remain harshly divided. But on the Jordan River, they stand 30 feet away from each other, watching in harmony as people from both Jordan and Israel approach the Baptism site seeking faith, forgiveness, and connection with Jesus.
Traveling to the baptism site was one of those pinnacle personal growth moments for me. It confirmed something I had hoped and suspected for a long time. All over the world we’re divided and segregated by our differences. Our religions, our cultures, our infrastructures, and our geography create a false illusion of difference and division–and our fear as a result of these illusions convinces us that we’re better off apart. But, when we set our fear aside, challenge it, and approach each other with curiosity and compassion, instead of fear, peace is possible. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. How do I know this? Because we were able to come together at the water–and that’s as good a first step as any.