Dead Sea

The drive to the Dead Sea seemed like driving through some of the deserts of California.  Except there are no camels in California.  The Dead Sea is 1,200 feet below sea level, that is the surface of the water.  The sea is another 1,200 feet deep.  At this elevation (or lack of), the sun's rays are also not as potent.  The sea is 40% salt, so "diving" into it is not recommended. We were given instructions on the bus to wear no jewelry, don't splash, don't put your head underneath the water, if you do wash your eyes with "sweet" water immediately, and of course have fun.

Qumran and the Dead Sea

The sun was warm but not as scorching as I would expect it to be in the desert.  I would sit up in the water and float vertically, not even needing to tread water.  Even though I couldn't touch the bottom, all I needed to do was gently paddle my arms to move from one location to another. And if I waved my hands in the water I would gentle bob up and down.  It was really cool!

We all made our way to shallower waters and began spreading the famous healing mud all over our bodies.  I have no pictures on my camera of this, but our photographer will have one of me nearly completely covered in mud.  As it dried I could literally feel the salt and minerals pulling impurities out from my skin - a really weird sensation.

At the Dead Sea

After showering and dressing we made our way to Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  The short version of how the scrolls came to be there and discovered:  The Essenes were a group of Jewish monks who lived in the Judean desert. They led an austere lifestyle, sharing all their property.  They purified themselves, practiced mystical rituals and wrote the scrolls.  In the winter of 1947 before Israel was a state, Bedouin sheep herders were tending their flocks in the mountains of this area.  One sheep happened to run into a cave.  Searching for the sheep, the herders threw a stone into a cave and it made a strange sound.  When they were able to enter the cave, they discovered a row of cylindrical jars. In them were scrolls, which at first the Bedouin thought were just leather for making sandals.  After the discovery of more scrolls in other caves, excavation of the entire area began and the Essenes living quarters, ritual rooms, kitchens, pottery and other artifacts were discovered and are still being unearthed today.

valley where the Essenes lived and wrote the Dead Sea scrolls

As we prepared to explore the excavated area where these men prayed and wrote and left amazing gifts for us today, we received a teaching and meditated:  "Imagine you were alive thousands of years ago. You lived here and wrote on scrolls, knowing that later you would discover these writings and they would be exactly the worlds you need to here when you read them.  Now picture yourself today, discovering the scrolls.  You unroll them.  What do they say on them?"  Mine said:
  - All light is nearer to the heart
  - Purposeful steps
  - Maintain a silent heart
  - Coming home is here and hear
  - Plant seeds of hope with every breath
  - Offer everything, receive everything
  - Every eye holds a tear
  - Make not hardness in what should be soft, and softness in what should be hard
  - Every seed must be watered
  - Serve God
  - Be Joy

What is written on your scroll?