Let me offer you the inspiration of a friend's ministry work. Chris Cowan, a professed member of TSSF, is an artist and friend from my Iowa days. Currently, she is doing a stint in the South Hebron Hills (West Bank) as an Ecumenical Accompanier for EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel).

A couple weeks ago, she shared her experiences of living in a militarized environment. I copy some of her post below.

It goes without saying that Jesus himself lived in such an environment, when 1st century Palestine was under Roman occupation. So it’s worth spending a few moments thinking about how it feels to experience this.

Of course, I can’t know, really know, how it feels because I have a 3 month visa and a foreign passport. I am clearly and visibly an international and am treated as such. This isn’t my country, no matter how much I love it, and I know every day that in a short time I will go back to the “land of the free”. As for being in “the home of the brave”, however, I am already there.

We were stopped by the Army yesterday as we drove to a village. And we were stopped by the Army today as we drove to a village. And also yesterday, in the Old City of Hebron, we walked past several soldiers, their guns pointed at us as we approached, because they were in the process of detaining a man in that place. We kept a wide berth between the guns and us.

When you have guns pointed in your direction, however casually, you are not free. You are not free, for instance, to openly take photographs, although you might try to take one on the sly.

When you have guns pointed in your direction, you have to do what you are told. Show your ID. Leave the road. Get out of the car. Go over there. Come with me. Wait here. Answer my questions. The conversations may even seem friendly but the guns send a different message.

When you have guns pointed at you, you feel tense, and it’s a little hard at that moment to interpret exactly what is happening.

For instance, it’s a confusing experience to be told by a soldier, while other soldiers train their rifles on you, to "be careful because it can be dangerous here". It’s an interesting experience to be told by a soldier wearing a gun that you can’t go into a place of prayer because you are wearing a peace vest. Really? Really?

This is living under occupation.

This is not the land of the free, but I am already in the home of the brave. In such an environment, continuing to be civil, continuing to be hospitable, continuing to be hopeful, continuing to be loving, continuing to rebuild, this is courage.

Today I hope to use my freedoms and to act bravely.

Please keep Chris and all those she accompanies in your prayers.

Thank You Nancy for sharing such powerful and inspired words. Your friend Chris is already - acting bravely.

We had an Occupy the Hood rally a few days ago in Roxbury. I have been sitting with thoughts of occupation. In Boston they close 18 schools in poor neighborhoods. "We don't have money!" But the city can build a new Headquarters for the police. I thought "Occupation," as ICE agents pulled a trinity of people off a Greyhound Bus, as I headed to Detroit for Chapter.

It is good to be reminded tnat there are people standing in Love among those who need living sign of hope in occupied communities across the world.

I will keep Chris in my prayers...and I will pray for peace where she is, and where we are, and everywhere hearts long for the occupation to cease and living to begin.