When I began telling my story in 2009 (chapter 2 - A Word of Caution from a Wondering Wanderer), I wrote that the first part of my story would detail how I, as a Jewish college student wandered into Christianity (vol. 1/chap. 1-107) and subsequently wondered my way back to Judaism (vol. 2/chap 108-ff).
Realistically, I wondered as I wandered and wandered as I wondered. This is the old question about the chicken/egg: Which came first? The answer is “Yes!” Progress on the path forward takes two steps. I didn’t hop around on one foot. That would keep me off balance and bouncing around in circles, never making progress toward my goal. One step is wandering and the other step is wondering as I sought to draw closer to finding meaning and purpose for my life. In “religious” parlance, this is the “path” seeking ultimate meaning and purpose: God. The Jewish way of describing the whole process is walking the “path” (derek - דרך).
In the Fall of 2023, we had finally arrived at the goal of our journey and could actually see the Temple Mount from our balcony, less than a mile away. We were there!
Now in our mid-70s, we were “home” and we would spend the rest of our lives here. Of course, we would continue our path drawing closer to the place that God had declared to be the place of His eternal presence. Strategically, our wandering was over. We would spend our sabbatical years wondering at the splendor of the Eternal One. Tactically, we would continue our individual path one step at a time drawing closer and enraptured by The Almighty One. Israel was pregnant with meaning and purpose. We were positively overwhelmed! It was beyond explaining. It could only be experienced and we were fulfilled and thrilled beyond expression.
At first, Pegi’s trip and fall in February, 2024 (see chap 108) was literally a bump in the road, a mishap which we would overcome. After being sent home after a few days in the hospital, this “bump” suddenly developed into a life-threatening event that required 5 more weeks of hospitalization and our subsequent return to the USA for further surgery and medical treatment. But, more than that, it meant that we needed to reassess our understanding of how we would continue the “path.” This meant a serious amount of wondering ahead of us.
Over the last year, as Pegi’s physical condition improved greatly, we have had plenty of time to wonder. I was finally able to sort through enough of my thinking to begin writing last month (June 2025) and managed to finish up the last eight chapters of our African journeys that ended in 1987. And now, in this second volume, we examine and reflect upon the events from 1987 to our return from Jerusalem in 2024.
As I wrote in chapter 2:
My story will relate the challenges I faced, both theologically and experientially. If you stick with me as I narrate this journey, you will probably be challenged too. Whether you are Jewish or gentile, religious or irreligious, a faith adherent or an agnostic--you are likely to be frustrated with me. But if I am to tell my story, I have to be open with you. I hope you can remain open with me as you read.
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