I was invited to write the following commentary for The Indianapolis Star's Faith Forum column on Saturday, August 11, 2012. The positive feedback has been tremendous; I've already been told that it was discussed at length at a local Quaker meeting, and a professor at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indy will use it as required …
City-Dwelling Shepherds: Thoughts Upon Leaving Jordan
No wonder we find metaphors about shepherds and sheep all throughout the Bible—here, in Jordan and the Holy Land, they are abundant. Just drive a bit outside Amman and you’ll see little boys cleaning their sheep in the river or an old man guiding his flock across the highway. So it seemed quite appropriate with the …
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Midnight in Jerusalem (“Peeling Oranges” Series)
Jerusalem: Good Friday, and the first day of Passover. Just before midnight, beneath a full moon and the shadow of the Western Wall, pigeons and crumpled prayers snuggle between cracks in bricks. I sit nearly alone in the women’s section, except for a few Jewish ladies whose covered heads rest against the wall, their eyes …
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Kisses on Palm Sunday (“Peeling Oranges” series)
(My spring break spent in Jerusalem and Galilee provided me with many images that I hope to share through my Peeling Oranges series.) Outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, I sulk in a mix of frustration and guilt, wanting to participate in the centuries-old traditions and services that originated in this city. On Palm …
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Breathing underwater (“Peeling Oranges” series)
(The Red Sea coast along Jordan is known for its beautiful coral reefs and clear water, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snorkel for the first time in Aqaba a few weekends back.) I jump from the boat into a blue-green splash, and a taste of saltiness washes through my mouth. Gasping and …
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JORDAN DENARI DUFFNER 