3"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank God for you because of the grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

1Corinthians 1:3-9 ( NIV )

Gethsemane is a garden near the foot of the Western slope of the Mt. of Olives.

The human race started in a garden, Jesus suffered in a garden. He was crucified in a garden and buried in a garden. Paradise and peace will be found in a garden.

In 2001 Bill and I were very blessed to be able to travel to Israel and visit the Holy Land. What an amazing journey we had. It made me realize that I need to be not a better Christian, but a more willing and open Christian. Several places will always have a special place in my heart. But most of all, the Garden at Gethsemane will be a place of wonder and beauty to me. It is surrounded by a wall and overlooks the city of Jerusalem, where there will always be a question of who is right and who is wrong. I found such an overwhelming sense of peace in myself. Why there? Why then? I have no idea, but this was an awesome experience to be able to sit and take the time to absorb what happened in this place in time and in the history of Christianity. I'm sure the Lord had his reasons.

I have had some events happen in my life when I have questioned “why Lord,” and have wondered what my walk is to be or should be. Now I have found that if I leave the worry to Christ and the wonder to the Lord, the walk is much easier and a lot more peaceful.

So now when I find myself, struggling, I close my eyes and picture the Garden at Gethsemane and find peace.

It was necessary for the Lord to be persecuted and to go away so that the Holy Spirit would take his place. Then our sinful confessions would be heard and wondrous answers to prayers would be granted.

God's love for us is amazing, so find your place of peace with yourself and your walk with the Lord.

LESLIE BERGER