Hezekiah's Tunnel

Hezekiah's Tunnel is a tunnel that was dug underneath Jerusalem before 701 BC during the reign of Hezekiah. The tunnel was designed to act as an aqueduct to provide Jerusalem with water during an impending siege by the Assyrians. The curving tunnel is 533 m long.

Yesterday, I waffled about whether to go into the tunnel or not. I found myself surprisingly somewhat worried and fearful.
• Was I claustrophobic? Will I have trouble breathing?
• Was I going to be difficult with my ACL repaired knee?
• What would happen if I freaked out half way in the tunnel?

More than half of our group decided not to go into the tunnel and so that certainly didn’t help! However, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I’ve gone spelunking before, and life is about taking risks (isn’t it?) so I jumped in! As you may have seen from my facebook pics and video, it was a blast!

Near the end of our tunnel walk, our Jewish “Indiana Jones” guide (Alan Rabinowiz) asked us to turn off all our flashlights, and to sing together Amazing Grace. The acoustics in the tunnel were amazing, and the line in the song that just jumped out at me was:
I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

We continued singing as we started walking again… but this time without any flashlights. We walked in the darkness until we saw a glimmer of light that came from the mouth of the cave exit.

I don’t know how many times in my life that I have said to someone – “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” And I don’t want to make a big deal about it, but in a small way, this walk in Hezekiah’s Tunnel was a physical expression of a spiritual truth. In the darkness of doubt, and fear, and worry… we just need to keep on walking. God, in his amazing grace, will meet us on the other side. He always will. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.