Living here on the rooftop of an amazing building near the New Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, I see the beauty and hear the sounds of an ancient yet modern city. Cultural and religious traditions and rituals fill my day. Bells from churches nearby ring out on the hour. The sounds of the prayer call from the Al Aqsa Mosque, not so far away, are also heard five times a day. 

When I peer over the balcony of my apartment, I see Orthodox Jews walking toward the Western Wall, about half a kilometer away. I frequently see Franciscan priests walking from the Terra Sancta Monastery and Museum, located down a narrow driveway inside the Gate. They are walking toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Looking toward the west, I can see the black dome of this ancient church from my rooftop.  As scripture says, Jerusalem is a city compact together.  To some people, the views may seem dry, crowded, and possibly uninspiring, but when understanding the history of this city as well as its future, there is nothing uninspiring about this place, only layers and layers of life.