There are some things that just cannot be explained. Cannot be understood. No amount of curiosity, brilliance, or analytical skill will ever be a match for them. They are things that can only be walked out, lived out, or slept out, so to speak. One just has to keep walking, keep living, keep sleeping. It's not even a faith thing. There is no faith that "it will work out" or "be ok" or "it will come". Because faith has nothing to do with it. They just are. The most insecure and helpless of people physically and emotionally survive the "worst" of tragedies. The most independent collapse at the first hint shaky ground. The most generous and caring people are despised and the most cold-hearted, loved. Hopes, that are so deep that those who hold them don't even understand them, never come to pass even after years of struggle. Random ideas that occur happen with hardly a second thought. And yet, the opposite of these are true as well. We hear the stories of those who hope against hope and, after a lifetime of waiting, receive their joy. The people who go and do according to their own wishes and desires, and not those of anyone else, are happy and overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. And the aloof are left in their own misery.
What is the "rule"? There is none. Some hopes, some efforts, some actions may be more "rational" than others, but really, there is no knowing the outcome. Our best educated guesses turn out to be incorrect. Our actions that we do out of pure folly end up being the best moments of our lives. And only those who have thought their actions through survive. So in all of this, what is there to keep us from joining the Ecclesiastical writer and saying that "everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind"?
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Why I love Berlin
1. The traffic light men. Former East Germany had the now-famous "Ampelmänner", or "traffic light men". They're awesome. Hopefully a picture soon to come.
2. The beauracracy. I've already waited a whole morning to be registered with the Rathaus, and a day and a half with the transportation people. Up next is the "foreigner's office". From what I hear, that could take up to 3 days.
3. Speaking of the transportation people (the BVG)...my friend/colleague/native-German took me to get a student transportation pass. We arrived at the first place. They were still open, but wouldn't let us get in line because a co-worker was ill and they were going to shut down. We walked to the next station...which didn't have an office. Rode the S-Bahn to the next and they had closed 5 minutes before. The next day we go to a different office (after my getting lost on the way there), and found out that we needed yet another signature on an already signature-saturated paper, AND an "official" stamp. We go back to the office to get the pastor's signature - he wasn't there. So we sat and drank coffee until he got back. We went to yet a different station and it took all of 20 seconds to get my pass.
4. The phone companies. They send out a general phone bill once a month, yes? Well, if you want a detailed one, you must first pay €15. Now, if you request them on future bills, it's free. But to find out why certain charges are on a current bill, you must pay first.
5. Alles in Ordnung. We are having the front of the church painted. They started right before I got here, so I still haven't seen the altar area because it's completely covered. But, in order to have this done, not only the painters had to come for a meeting, but the electrician, the heating company, and some other people. The reason? The painters didn't want to paint by the electrical sockets. They actually moved "things" (?) around so the painters didn't have to worry about it.
6. Today I met the ambassador. From the United States to Germany. Now, one can say what they want about Bush or the administration or why various people have become ambassadors. BUT, one still can't deny that it's fun that I met him and various other diplomats from other countries.
So transition might not be the most fun time in life, but there are definitely some fun advantages to this particular one...
2. The beauracracy. I've already waited a whole morning to be registered with the Rathaus, and a day and a half with the transportation people. Up next is the "foreigner's office". From what I hear, that could take up to 3 days.
3. Speaking of the transportation people (the BVG)...my friend/colleague/native-German took me to get a student transportation pass. We arrived at the first place. They were still open, but wouldn't let us get in line because a co-worker was ill and they were going to shut down. We walked to the next station...which didn't have an office. Rode the S-Bahn to the next and they had closed 5 minutes before. The next day we go to a different office (after my getting lost on the way there), and found out that we needed yet another signature on an already signature-saturated paper, AND an "official" stamp. We go back to the office to get the pastor's signature - he wasn't there. So we sat and drank coffee until he got back. We went to yet a different station and it took all of 20 seconds to get my pass.
4. The phone companies. They send out a general phone bill once a month, yes? Well, if you want a detailed one, you must first pay €15. Now, if you request them on future bills, it's free. But to find out why certain charges are on a current bill, you must pay first.
5. Alles in Ordnung. We are having the front of the church painted. They started right before I got here, so I still haven't seen the altar area because it's completely covered. But, in order to have this done, not only the painters had to come for a meeting, but the electrician, the heating company, and some other people. The reason? The painters didn't want to paint by the electrical sockets. They actually moved "things" (?) around so the painters didn't have to worry about it.
6. Today I met the ambassador. From the United States to Germany. Now, one can say what they want about Bush or the administration or why various people have become ambassadors. BUT, one still can't deny that it's fun that I met him and various other diplomats from other countries.
So transition might not be the most fun time in life, but there are definitely some fun advantages to this particular one...
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Andere Blog
A week and a half ago, I moved to Berlin. I even registered with the local Rathaus and was told by my friend (and congregant) that I am now truly a Berliner.
Because of my work there, I have started another blog that will be specifically for writing about my experiences in ministry there. I will continue with this blog as a place to write about life observations and thoughts. But if you are interested in keeping up with the thoughts of internship, the other blog is Warte für die Ampelmänner.
And by the way, Berlin has more than enough coffee shops to satisfy me. They're not open either early or late, which is unfortunate, but they are there nonetheless. So there will be many chances to meet seriously fascinating people. :)
Because of my work there, I have started another blog that will be specifically for writing about my experiences in ministry there. I will continue with this blog as a place to write about life observations and thoughts. But if you are interested in keeping up with the thoughts of internship, the other blog is Warte für die Ampelmänner.
And by the way, Berlin has more than enough coffee shops to satisfy me. They're not open either early or late, which is unfortunate, but they are there nonetheless. So there will be many chances to meet seriously fascinating people. :)
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