Derental 1687: build by Isaak Jacob & Agnes Meiers

Life is so strong and yet so vulnerable. It is always a shock to be confronted with accidents, sudden illness or death of people you know, love or have loved or only knew superficially. And we feel so powerless when the help we would want to give doesn’t work, as we didn’t want to acknowledge and discover reluctantly.

It is hard to accept that all this pain, decay and suffering - so difficult to bear - is deeply given in its undeniable connection with the lightness and beauty of life. Even in its less intense forms. We know about the short timed frailty of springtime blossoming. But we easily step over it and are already on our way to the fruit bearing summer time.

Until suddenly, one day, you lose a loved One, the Only One and have to mourn this loss. Which is always without any reason: “Why should this happen to me? Now?

Here I speak only about the vulnerability and frailty of life. Not about history, war and the facts of social and ecological injustice. But even within this self restraining frame, I do not pretend to have found any ultimate answer regarding this core existential problem. We may hope that perhaps life itself will teach us how to find our own unique way to deal with suffering, deep loss, destruction and absolute negativity. And trust that new generations will build and rebuild a Home for their Love.

Just speaking for myself, I hope that in these critical moments, I hear that silent inner voice and stay faithful.. that I have the courage to be open and prepared, compassionate in unconditional love...stay and be who you are meant to become, staying in honesty and faithfulness.

Today unexpectedly I visited a dear old acqaintance of us in the nursing home “Carolinum”. She is confused and full of unrest. She wants her beautiful life back, but is desperate in her not knowing how. I brought her a flower plant in her small bare room and kissed her hands.

Later on this morning we drove to Derental,, a nearby mediaeval village. Behind the old Church - Protestant and closed - stands this 17th century “Fachwerk Haus”, build by “Isaak Jacob & Agnes Meiers anno 1687”, as the inscription says. For this moment I want to share with you the beauty of this Home. Leaving its history of survival in a cloud of unknowing, just for now.