29.12.2009 Holiday time

Going on holidays.. always an exciting thing to do, but there is also that another side to it: making the effort really to stop working, to leave work behind, to pack bags and to prepare for the journey. For me, going on holidays always have three phases: the planing one, where I am excited to go, the days beforehand, where I am sure that it is really not the right time to leave – and then finally the time after arrival where I do enjoy myself and can relax. And at the end I feel that it could really be a little bit longer..

I am in the second stage in the moment, having to leave tomorrow for two weeks of relaxation – still have to pack and find my passports and all the rest of the documentation, but there is still a night to get it all done. Sleeping can be done in the plane.

I am also aware that the concept of real leisure holidays is not a worldwide concept. When I tried to get this concept to my adopted son some years ago, he was indeed looking at me in a strange way. The idea of longer travel to explore or doing nothing seemed to be a funny one.  I for myself know that travel really gives you knowledge and shows, how divers one can look even at certain values. We European tend to think, that everybody must see it always the same way like we do, but I guess not only we Europeans have this error of judgement..

Well, tomorrow eve I will be in the air not able to blog – therefore already now a Happy New Year to all and everybody reading this blog. May 2010 be full of joy and blessings.

Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized , holiday

28.12.2009 Execution looming….

“It’s entirely inappropriate that he be put to death, we’ve made 27 representations over the last two years… and even at this late stage I hope they will see that in a modern world it is not appropriate to put a man with mental illness to death.”, says Foreign Office minister Ivan Lewis according to BBC on the case of Akmal Shaik, who is due to be executed tomorrow morning in China.

For me it is entirely inappropriate to put anyone to death – not only the mentally ill ones. The death penalty shows such a disrespect towards human life and the creation of God that it is completely incompatible with Christian values or believe system. Who takes a life – takes a human being in the likeness of God. It is indeed that simple. And the wrongdoing of one person does not excuse the wrongdoing as a reciprocal action. Vengeance is non of the names of God and those supporting these kind of actions have not understood what unconditional love means. I am aware that unconditional love is difficult for most people, but it remains true: every execution means a freely chosen insult towards God.

All criticism towards church can never deny, that this is one of the strength of this very church: to make aware that the sanctity of life is not something, that can be taken away by any court or any person’s decision. So the intentional state sponsored murder of persons to satisfy the feeling for revenge from relatives of a murder victim is like supporting a devils circle – no revenge can make good what has been lost and the meaning of penalty is not revenge but changing a person. At least in the civilised world.

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized , akmal shaik, china, death penalty, execution, God, insult, penal system, penalty

27.12.2009 Feast of the Holy Family

How many families are destroyed through HIV and AIDS? How many families are broken because it did not work out any more? How many kids are growing up with one parent or even no one?
The feast of the Holy Family seems to be put onto this scenario the three persons Mary, Joseph and Jesus – most times found with halos and an ideal of family life. I am not so sure, so this morning, I tried to look at the Holy Family a bit differently to bring them closer to my audience. What did I see?

A girl getting pregnant before marriage – Father unknown. A baby boy in a stable – very unstable circumstances of birth. A son running away from his parents during a trip to Jerusalem, a young adult without a proper income, en route with some other runaways and some women, who, according to one gospel, support Jesus. I do see a Mum standing under the cross of her son, being sentenced as a normal criminal. And I am seeing a husband, who is disappearing during the family story without any further note..

Does that sound like a realistic family? Yeap, I do think so – and what makes this family holy is not all the unrealistic things attributed to them but that throughout the family history, Mary never lost hope; it is the message, that whatever happens to a family, one should never lose hope that things are coming right again at the end.

I am not sure how things are coming right again at the end when a family is broken up completely, or parents are lost at an early stage – human understanding cannot give any reasoning. But I belive that there is a bigger picture, which does not take away the pain and the suffering, but that brings together all the ends at the end. Somehow… Let’s hope.

Filed under: Church Matters, Networking, Reflection, theology , Aids, christmas, criminal, Crucification, family, father, Feast Holy Family, hiv, jesus, Joseph, Mary, mother, parents, pregnancy

26.12.2009 Construction work and St. Stephens Day

Sometimes one feels that the tolerance of South Africans go into the wrong direction. I woke this morning up to the noise of heavy hammers – the neighbour, reconstructing his house since months (and years) now seems to have the urgent need to get ready – even working over “The Day of Goodwill”. That was too much for my goodwill – and after some noisy arguments they stopped working for the day. At least I want to have the two Christmas Days in peace and quietness. The guy who ordered the construction was not available – seemingly did not want to be disturbed during the Christmas period … Now there is peace also in our neighbourhood again.
What a start into St. Stephen’s Day – the day of the patron of my name. He was the first martyr – and sometimes it seems to me, that even within the church some people see it as a good tradition to throw stones at others. Specially those sitting themselves in a glass house. Well, humans remain humans, even if they are Christians. This is always good to remember.
For me the St. Stephen’s Day is a reminder that we have to stick to our principles, even if the world around us turns around and sees it differently. There are convictions which should never be overturned – they remain the pillar of one’s life construction – and they turn to be the cause of life destruction if one let them slip and go. The crib and the martyr – more clear nobody can show how close joy and tragedy are lying together in everybody’s life. And when we tomorrow celebrate the feast of the Holy Family – it is the same pattern – the joy of the birth of the baby boy and the tragedy of the mother standing under a cross – two extremes are meeting in one families life. A realistic view – as we all experience the same in our lives. God’s solidarity with human mankind is complete.

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized , conviction, martyr Christian, St. Stephen

25.12.2009 Pope knocked down….

Filed under: Uncategorized , Benedict XVI, christmas

24.12.2009 Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2009: The noise of the construction side next to my cottage has ceased – since month the first day without noise – what a relief. The sun is shining and my cellphone is giving its characteristic “sms beep” again and again – all the good Christmas wishes are coming in – even the email box is full of well wishers. The coming services are prepared – and it feels like time and hectic is calming down for a moment.

Christmas Eve – traditionally in Germany the most important family event and as parents preparing the last necessities for their kids, I will now close down my office and enjoy a Christmas Eve with friends. I must admit that I am not a real Christmas person – too much sentiments are not my cup of tea on this day. I cherish my memories of a winterly Christmas time in Germany but I must say that I enjoy a sunny Christmas the same way if not even more. Sun, laughter, kids at the poolside, braai: doesn’t that sound like a real birthday bash?

We celebrate the coming of God into the world – and we proclaim us brothers and sisters in Christ, sons and daughters of God. But looking around, watching the news, experiencing it in my own environment: Do we have drawn any consequences out of this event? Is mankind better in dealing with each other? Do we see our sisters, our brother in the person next to us? According to statistics the most poor people in this world living in Africa have become more poor in the last two decades. All the progress, all the donations have done virtually nothing to change the world as a whole. Millions dying of hunger in the developing countries while others live and digest more than it is healthy. The funny conference in Copenhagen – has it shown that those having benefited since years from climate change, are now really looking towards the lives of their brothers and sisters when they propose targets to stop this change in nature. Or do they, like always, just offer money – the rich ones can always bail themselves out,it seems.

Christmas – we celebrating the coming of God into our world – and we proclaim us brothers and sisters in Christ, sons and daughters of God. On this day we also should look and acknowledge all those, who take these titles serious and try to act on that – sometimes against the will of a state or a church. People, who are really take it on – day by day – to fulfill the promise of Christmas. I just read about Erwin Kraeutler, bishop in the Amazons, who is not able to walk a mile without security because of death treats he received. Those are the people balancing the bitter balance of human mankind’s dealing with each other in a way, which indeed shows the likeness of God.

Merry Christmas to all of you – and may the blessings be felt by each and every one of you!

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized , amazons, bishop, brothers, christmas, christmas eve, copenhagen, God, Kraeutler, sisters

POZ Magazine: President Obama Approves More Than $1 Billion for Global Fund

POZ – POZ Magazine – POZ.com – News : President Obama Approves More Than $1 Billion for Global Fund.

Filed under: Aids, HIV and AIDS, politics , Aids, Global Aids Fund, obama

23.12.2009 Last shopping

Like in any other household, also a priest’s one is not immune against the practical consequences of the festive season – so the last shopping spree secured enough stock to survive the coming days of Nativity. And one can sense that “business” is dying down – less emails except for all the good Christmas wishes – less phone calls – it seems that a day before the “Heiligabend” everybody is indeed concentrating on his or her own business to finalize whatever is outstanding…

My sermons are prepared – for Christmas Day as well as the Feast of the Holy Family – and also most other urgent office stuff is attended to… so tomorrow it will be a more quiet day in preparation of the big feast.  What is more to say? Just that I wish all readers a Merry Christmas – may the blessings of this feast be felt for you all still in the new year – and may you enjoy hours of joy, peace and harmony with whomever you chose to celebrate these days. And may the world take a deep breath and stop all violence and wars during this festive season.
May the death toll on our streets in SA decline and may most people only start drinking after the midnight service.. 

Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized , christmas, Midnight mass

22.12.2009 how are you?

“How are you” – that is one of the most heard question I encounter in the last days and weeks. People want to know how I got from one task to my new portfolio. And I find it difficult to answer: How should one feel, when the transformation from one post to the other was somehow forced, but when the result of this forced transfer came to a good end at the end. There is still that part in me who feels that it should not be allowed in church to act in a deceptive and dishonest way – on the other hand I do refuse to see myself as a victim. My way through 2009 has shown me clearly how one mean person and many people simply nodding or looking away can change the life path of someone. On the other hand it has shown me that there are people in church making their own judgement and are brave enough to act on it.

Nevertheless, a transition is never an easy thing – and one has to work to all what one has experienced to be able to answer the question “how are you?” with an honest “fine”. The learning curve was a steep one, but I am sure I go stronger into 2010 then I have been entering 2009. I am looking forward to all the new and exciting things laying ahead on my way for the coming year.

Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized , 2009

21.12.2009 Preparation time…

Time to prepare for the Christmas day service today – it is always not easy to reflect on what Christmas may mean to the people attending the service on Christmas Day.  Every year is different – how it felt and how consequently Christmas is experienced. Like every year for the last 23 years I try to find a tone, that will bring the message of Christmas closer to the attending people. I hope that they are encouraged to let the love and the peace and the intimacy of this special birthday be part of their life; not only on the Christmas Day itself, but being carried over to the next days and month to come.
Then this is indeed the message of Christmas: that we are called to be in the likeness of God – everybody a little Jesus, when born – with all the possibilities and the vocation, to tell the story of God’s unconditional love within the respective life. As God has shared life with us, so we are called to share our life with him/her. That is obviously not that easy – daily life tells us most times another story – where love, sharing, peace, tolerance seems not to be a top priority because abused so many times.
And interesting enough is Christmas in many families also the time for bitter fights at the end of the day – because the pressure, to suddenly turn around the normal way of dealing with each other, is getting to big.  Christmas is for us Christian the culmination of our yearning for harmony in life – and we should train it during the year that it works also on those days.. .

Being the likeness of God – that is also a headline when it comes to dealing with our brothers and sisters who are carrying the HI virus with them.  They remain this picture of God – nothing is taken away from them through this virus. Therefore there should be no stigmatization or criminalization or discrimination within any Christian community. I guess, there is still much to do…  In this matter, Christmas acts as a reminder how much is still to do to free our society from the devil of stigmatization and all what comes with it.

Filed under: Church Matters, HIV and AIDS, Living environment, Reflection, people living with the virus, theology , Aids, christian, christmas, criminalization, discrimination, hiv, stigma