Silence II ...

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012. Sometimes it is good to get into silence. Silence can be a chance to start to think about what is really important! Silence can be a tool to save me from being caught in a bubble of activity, but without deeper meaning.

Challenges today …

What are the challenges of your life today? Many of us are so busy with the immediate things around us, with our school, our job, our university, our institute, our company … And it is completely ok if we do our work, if we care for our families, if we do what is necessary.

But we all know the grand challenges. It seems like a stereotype, but it is true: half of the world in sincere economic difficulties. Millions and billions starving, unemployment strong even in industrialized countries. Millions live under dictatorships and suppression. There are many societies which threaten those with death penalty who leave their religion: it is outrageous! But we do not react.

In Europe or the US, in Japan or Australia, many things seem to be fine. But some of our systems are close to a collapse. It is good to stay calm, but it is also needed to think about consolidation for our economic and social setup. The important topics range from business to finance, from energy to information technology, but they also include the education system and social justice, faith and constitutional questions.

The old words fully valid …

The old biblical words remain fully valid today. God knows mankind. He always knew. When we look into the Old Testament and the New Testament, we find an analysis of the situation which is breathtaking. It is hitting the point. Humans society developed further, technology and science have given us unexpected possibilities. But humans did not change much over these two or four-thousand years since the beginning of the biblical account.

The church needs to rediscover its origin. It will find its roots and old insight into humanity. Jesus, the Christ, has put it all into perspective. He has given us an example which is unparalleled throughout history. He has opened a door by his own life. When we look at him closely, we realize that he indeed is what he claimed to be: the truth, the life and the way.

There are so many possibilities coming from this old source, from the Lord. Father, son and holy spirit want to be there with us. There is wisdom and power in this stream of love, but a power which is first one to transform our thoughts and our emotions into something which is based on truth and love, on dedication and an open heart for God and for our fellow humans. It all starts in silence… (Roland Potthast) ... more texts