Follow that will and that way which experience confirms to be your own. Carl Jung

Meditation: How do we know which life path to take? When we make decisions, how do we know what is the “right” one? Growing up in Germany I learned the concept that there is a definite and objective “right and wrong”. Consequently people’s choices and behaviors were often determined by certain external social, religious and cultural norms. Decisions and life path choices were mostly based on external affirmations of what was right and “proper”. When I came to the US, I learned about experiential living and learning. I began to reflect on and learn from my experiences instead of discounting or judging them right away as “right or wrong”. What a liberation! The notion that my experience can at times be ambivalent and wonderfully complex, and yet be an amazing guide was new to me. The notion that clarity about God’s will and my personal way can come from meditating on my experiences in life was very freeing. Instead of anxiously holding on to an external and fixed “right and wrong”, I opened myself to new possibilities. I experienced my heart open, and the Spirit of God counseling me every step on the way…

Prayer: God, you free us from having to define things right away. You liberate us from knowing things beforehand as “right and wrong”. You invite us to immerse ourselves in experiences and learn from them. We can follow our heart and discover our very own and “right” path. This open and uncertain process is also called “having faith”. Thank you for inviting us to trust You and to trust ourselves in all our experiences in life, as ambivalent and complex as they might be. Amen

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that’s important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences. Dalai Lama

Meditation: One of the developmental challenges for teenagers is to learn self-discipline. Their brains are wired to go for pleasure and immediate gratification, and our society offers them thousands of reasons to follow that route. A mature brain learns to delay immediate gratification as to uphold certain values or to reach higher goals. For the teenage brain to develop, it needs both positive affirmation and at times negative consequences to learn to move from immediate gratification to increasing self-discipline. As parents we walk the fine line between supporting and structuring the teenager while stepping aside and letting natural consequences of behavior happen. Both teens and parents are experiencing growing pains as the experience of negative consequences happens. Parents need to trust that this growing pain will help the teenage brain to develop further and thus begin to learn the first steps and rewards of self-discipline.

Prayer: God of youth and maturity, we pray for our teenagers as their brains are developing. Be with them during their experiences of negative consequences and optimal frustration. Let them experience also enough love and empowerment that their brains can begin to develop self-discipline. Thank You that Your Spirit is promised to all of us. As we parents are engaging our teens while also step aside, help us trust that Your Spirit is guiding us and them on this journey of becoming. And we are grateful. Amen

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2. Timothy 1:7

Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage. Angela Merkel

Meditation: In a time when the US experiences daily random reactionary words and behaviors in US politics that leave us often wondering which basic moral values are still being upheld, if any, it is good to hear these words from a female European politician. She was reelected yesterday for the fourth time as the chancellor of Germany. Living and holding on to basic human rights and basic moral values as we face senseless violence requires much courage. As Germany has started two world wars in the past 100 years, it seems that in this 21. Century the small European nation has finally learned from its own violent behavior of the past. Even though the extreme right wing party with Neonazi ideology has resurfaced and has even made it into main stream politics, the German people as a whole decided to reelect Angela Merkel once again. For many years she has lead the German people through countless trials and challenges with a firm base of moral values, on which she stands. It requires courage to answer terrorists by living unshakable moral values. Today we pray for Angela Merkel to continue her sometimes lonely position when it comes to immigration and to basic moral and human rights values.

Prayer: God, I pray for this pastor’s daughter from the former East Germany. I pray that you will give her strength, discernment and support to lead the German people as part of a larger Europe. Let her become a role model and leader also for the US and other countries, as the world is dealing with increasing terrorism and much violence from without and from within. Amen

Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” Jeremiah 22:3

 

I like being famous when it’s convenient for me and completely anonymous when it’s not. Catherine Deneuve

Meditation: One of my daughter has been voted to become the 9^th grade homecoming queen. The funny thing is that she does not necessarily wants to be in that position, while many other girls are “dying” and have campaigned hard to get there. As a bi-racial teen, my daughter is outgoing and easily relates to everybody. She at times joins the different groups: the Caucasians, the African Americans, the Latina, the Asian, the multi cultural… At times she feels like she belongs to all, and yet at other times she feels she belongs nowhere. Our tri-cultural household is very unfamiliar with the American tradition of homecoming, as none of us parents attended High School in the US. We parents have no concept of what it means to be a homecoming queen. So, now we need to educate ourselves quickly: Long dress, high heal shoes and certain preparations for games, speeches, dances, sitting on floats… My daughter in the meantime does not like the negative aspects that popularity brings, like the others’ envy and gossiping or being watched, judged and constantly commented on. She feels honored that she was chosen, but she is holding her fame cautiously and lightly. I appreciate her being aware of what really counts: “To be a person who treats others as she wants to be treated.” It seems that her peers noticed my daughter’s external beauty, but they also most of all must have noticed her kindness and her ability to treat everybody with respect.

Prayer: God, You want us to hold our fame lightly, as it comes and goes. Help us celebrate the gifts of recognition that come our way. And yet, let us not forget what is essential. In the midst of human recognition, let us remain grounded in You. I pray for protection and joy for my daughter as she is the first of our family to experience this American tradition of being a homecoming queen. Let others genuinely rejoice for her and treat her with respect, as she does treat them. Amen

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

 

Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Meditation: Religion sometimes has had a hard time waiting for people to develop their inner motivation. Religion at times forces or coerces people with “shoulds”, “oughts” and threats, as it is afraid that people could “go astray” and venture out of a specific tradition or out of certain codes of behavior.  Spirituality on the other hand is the art of waiting for people to develop their inner motivation. It is about role modeling, giving freedom, and making spiritual life interesting and rich so that people will want to join in. Parenting styles deal with the same question of how to influence others’ behavior and choices. I always wanted my daughters to eat healthy and make healthy food choices, as that is very important to me. However, as I struggled in my relationship with food for many years, I did not want to coerce or force my daughters. I always buy healthy food, but the past four years I have let my daughters pretty much choose what they wanted to eat (with occasional friendly prompting to try something healthy). However, I refrained from force. After four years of freedom, one of my daughters suddenly has developed an interest in healthy eating and asked if she could consult a nutritionist. (And you cannot imagine how happily I took her there…)

Prayer: Gracious God, You wait for us. You want us to “want to serve You and others” not because we must, but because we feel passionate and happy to do so. Thank You for the spiritual wisdom to give freedom and to wait. Thank You that You helped me not to impose “my religion” of healthy food eating on my daughters. Thank You that role modeling and freedom are wonderful ingredients of spiritual growth. Thank You for being such a patient parent God role model. Amen

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2. Corinthians 9:7

God’s love does not protect us from suffering. God’s love protects us in the midst of suffering. Hans Kung

Meditation: Many people ask: “How can there be a God if there is so much suffering in the world?” or “How can God allow earthquakes and hurricanes and have so many people die and suffer?” We need somebody to blame. We want somebody to be held accountable for innocent children and adults dying. Also many doubt that there is a God at all because of the harshness of reality. Others just accuse this God of cruelty. The recent natural disasters are being felt deeply in our souls. We are grieving. Anger and blaming are part of grieving. “How can…” are questions of anger and despair. If we allow the notion that God is not causing the suffering, but that God suffers with us as we suffer, our image of God shifts. God holds our anger at him until we are ready to allow to be comforted by God’s presence with us. When I see the hundreds of adults helping to search for and rescue school children buried in the rubble of their school building, I see an image of God. God’s tears are streaming down his face, while God does not rest until God has found us. Our pain is God’s pain.

Prayer: God, we are so vulnerable. Life is so fragile. When the storms of life are raging, be with us. When we mourn the fragility of creation, comfort us. In Jesus we see Your tears mixing with our tears. God, thank You for community coming together to help the suffering. God, in the intimate connection between Yourself, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, You are a loving community within Yourself. And as You reach out to us, You are in community with us. And we are grateful. Amen

The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, comforts us in all our troubles. 2. Corinthians 1:3

Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Reinhold Niebuhr

Meditation: What if we are not being cured? What if our problems do not go away in our lifetime? What if that which burdens us will not be completely lifted? Shouldn’t we despair? Shouldn’t we give up? What if our dreams do not come to fruition as we hoped? What if we cannot complete that which we began and fought for so long? Shouldn’t we throw in the towel? Shouldn’t we blame ourselves for being so foolish to believe we could do it? Nothing worthy and lasting can be achieved in a lifetime. At the end of our life, we will remain incomplete, we will be unfinished. Our dreams might not all have become a reality. However, as incomplete and unfinished as we are, we are saved by our hope that there is a loving God who completely loves us. A God who accepts us as we are, and who does not judge us by how we could have been… God has a much bigger view of things. Sometimes our pains and struggles will only be healed in future generations. Sometimes the injustices that happened to us will only be redeemed in our children’s life story. Our incompleteness will be God’s opportunity to ask us at the end of our life: “Do you want to get well?” And all we need to say is “Yes”. Hope will be our saving Grace.

Prayer: God, You heal us even when cure is not possible. You mend our hearts, even though they were broken many times. When we feel despair as other people define hope as the fulfillment of dreams, and our dreams are only nightmares… then God, come to us. You know how long we have waited. You take our incomplete and scattered lives in Your hands. In Your presence we will be healed. Amen

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6

Rising sea levels, severe draughts, the melting of the polar caps, the more frequent and devastating natural disasters all raise demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Leon Panetta

Meditation: When this US president took office, he announced that there was no such thing as global warming. He also announced that he would build the highest border wall ever that others would pay for. And then, he prepared for giving tax cuts to the wealthy and getting rid of health care for millions. However, shortly afterwards our president met Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria. This hurricane season is proving the president wrong about the climate. Never have we seen such large, furious and ultimately destructive hurricanes. Thousands, no millions had their property destroyed. Nature knows no borders, knows no walls. Several of the Caribbean Islands have been wiped out. Instead of a wall the president is now forced to provide disaster relief. Another hurricane is hitting Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tonight. The president’s agenda had to shift. Too many lives are being stripped of the basic necessities. Speaking of the tax cut for the wealthy at this time? Taking away health care from people at this time? – when millions are suffering? It is amazing how forcefully nature met the new president who thought he knew what the agenda of his first year in office would be…

Prayer: God of creation, we pray for protection of the people in Puerto Rico who have nowhere to go and who are being hit with a 170 miles an hour hurricane tonight. We pray for the many earth quake victims in Mexico from yesterday. The fury of nature seems unleashed! We pray for all victims, especially all the children and elderly. We pray for the millions of people who have been thrown into survival mode. You woke the new president up to a reality he has never seen before. Keep shifting his agenda. Send resources to those who need them the most. God, have mercy. Amen

Be gracious to us, O God, be gracious to us, for our souls take refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings we will take refuge until destruction passes by. Psalm 57:1

 

I’m not a parenting expert… I’m an engaged, imperfect parent… Like many of you, parenting is by far my boldest and most daring adventure. Brene Brown

Meditation: Parenting has been and is the most formative adventure I have ever been on. Growing as a parent alongside with our children requires us to learn about ourselves and evolve all the time. My two adolescent daughters challenge me to engage them and myself in ways I never have before. When do I step aside and allow the space they ask for? When do I set boundaries and clear expectations? When can they be independent and self-determined? When am I setting guidelines, give consequences and ask for behaviors that serve the good of all? One of the most challenging tasks for me is extending “tough love”. With this I mean the love that structures while remaining differentiated and calm, non-reactive and clear even when emotions are intense. And twin girls age fourteen are intense! They have and express intense feelings that swing from one extreme to another, and often twins swing into opposite emotional directions at the same time. Today I would describe myself as an engaged and imperfect parent. I am learning and working daily to stay centered within myself when the storms of teenagehood reach me.

Prayer: Parent God, help!!! I wish I could be calm. I wish I could be non-reactive. I wish I listened better. I wish I knew when to be flexible and when to set clear boundaries. Thank You for Your patience with my imperfections! Help me to keep integrity and dignity when working on this thing called “parenting”. God, sometimes I feel that I am barely holding on as the Mom of teenagers. Help me remain bold and daring. Help me be a model of “good works” in the midst of being imperfect. Amen

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity. Titus 2:7

“Today, as Christians, all of us are called to put behind us all prejudice toward the faith that others profess with a different emphasis or language, to offer one another forgiveness for the sins committed by those who have gone before us, and together to implore from God the gift of reconciliation and unity,” Pope Francis March 31, 2017

Meditation: This Sunday we began the journey of Germans, both Catholics and Protestants, worshipping together. Five young Catholic families joined us officially for at least 9 months or more. I am using first communion teaching materials from the Catholic Church in Germany. There will be much learning from and with each other. I am curious how we will celebrate communion with each other. From the Catholic side there is still reluctance. How can we honor our differences? I trust that we will find creative ways to respect each other, to acknowledge our differences and celebrate our commonalities. I am grateful that the parents allow a female pastor to teach their children about the Christian faith in Catholic colors. Some things I won’t be able to do (like the sacraments of Confession and Catholic Communion). However many things I can teach. I am grateful for the trust of these parents to practice the gift of ecumenical unity.

Prayer: Gracious God, I am deeply touched to be the pastor of both Protestants and Catholics. Lead me with Your Spirit so that I can be sensitive to our Catholic sisters and brothers. I feel so honored to introduce their children to the art of prayer, to stories and images of the Christian faiths. Thank You for my Catholic colleague who will fly in next May to complement me and celebrate the sacraments with the children. I am so grateful to actually be living ecumenism together with our Catholic brothers and sisters. Amen

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14