Ted Ligety ist ein ehemaliger, äusserst erfolgreicher amerikanischer Skirennfahrer. Er darf sich heute stolz als Olympiasieger, Weltmeister und mehrfacher Weltcupsieger bezeichnen. Das faszinierende an seinem Fahrstil war, dass er im Vergleich zu seinen Konkurrenten kaum ein Tor berührt hat. Die Fahrten von anderen Fahrern sahen optisch oft besser und präziser aus. Doch Ted hatte die Fähigkeit, die Ski laufen zu lassen und dadurch ein hohes Tempo zu erzeugen. Seine Gegner klammerten oft zu sehr an der Linie und vergassen dabei das Wichtigste.
Wir sind vielmals stark darauf bedacht, dass unser Leben von aussen gut aussieht. Es ist uns wichtig, was Menschen über uns denken. Wie die Fahrer an die Linie, klammern wir uns zu sehr an Äusserlichkeiten und Formalitäten und verlieren dabei das Ziel aus den Augen.
Jesus sagte: «Ich bin der Weg, die Wahrheit und das Leben.»
Johannes 14,6
Ein Leben mit Jesus sieht von aussen nicht immer sinnvoll oder attraktiv aus. Die Beziehung zu ihm ist aber der Sinn des Lebens, die perfekte Linie, die uns erfolgreich ans Ziel bringt.
Ted Ligerty is a retired, extremely successful American ski racer. Today he can be proud to have been an Olympic champion, World champion, and World Cup champion many times over. The fascinating thing about his skiing style was that, in contrast to his competitors, he hardly ever touched one of the gates. The other ski racers’ runs often looked better and more precise at first glance. However, Ted possessed the skill of letting the skis glide to generate a high speed. His opponents often clutched too much to the line and forgot the most important thing as a result.
We are often most concerned that our life looks good on the outside. What people think of us is really important to us. Like a skier keeping to a line, we cling too much to external things and formalities and lose sight of our goal in the process.
Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
John 14:6
Life with Jesus doesn’t always look meaningful or attractive. Yet a relationship with him is the meaning of life, the perfect line that leads us successfully to our goal.
“By Gracious Powers so Wonderfully Sheltered” This commonly sung song, which Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in 1944, causes one to pause and think. Bonhoeffer was a theologian who opposed the Nazi regime at the time of the Second World War. That’s the reason why he was sitting in jail while he wrote this poem to his fiancé and his family. At that point in time, he didn’t know if he would ever see them again. He had to face the reality of being put to death, which actually did take place after he was relocated to the concentration camp in Buchenwald.
“By gracious powers faithfully and quietly surrounded, wonderfully sheltered and comforted.” Bonhoeffer wrote these lines in his most lonely hours. Despite the life-threatening external circumstances, he experienced a deep inner peace. He carried within him the strong assurance that his life is secure in God. Neither loneliness, nor rejection, nor even death could separate him from this security.
God also wants to give you security. Who do you turn to when you feel lonely?
«Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen» Das viel gesungene Lied, das Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1944 schrieb, regt zum Nachdenken an. Bonhoeffer war ein Theologe, der sich in Zeiten des Zweiten Weltkrieges gegen das Regime stellte. Deshalb sass er, während er dieses Gedicht an seine Verlobte und seine Familie schrieb, im Gefängnis. Er wusste zu dem Zeitpunkt nicht, ob er sie nochmals sehen würde. Er musste damit rechnen, hingerichtet zu werden, was 1945 nach seiner Verlegung ins Konzentrationslager Buchenwald dann auch tatsächlich geschah.
«Von guten Mächten treu und still umgeben, behütet und getröstet wunderbar.»
In seinen einsamsten Stunden schrieb Bonhoeffer diese Zeilen. Trotz den lebensbedrohenden äusseren Umständen umgab ihn ein tiefer innerer Frieden. In ihm wohnte die feste Gewissheit, dass sein Leben in Gott geborgen ist. Nicht Einsamkeit, nicht Ablehnung und auch nicht der Tod konnte ihn von dieser Geborgenheit trennen.
Gott will auch dir Geborgenheit schenken. An wen wendest du dich, wenn du dich einsam fühlst?
Where do I feel happy? Wherever I can be myself, without having to bend over backwards to please someone else.
In early Rome there were disagreements between Christians of different cultural backgrounds, which led to divisions. Paul challenges me to accept one another, even if we’re different.
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God.”
Romans 15:7
This challenge is more relevant than ever before. Conflicts and divisions are ever present in society. Acceptance doesn’t only mean tolerance, but also God’s specific intervention, which offers us protection and comfort. The way God accepts us is the way we should accept one another.
The artist Stefanie Bahlinger illustrates this with a patchwork rug, which combines various materials and patterns. This rug symbolizes the colorful and diverse fellowship of Christians worldwide. The seams are visible and often crooked, but they connect the pieces and create an overall picture.
The text from Romans makes this very clear. At the same time, it points out what the goal actually is. Our fellowship should be just like this: open, diverse, and connected through Christ. Since Jesus accepts you, acceptance despite differences is possible.
How do you experience fellowship in your life, and what does it mean to you?
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