What a treat it is to be able to walk to work in a place like Kandern, Germany. Parts of town those manmade and those put here by the hand of God are postcard pleasing to the eye. Comically steep hills, some wooded with a Germanic sense of forest (well tended and organized), some pastures for sheep ring the town. A mix of architecture stretching from the late middle ages to recent modernism crowds the narrow streets. Flowers – everywhere. Others walking, biking, driving towards their purposes for the day. Cool, cloudy but not, at the moment, raining. The chance to listen to three songs on the iPod during the 1.2 km walk to BFA - it’s a great way to start the day. I get a chance to reflect on my purposes for the day, for our purposes in being here through the direction of God and the generosity of those He’s called to send us here. How will I be trying to direct the thoughts and hearts of my classes today? How can a town and population with such a tradition of religion allow that tradition to replace living faith. The traditions are wonderful – last Saturday we attended the Glockenfest – the pouring of a new bell for the state church in Kandern (replacing the one that’s worn out after only 450 years!)- see photo above. What a cool thing to see. The accordion band played songs from “Mama Mia” and the city men’s choir and the city band’s performed, wursts were consumed – all the usual things followed by the spectacle of molten bronze being poured into the buried form made from an impression of the old bell. Even though the process was proceeded by prayer very few of the people will be in their churches next week. The traditions are powerful but the faith is often absent. As I walk to work I pass one house dedicated to witchcraft – it has enough artifacts to qualify as a witchcraft museum but if it is a museum, it’s a working one. The occult has a powerful foothold in this region. As it is here in Kandern, it is through much of western Europe. Our school here exists to speak to this condition through the work of our kids’ parents – beyond western Europe into eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia and we have the privilege of participating in that. Yeah, walking to work is great!
