Audiostretto 59/4/24 English: Recent Episodes
Hans-Jörg stark
Audiostretto 59/4/24 is a daily podcast with an encouraging impulse for the day. Because many people today have little time in a day with a full agenda, this input is a maximum of 59 seconds long. So it's analogous to a ristretto: short, strong and invigorating. 59 seconds for 24 hours!
An aircraft needs a propulsion system so that it can take off and fly. It must be powerful enough to make the entire weight of the aircraft, including the load, fly. Care is taken to make the aircraft as light as possible so that the propulsion system can be used efficiently. Nevertheless, in addition to the active part of the propulsion system, there are predominantly passive parts on the aircraft, such as the fuselage, wings, rudder, etc. From a purely rational point of view, one could now say that the aircraft should be reduced to the active parts that make flying possible in the first place and all passive parts should be removed. But the engine alone would not take off and fly. The passive parts, which are designed to enable flight thanks to the laws of aerodynamics, are also essential. It's the same in society: we need active, creative people - but passive people also have a right to exist and contribute to the viability of society.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was on the train the other day and was checked by a young man with a physical impairment to his arm. He did his job very professionally and seemed competent and confident - you didn't notice his disability at all. Only when he had to operate the device was he unable to use both hands and then his disability was noticeable. I thought about the fact that he seemed very content and balanced to me. And that at the same time, there are people who are completely healthy, well educated, in a stable environment, also well looked after socially - and yet are still unhappy, unbalanced or anxious and insecure. Appearances or a restricted state are not compelling factors for dissatisfaction or imbalance - nor vice versa: perfect living conditions alone do not make people happy. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you feel in terms of happiness? Is this value justified?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a famous and magnificent water fountain in the lake in Geneva. I've only seen it myself in pictures and unfortunately never in person. But what certainly makes such a water feature so fascinating is the fact that it is not natural. Normally the water flows downwards and does not jump upwards into the air. Things that don't conform to the norm fascinate us. At least we think so. But if we're honest, we're not consistent here. Natural spectacles outside the norm may fascinate us, even make us willing to travel to these places. But people who don't conform to the norm - we often get upset about them, avoid them or even condemn them. What does that look like for you? Do you like things, do you like people who don't conform to the norm or your norm and how do you deal with them?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We talked yesterday in the last episode of Audiostretto about simplicity and how this is sometimes more effective than a perfectly targeted solution that you won't achieve. I used the example of drawing a bird. But what if it's a completely different example, a completely different challenge? In such cases, I find it helpful to stick to the saying "How do I tell my child?" It's about formulating something in a way that a child can understand. On the one hand, this means that you have to reduce the complexity, but at the same time you also have to put yourself in the position and situation and the abilities of a child in order to make a choice of words that is appropriate for children or, more generally, appropriate for my counterpart. The advantages of this are taking a different perspective and actively searching for the right language. These are two important factors for sustainable communication.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Suppose I gave you the task of drawing a bird - what would you do? Well, perhaps you are talented at drawing and then this task would not present you with any difficulties. But suppose you are not. Such a task could be stressful and in the end you might be dissatisfied and frustrated with the result because you couldn't put on paper what you had in your mind's eye. You may have tried to paint the bird as realistically as possible, but it just doesn't look very good. At least that would probably be my result. But there's another possibility: you simply paint two light arcs that hang together and then you automatically associate that these are birds flying far away in the sky. No details and yet it's clear what they are. Sometimes the solution lies in simplicity rather than trying to make it perfect.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you make coffee with a portafilter, you fill it with ground coffee powder. However, before you insert the portafilter into the machine and brew the coffee, you tap the portafilter a few times on a hard surface so that the powder you have just filled in collapses and then you press it flat with a tamper. Only then is the coffee brewed. This means that nothing remains of the original height of the mountain of powder and the original volume is substantially reduced. So what originally looked like a lot then takes on a real form and is compressed to maximise enjoyment. Jesus says we should do the same with giving: Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken and running over, will be given into your bosom; for with the same measure that you measure, it will be measured to you again. A great promise. Perhaps for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Determination
How easy is it for you to make decisions? Some people find it very easy to make decisions - whether they are very small ones like choosing what to wear or very big ones like deciding on a major purchase. For others it's the other way round: even choosing clothes in the morning takes an enormous amount of time and in the end a decision is made under time pressure but perhaps only with shared conviction. That's how different we are. One is not better than the other; at most a little quicker, but the consequences have to be borne in both cases and the risk of a wrong decision or consequential difficulties that were unforeseeable at the time of the decision remain with both. I find it interesting how the Bible advises decisiveness in such cases: both Joshua when taking the land and Salomon when building the huge temple are advised to proceed courageously and decisively. I wish the same for you!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
From a pragmatic point of view, a door usually belongs to at least one room and provides access or exit to this room or the transition from one room to another. They can be closed or open and some can be closed with a locking mechanism so that they can only be opened if the right key is available. However, a door also has a deeper figurative meaning. In life, doors can be open or closed for decisions or implementation steps, or they can close and open again. As mentioned, doors are also places of transition. Nobody usually stays at or under a door for any length of time, and yet they are often crucial as a place of transfer. They are the visible place of the no longer and not yet. And they are places of decision: do I go through the door or not, they are quasi binary - something that no longer seems to be popular in our time because people prefer to live with many options.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
After the cold, dark and barren winter season, nature awakens and brings with it not only wonderful growth on the various plants, but also magnificent colours and, what's more, wonderful fruits in their own season. However, it is important to note that berries and stone fruit in particular are sometimes very sensitive to pressure. This means that you have to be very careful when picking them if you want to take them with you in containers. Careless throwing into a harvest container or too much pressure from too many fruits overlapping will quickly damage them and it won't be long before a single fruit is damaged, starts to mould and then infects the others. And the riper the fruit, the more caution is required. This example from nature can also be applied to us humans and our abilities. We need to treat ourselves and others with care. Inappropriate behaviour can damage what are in themselves good abilities.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Fire has good but also destructive properties. It can warm and thus preserve life, but it can also extinguish life through uncontrolled fire. For a fire to exist, it needs two things: combustible material and oxygen. If you remove one of the two, the fire will go out. We also know fire as an expression in the sense of a figurative comparison. The fire of passion or having an inner fire for something. In the vast majority of cases, this also has a positive connotation. And when we say that the inner fire has gone out - perhaps even in a relationship - we often don't mean anything good by it, but rather the loss of affection and commitment. My impulse for today is therefore: if you are in a situation in which a fire is threatening to destroy you or is already in the process of doing so - what fire nutrients can you extract from it? And where a fire is about to go out: what can you use to nourish and rekindle it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I like wool. In addition to the pleasant material with its good warming effect, the context of wool is fascinating. A prime example of a win-win situation. The wool is obtained from the sheep by shearing them. This extraction benefits everyone involved and is sustainable. The wool grows back and the animal is not deprived of something it will never have again. People obtain a raw material that enables them to produce high-quality garments. The animal itself benefits from shearing, because without shearing, the risk of infection through contamination would be much higher. Regular shearing is therefore a kind of investment in the animal's health. Furthermore, if shearing is not carried out, there is a risk that the animal will overheat and suffer damage. Win-win all along the line. I wish you many more situations like this in your everyday life and that you discover them and enjoy them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know the law of cause and effect. So when something happens - what triggers it or what are the consequences. Sometimes it's as simple as, for example, if the price of a product is too high, people buy less of it. If something is given away for free, many copies are distributed and used. But it's not always that clear. For example, what about traffic: if you expand an overloaded road network, does that relieve traffic or does it just lead to even more traffic and ultimately to congestion again? So to prevent congestion, which is better: leaving the scarce capacity so that users switch to other forms of mobility or times to relieve congestion, or expanding the network with the risk of creating more traffic again by relieving congestion? To be honest, you often have to say: you don't know, but you take a chance. I wish you this combination of honesty and courage today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I woke up the other night because my eye was itching. I had a severe irritation in my eye and couldn't sleep because of it. I rubbed my eye and tried to get rid of the itching. To no avail. I realised that it was probably a small speck of dust in my eye that was affecting my whole body and preventing me from sleeping. How annoying! I had to get up, go to the bathroom, wash out my eye and after a while I was able to go back to bed and thankfully sleep. The incident reminded me of what Paul once wrote to the church in Corinth: if one member of the body suffers, all suffer with it. How true. It is the same with groups of people: if one member of the group is not well, everyone feels it - at least in a healthy relational organism. If the healthy parts help the affected person, things can get better. Perhaps you can help someone around you in this way.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In Greek mythology, Poseidon is worshipped as the god of the sea. He was a brother of Zeus. He is famously depicted with a trident, which he could apparently use to trigger earthquakes when he was in a bad mood. At that time, sailors apparently prayed to Poseidon for safe passage and even sank horses in the sea for him. When he was in a good mood, Poseidon created new islands and made the sea calm and navigable. When he was angry, he stabbed the earth with his trident, causing earthquakes, floods and even ships to sink. This clearly shows how fatalistically the people of the time who went to sea perceived their fate. Despite all the modernisation in both spiritual and technical terms since then, we are faced with situations that we cannot influence and yet which can have a very strong impact on our lives. How do you deal with this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
"One moment please!" - by this we mean: please wait a moment. We all understand what is meant: just wait a moment. But what exactly is a moment? A second? or a minute? or less than a second? In German, for example, we don't always say "one moment please" as we do in English, but "a wink please". This makes an exact definition even more difficult: what is the duration of a wink? Nobody usually asks this question and nobody would probably be interested in an answer. Nevertheless, it is striking how imprecise our language very often is - and yet how clear it is to those involved in the communication what is meant. And then there is the opposite: everything that is said is precisely defined and formulated down to the last detail - and yet there are still misunderstandings. Either way, active listening is certainly one of the best ways to avoid or prevent misunderstandings and helps for clear communication.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Our visual organ, the eye, is something marvellous. Be it the sensitivity to light, which protects us from too much radiation and brightness to our detriment, or the high resolution, which allows us to see small things clearly. Provided, of course, that the eye is healthy. However, the eye is also receptive to altered information - in the best case for our benefit: magnifying glasses or other lenses and lens combinations can help our eyes to recognise small things. However, such systems can also deceive our eyes and, in the worst case, the misinformation can lead us to misbehaviour or wrong decisions. How do we protect ourselves from this? It's not always easy, especially in times of artificial intelligence, which can make so many false things seem real. Thankfully, we also have a memory and therefore a store of experiences that can help us here if we take them seriously.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In language, we distinguish between three time periods: past, present and future. We conjugate verbs accordingly to make it clear whether something has already happened, is happening or will happen. So what concerns our lives? Isn't it the case that we are often already living in the future - in what we are planning and must not forget to organise? In grammar, the term 'present tense' is used for the present tense. This is the Latin term for our German concept of the present. I like it - analogous to the English 'present' - because it expresses that it is about presence, presence. And that is the challenge for many of us today: are we present? Here, now? In this moment? Not already there, but right here. Do you realise and live the fact that every single moment, every day is unique and has never been and will never be again? Are you living it and in the present?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A rifle usually has a kind of aiming aid when aiming at the target - the front sight. This helps the shooter to align the rifle barrel more precisely with the target before the shot is fired. This gives the shooter an extended view from the nearer part of the rifle over the front sight to the target. This line of sight is intended to increase accuracy. This also works very well and is a good idea - but only if the front sight and the rifle barrel are well adjusted. If this is not the case, no matter how perfect the line of sight over the front sight is, the shot will not hit the target because the front sight and barrel are not aligned correctly. This analogy can be applied metaphorically to many things - for example, to what you think and then say - does this apply to you or are you aiming at a different target with your words than you hit with your thoughts?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we want to protect ourselves from prying eyes, we hide ourselves, stand behind an opaque object or position ourselves so that we cannot be seen. This is sometimes necessary to protect our privacy. At home, we use curtains on the windows for this purpose. These can be opened if we wish or closed to protect us. Sometimes curtains not only help to protect us from prying eyes from outside, but also so that I don't have to see what's going on outside from the inside. But curtains sometimes also have the task of creating tension and arousing expectations. For example, in the theatre, where the curtain is closed at the beginning of the performance and then opens with "curtain up" and the scene becomes visible to the theatre-goer. A tension is released - it can begin. If you are still waiting for such revelations, I wish you a "curtain up" today! moment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a child, yoghurt was something extraordinary for us. We were given it on rare occasions, for example when we were ill, to cheer us up. I still like to eat yoghurt today, but preferably without sugar, because I think most of them contain too much unnecessary sugar. But what all yoghurts have in common is that they usually have very attractive packaging: a buttery pot with an equally colourful lid. So you can't see the yoghurt at all. You're buying a pig in a poke, so to speak, or simply trusting that what you're getting is okay and meets your expectations. Trust without seeing. Experience certainly helps with this step. But it's amazing how carefree we are about things like yoghurt, trusting that our decision is good and right, and how difficult we find it with other things. Perhaps also in the spiritual, in our life of faith. How do you cope with that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On the occasion of birthdays and parties, children have the opportunity to have their faces painted. Many have their faces painted as animals and then wear a corresponding costume at carnival, for example, so that it is clear to everyone around them what kind of animal they are. Depending on the child's personality, they then behave in the same way: they hiss or move in the same way as they have seen this animal do. And of course they want to be treated accordingly by their environment - just as you would speak to or meet such an animal. Well, with the exception of food, presumably. Whatever. The fact is: even if the children feel like these animals in such situations and however well they interpret them - they are not. And so it is important and good for all of us to remember who we are from time to time. Interpreting someone else, however genuinely, is not our identity.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Nets in sport can be found on the goals in football or in handball. They help to recognise whether the ball is actually in the goal or not. A wall as a solid surface would quickly throw the ball back again and it would remain unclear whether the ball was really in the goal or just outside or on the post. The net catches the ball within the defined area - for example the goal. If necessary, the net slows down the fast movement of the ball and keeps it in place so that there is no uncertainty as to whether the ball is in the goal. The net also shows that if the ball is played from the side, the ball is just outside the goal. Just as nets create clarity with their flexibility, leniency, giving in and not wanting to be right can de-escalate tense situations and ensure reconciliation and peace. Giving in is therefore not always a sign of weakness. Perhaps this is the case for you in a situation right now.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have also felt the need for a familiar conversation. You wanted to discuss something, ask a question or simply share something personal. For this to work well, at least one thing is important: no time pressure. And ideally undivided attention from the other person. While you can pass on instructions or information spontaneously and in passing, this is not ideal for personal matters and can leave an impression of a lack of appreciation. What applies to you naturally also applies to others: if they have something personal to share, they want time, attention and presence - from you. You may find yourself in such a situation today, be it just once or occasionally with family, friends or at work. Then prioritise it. It will be appreciated, just as you would appreciate it. And it will come back to you. For sure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Switzerland has THE spice: Aromat! As children, we were allowed to eat bread with butter and Aromat with a host family. It was like a special meal. Aromat is officially and neutrally known as a seasoning and comes in a container similar to salt or pepper, but larger. However, Aromat has the property that it clumps together relatively quickly - and so it can happen that the sprinkling container is full of the spice, but because it has clumped together inside as a result of not being used for too long, it cannot escape through the narrow holes of the sprinkling container. So you would have what you want, but it is not accessible. Sometimes shaking it vigorously helps to break up the clumps, sometimes nothing else helps but opening the can and breaking up the clumps manually with force. Do you have areas in your life that would be valuable for your environment, but which you have neglected and should shake up and activate again?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, we marvel at lush plants, especially those that serve us as food: Gorgeous cherry trees or apple or pear trees or berry bushes with their fruit. It is a pleasure to harvest and then enjoy them. The same applies to strawberries, which grow close to the ground and can be enjoyed from the bush to the mouth. And then there are the herbs. These are relatively small and yet often look rather simple, almost pathetic. No pretty flowers or fruit. But some of them are so full of flavour that they make an enormous impact on a meal. If you like them for the better, if you don't, they can spoil the flavour. A small addition with a big effect. It's often the same with our self-talk or our words. We use them to give projects, conversations, events and decisions essential character and flavour. It is therefore advisable to use the right amount depending on the situation. Do you manage that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you have a cold, your nose is blocked. This is unpleasant. Sometimes only one nostril is affected and you can still breathe normally to some extent. If both nostrils are blocked, you have to breathe through your mouth, which is also not very pleasant. All in all, it's annoying, but you can still cope relatively well with everyday life. Nasal drops can help by decongesting the mucous membrane for a certain period of time and thus opening up the passage for reasonably normal breathing. What sounds very banal is nevertheless very important. Imagine what would happen if your nose and mouth were so closed that you could no longer breathe: you would die in a very short time because you would lack the oxygen necessary for life. For this reason, even supposedly unimportant things in life and everyday life require appropriate attention - failure to pay attention could lead to an unforeseen collapse. So be mindful even of the little things.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Shaken
When you make coffee with a portafilter, you fill it with ground coffee powder. However, before you insert the portafilter into the machine and brew the coffee, you tap the portafilter a few times on a hard surface so that the powder you have just filled in collapses and then you press it flat with a tamper. Only then is the coffee brewed. This means that nothing remains of the original height of the mountain of powder and the original volume is substantially reduced. So what originally looked like a lot then takes on a real form and is compressed to maximise enjoyment. Jesus says we should do the same with giving: Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken and running over, will be given into your bosom; for with the same measure that you measure, it will be measured to you again. A great promise. Perhaps for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Stairs are a practical way of overcoming a difference in height. You overcome the difference in height step by step - whether up or down. In the vast majority of cases, you also have a good foothold, so you can step safely and firmly, which is helpful when ascending and descending and protects you from unintentionally slipping. However, there are different types of steps: those that feel ideal for your own stride length, others seem difficult because they are either too high or too shallow and deep. It's like life: Sometimes things are going great, at work or at home: you achieve the goals you hoped for comfortably or even faster than planned. And then sometimes you feel overwhelmed, too much is demanded of you at once or things go too slowly and you get tired. In the example of the stairs, it's clear: you won't stop, you'll just keep going, even if it's not ideal. Perhaps this also motivates you for a corresponding life situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
They say 'hard shell, soft centre'. The image of the nut is used here. To open the nut, a nutcracker is used, for example, which transfers the force to the shell and cracks it so that the kernel of the nut becomes accessible. The shell often splinters in the process and the kernel is also damaged by the violent opening. This is the force variant. However, there are also suitable tools which, especially in the case of tree nuts, have a thin, stable shape that allows them to penetrate the transition point between the two halves of the shell and then open the nut with a slight twisting movement without force. Both the shell halves and the kernel remain undamaged. Less waste is produced and no splintered kernel has to be freed from shell parts. You may also have people around you who have hard shells. You will rarely gain access to their insides by force, but by a delicate approach.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Food storage boxes keep food fresh. However, they also need the right environment. So what needs to be stored in the fridge also belongs in a food storage box in the fridge and what does not, does not. Some boxes can be sealed airtight, others are more open. Some are light-proof because this is better for storing certain foods, while others are transparent and allow an overview of the contents at any time without opening the container: what is inside, how much of it and what condition the goods are in. Such boxes are therefore very practical, not least because they can be stacked or because they protect pressure-sensitive food from external pressure. But... they are never an end in themselves. In the end, it's always about the contents. That's how it should be with us humans: our inner self reveals our true character and personality, not what surrounds us.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In forests or free-standing trees, the weather side can often be recognised by the heavier moss growth or greenish discolouration of these trees. The weather side is the side of an outdoor object - which can also be a building - that is mainly exposed to wind and precipitation, i.e. the weather. So on the one hand, the weather leaves traces and on the other hand, the objects absorb these impressions or residues - in other words, they are characterised by what happens. We humans function in a similar way. What happens around us influences and shapes us. Only ever negative reports or critical statements do not contribute to a positive and open mood and attitude, on the contrary. It is therefore all the more important that we are very aware of the influences we expose ourselves to: What kind of media releases, talk about others, self-talk, etc. All of this will shape us over time, like the weather shapes trees and buildings. And our surrounding will very well notice what we expose ourselves to.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Not so long ago there was this provocative slogan "Stinginess is cool" and many people meant it not just ironically, but seriously. Financial optimisation, as much yield or return as possible for as little investment as possible. In the western world, we can afford such ideas or approaches. In many areas, we are in a better position than the poor. But this actually means: the more power, the more responsibility. Today, however, this is often ignored and a lot of power means a lot of personal benefits for some and the needs of others are of no interest. In addition, there are complex global interrelationships, long supply chains, etc. and so it doesn't matter what the actual producer or worker actually receives for a cheap product. As a buyer, do you take your responsibility here and question cheap offers and perhaps consciously choose a more expensive one that is transparent and gives the worker more?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Old bunkers often have small hatches. These were used to give the soldiers in the bunker the greatest possible ability to react to the outside with the smallest possible attack surface and the opportunity to get a visual impression of the situation outside. It is only a very small area in which the defence can be attacked and, as mentioned, in addition to the field of fire to the outside, it is also used for visual inspection. We all know people from our social environment who withdraw and isolate themselves for various reasons. Often out of self-protection or as a form of defence for various reasons. But they also have their hatches somewhere, trying to perceive their environment in order to remain capable of reacting accordingly. Perhaps today you can go into the field of vision of such a hatch of a withdrawn person in your neighbourhood as a door opener with a kind of offer of reconciliation or peace.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
To send a letter, you must affix a stamp to the envelope. If this is not done, the letter may be sent, but you will subsequently receive a request for payment. The stamp is therefore a kind of credit system: I buy a certain amount beforehand and can spend it and send letters as long as this credit is still available. Today, we often live the other way round: we first spend money that we don't have and then pay afterwards. As long as these expenses are based on an account that can cover these expenses retrospectively - and this is assumed with credit cards - the system works. But if the account is empty and you have still spent money with the credit card, then you fall into debt. Quite a few people feel this way. It would be better to top up the card first so that you really only spend as much as you have. Are you living on credit or on the stamp system with your resources?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's amazing and even frightening what artificial intelligence can do today. Images can be artificially generated that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. This poses a massive threat to the trustworthiness of information. More and more often, the question arises: is what I am seeing, hearing or reading true? How can I be sure that it is? This can not only be unsettling, but also threatening. This effect is also used deliberately in warfare today. In the end, trust suffers and fundamental mistrust is fostered. Not a good development. We humans live from being able to trust and rely on each other. In this context, I also understand better how great the challenge was for the first believers: is what they were told about a resurrected Jesus true and is he really so trustworthy? Thank God he is.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
To make progress on your bike, you need a few basic components that work well together. This includes the bicycle chain. If this is not well adjusted or is old or otherwise limited in its function, it can be a hassle. I experienced how a colleague's chain broke on a bike tour. We were somewhere in the middle of the countryside. He had no choice but to hold on to someone who was pulling him. The chain must also be well matched to the cogs on which it lies and which ensure the drive via the power transmission. If a tooth is missing, it may still work, but if the sprockets are old and blunt, this can also damage the chain. Either way, good maintenance and a check-up from time to time is a worthwhile investment. This also applies to us mentally, physically and spiritually. It's no coincidence that Sunday is a day of rest and not a "I'll do what I couldn't do otherwise" day.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Every now and then I am woken up in the morning by the birds and their chirping. It's nicer than being woken up by a construction machine. But what I have noticed is that the chirping is totally mixed up. I had the impression that none of the birds were listening to each other, they were all chattering wildly and without interruption. Why do they do that? Is birdsong also a form of communication, like language? In any case, it got me thinking, or rather it made me want to dedicate an episode to this aspect: When we speak - is it just about us or me, or is it also about the other person? Is it about being allowed to react to my speech and do I allow this, do I give it space or do I only do this when the expected or hoped-for reaction occurs? Can I be quiet sometimes or do I have to communicate without interruption? How do you deal with such questions?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know many different balls: There are footballs, handballs, medicine balls, basketball balls, floorball balls, baseball balls and probably many more. I learnt that you can't play football with volleyballs because they suffer badly. And nobody would probably play basketball with a medicine ball because it's so heavy. Each ball for its own purpose or sport. That makes sense. But if we are honest, we often don't behave like this in other areas of life: we try to apply opinions or attitudes or approaches in areas for which they are not suitable - and then get annoyed at the unsuccessful result. Listening is called for where it is important for the other person and where they are the centre of attention. Patience is also required and sometimes assertiveness is needed to achieve a goal. Do you manage to play these matching balls in your everyday life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Life is constant change or continuous change or everything in a state of flux - and whatever the phrases are called. The fact is: very little stays the same. Not only is this world subject to time and therefore to decay, but the process of change is sometimes very actively pursued and is even decisive here and there, sometimes even life-saving. However, change is not easy for everyone. For some people, things happen too quickly or they would like things to be the way they used to be - whatever that means... when and how exactly? Others love change and standing still makes them nervous and restless. Innovations are also part of this area of change and the fact that they exist has changed humanity enormously. We may debate whether it is for the better or not and whether innovation is good in itself or not. Either way, it happens and has already brought a lot of good. Can you also see the positive in change?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Asparagus is only available for a short time each year. Unlike many other natural products that are available almost all year round, albeit often imported from far away, asparagus is only available here in spring. The harvesting work is time-consuming and, as far as I know, cannot be done by machine. Unfortunately, the asparagus is harvested by cheap labour imported from Eastern Europe. This manual labour is necessary for good quality. It is therefore not possible to speed up or automate the harvesting process at will. In addition, the harvested asparagus must also be well cared for after cutting to prevent a loss of quality. There are things in life that only happen at a certain time and under certain favourable conditions. Blessed are those who can accept everything in life as it comes and then let it go again. Everything has its time. King Solomon already knew this several thousand years ago.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a salt shaker on many tables. At least in the restaurants. It is used to add salt to the food. Salt has the effect of enhancing flavour. If you use the salt shaker, there should be a good match between the size of the salt grains and the holes in the shaker. Otherwise, it can either result in no salt escaping - if the grains are too coarse - or too much salt escaping if the holes are too large. Both are undesirable. In the first case, nothing happens, in the second, the food becomes oversalted - which is no longer good. A healthy balance. This is necessary in many areas of life. And as healthy and valuable as salt is: without it we are missing something, too much of it is unhealthy, despite the fundamentally good properties of salt. Jesus once said that his followers are the salt of this world, something that protects them from destruction. But too much piety is not everyone's cup of tea either...
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We all know from our own experience that life is not always on the sunny side. There are good times, but there are also less pleasant times and sometimes life can be really tough and challenging. We often perceive circumstances as problematic and challenging and secretly or non-verbally it is the circumstances, the things we cannot influence, that we blame for such difficult phases. We are the victims of circumstances, so to speak. In this context, I read the following quote as a kind of contrast: Suffering comes from man's own nature like a whirlwind of sparks from a fire. This is what Eliphaz from Teman, a friend of Job, says. I got stuck there and asked myself: is that really the case? Of course, this suddenly put our own responsibility at the centre and challenged us. I am no longer the victim, but the perpetrator. What does this quote trigger in you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The German term heilig probably goes back to the Old High German word heilag and originally had the meaning of "own" or "property". In certain translations of the Bible, the term "set apart for God" is also used. Holy is therefore something that is set apart for God, set apart for his ownership. This makes sense if you imagine that saints are people who have placed their lives entirely at God's disposal or things that belong exclusively to God or are only used for him in worship rituals. But now you can also turn the tables: think about what you have set apart in your life or chosen for special people or occasions or people etc. This could give you a clue as to where you might have your hidden gods.
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Over the course of time, man has controlled surface waters, particularly in urban areas, by means of structural measures. For example, canals have been used to control the course of rivers. This makes the remaining land easier to plan and utilise - whether for housing or agricultural land. This is an optimisation that would not be possible if nature were left untouched. This works well as long as there is no heavy rainfall. In such cases, canals can turn out to be boomerangs, because they allow the increased water masses to flow faster, causing the water level to rise higher. This leads to unwanted flooding. In the context of human relationships, many people also want to have control and steer things in a targeted manner. As long as everything is peaceful, this works well. But in conflict situations, this can have a boomerang effect, just like with the canal. It is then more advisable to give freedom instead of control. If this concerns you...
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In pressure cookers and probably other cooking utensils, there are inserts that prevent the food from lying directly on the base of the pan. This ensures that there is no or much less burnt food or the inserts are used to ensure that the food is not directly or only barely in the water and can therefore be steamed by the rising water vapour. The inserts are easy to insert - but they can only be removed if, for example, there are large enough holes in the support surface through which you can grip the insert with your fingers and then pull it out. How good that someone has thought about this and found a practical solution. What initially looks strange - this insert with large holes - ultimately proves to be extremely valuable in use. Nowadays, when everyone thinks they know everything better, trusting experts is not an option. But every now and then it really does pay off.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a teenager, the little bottles of fruit juice from a particular brand were all the rage. They came in many different flavours with different fruits and fruit combinations. You gave the bottles a good shake, then twisted the cap and there was this "click" sound that was unique to the product. This happened because there was a slight vacuum in the bottle and when you turned the lid this was released and the metal lid made this clicking sound - an unmistakable sign that the bottle had been opened for the first time and the juice was still fresh. This was not recognisable from the outside. When buying or choosing, you had to trust that nobody had actually opened the bottle before. You only knew when you turned the cap yourself. So it was only when you used it that you realised it was still intact. That's how it is sometimes in life: we only find out whether something is good when we use it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Time is one of the most precious commodities, especially in our industrialised world. In production, for example, shift work is carried out in order to minimise unused time. We organise ourselves in such a way that we often pack as much as possible into a day or a week, and even on holiday we try to see or experience as much as possible - in other words, to maximise the density of experiences per unit of time. And then there is a word that is used crosswise in this context: on time. As the name suggests, it means: at the right time. Not too early, not too late - but just in time. In nature, in a healthy farm, fruit is harvested when it is ripe - at the right time. A farm that only wants to maximise yield without quality is an annoying stone in its shoe. Can you stand it if you have to wait for the right time in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A fuse is the part of an explosive device that is first brought into contact with the part that sets the fire. It then leads this fire to the explosive and causes it to explode. The fuse must be dry and can be of any length. The fuse allows the detonator to ignite the explosive device without it exploding immediately. There is therefore a time delay between setting the fuse on fire and explosion. This time is needed to get to safety and not be injured by the detonation itself. The length of the fuse defines this time delay. Unfortunately, we do this from time to time in everyday life. We say things or do or fail to do something in the knowledge that this will later trigger an emotional or other violent reaction. In the meantime, however, we have already taken refuge. Do you pay attention to the explosive power of your behaviour towards those around you?
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You have probably seen pictures in which a cone of debris was visible that was created by a landslide or an avalanche. Enormous amounts of material are set in motion and then stop at some point. At best, they leave no damage other than changes to the landscape; at worst, they cause great destruction and claim human lives. As far as I know, it is only possible to estimate in advance where this mass will end up and how great the threat will be. Preparations can therefore only be made to the extent that a potentially endangered area is warned in advance, sensitised and, where possible, sensible safety precautions are taken. You can't control the rest, neither the timing nor the extent. But an alert awareness is the best preparation in this case. It is precisely this comparison that Jesus needs when he speaks of his return. Are you appropriately alert for this event?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German, we talk about something being annoying. And this term obviously contains the word "nerve". A nerve reacts to a stimulus. If we touch something with our skin, it reacts thanks to the nerves - and protects us from burns, for example, if we touch something that is very hot: we withdraw our hand very quickly and thus avoid worse skin damage. If something annoys us, it may be because we ourselves are overstretched or overwhelmed or because it really is something that is - well - annoying, something that gets on our nerves as we say, i.e. provokes a reaction that makes us want to distance ourselves from it. Such impulses are not annoying, but important to pay attention to. Why does it annoy us? Isn't this impulse part of our entire nervous system, even if not physically, but mentally or spiritually? So annoying can also be prophylactically protective!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When the air pressure changes, this has a direct effect on temperatures. I didn't realise that a high-pressure area has so much influence that its higher pressure compresses the air to such an extent that it causes temperatures to rise. I hardly notice the increased air pressure, but I do notice the higher - or in the case of a low pressure area - lower temperatures. So if I just look at the temperatures and how they can change quite frequently during seasonal transitions, for example, I would conclude that the weather is simply very moody again. This is caused by alternating areas of low and high pressure. Perhaps you are one of those people who are said to be moody or perceive yourself to be so. If so, the weather example could help you to understand why you or others quickly change your mood: Namely, changing external pressures.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I'm a city kid and therefore not familiar with everyday agricultural matters. But I imagine that when sowing different plants, the farmer doesn't ask himself what they will grow into, but knows that this grain or this seed will become this or that and nothing else. The layman cannot see this in the seed - but the seed contains everything it needs to become a particular plant. I believe that this law also applies to us humans: what we sow - in a figurative sense for those of us who do not work in agriculture - becomes what it is: Words, actions, looks etc. carry the DNA with which they were sown, i.e. our attitude, and will trigger the corresponding behaviour. That is why it is important that our attitude and our heart are correspondingly good and pure - because it is transferred to what we have sown and reaches our environment. How do you achieve this purity?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our western world, the law is often represented by Justicia, who holds a pair of scales in her hand and is blindfolded so as not to be biased in her judgement. The scales used have two scales. Only when both scales are equally weighted is there balance, in this case justice. It is obviously about weighing up all the relevant factors - or to put it more subjectively: everything that has weight and influence and could be used and in the end it is a relative decision: relative, because it is not about the absolute weight of the offence, but only about a comparison with something else. Other scales work in such a way that they have their pan on a spring and then the absolute weight is measured and shown on a scale. This seems fairer to me because it is based on a standard that applies to everyone and not on freely chosen judgement weights. Law should remain law.
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I recently went out to eat and ordered a Vegi Dürüm at a place where I've never eaten before. As a dürüm is rolled up in a pastry bag, you can't see what's inside from the outside. I cut the dürüm open because I was sharing it with my dining partner. When I saw what was inside, I was shocked. It looked like meat and because the waitress hardly spoke any German, I assumed she had brought me the wrong thing. It turned out that the supposed meat was well-cooked aubergine. This situation held up a mirror to how quickly I can become insecure and how much I obviously want to be in control and how quickly my trust is lost in the process. Always wanting to control everything is not only extremely stressful, but also impossible. If we take a close look at our lives, we should actually realise how little we can control ourselves and how relaxed it is to live in faith.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's fire. But you can't recognise the fuel by the smoke alone. It could be a campfire with a lot of damp wood or a pneu factory that produces a lot of toxic fumes during a fire. From a distance, this can only partly be correctly interpreted from the colour of the smoke. The closer you get, the clearer it becomes - and most clearly when you are standing in front of the fire itself. It is the same with us humans: what drives us, i.e. what fire burns within us, can only rarely be correctly interpreted from a distance or by simply observing our words and actions. But if we get closer to people, we can judge much better what really drives their actions. For example, supposedly good deeds can come from bad motivation or with devious intent. Where there is smoke - take a closer look. But you should also keep checking yourself to see what fuel you are using to feed your own inner fire.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Board games usually use simple game pieces, each of which is assigned to a player. They are often made of wood, very simple and differ in colour from the other pieces. The pieces are then moved around the board by the corresponding player. If the game is not purely a game of chance, the player moves his piece according to certain strategic considerations. The piece therefore represents the player and all their considerations. However, it would never occur to anyone to compare the piece with the person playing. The dimensions of the purely material figurine are far too different from those of a living person. And yet the player needs the figurine in the game in order to be able to depict and participate, so to speak. This example helps me to understand how infinitely diverse God is towards his creation - and yet he shows himself in it - also in you and me. Do you perceive him?
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We recognise people not only by their appearance, but also by their voice or gait, etc. Where do these abilities come from? It is not the mind alone, but also the spirit, the quasi-supernatural, i.e. not rational. I believe it comes from what is beyond us. It is a creative gift that can be trained - but this rarely happens consciously. For example, we can become better and better at recognising what is good and what is not good - if we consciously train this ability and also allow inexplicable feelings and impressions. I interpret that we are able to do this because we have eaten from the tree of knowledge. But recognising is one thing - how to deal with it is another and far more difficult thing. Wisdom is needed here. It comes best from communion with the one who gave us all this and originally created it. Knowledge alone without the necessary wisdom is therefore not only an almost unbearable burden, but can even be dangerous if we lack the wisdom to know what to do or not to do on the basis of what we have recognised.
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Light illuminates and gives all sighted people the information they need to move around safely. It illuminates, brightens and helps us to orientate ourselves. Without light, in the dark, nothing changes in our surroundings - but we are no longer able to take safe steps in the same way. However, light also has the property that above a certain intensity it is harmful to our eyes and can dazzle us to such an extent that we can no longer see anything. So what is so good on the one hand is equally harmful on the other. The fact that we don't suffer any damage depends solely on our line of vision. Light is only indirectly good for us, but not directly. When we are in the light, it helps us, but when we look into the light source, it can harm us. This helps me to understand why we should live our lives before God, but still cannot see Him. At least not in this world.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Assuming you see an earthworm, i.e. an animal without feet, you might wonder how it moves. It actually works by contracting along its length and therefore straightening up in the middle, pulling the rear part towards the front while the front part remains stationary and then the rear part remains stationary and the front part pushes itself forwards. This sequence of movements is repeated continuously. Both are therefore present simultaneously throughout the forward movement: Resting or waiting and movement. This sounds contradictory to us humans and our bodies. I think that sometimes this is the only way forward in processes and interpersonal relationships: Certain people at the front wait until those behind can catch up. And then those at the front can take the next step. So things also move forward while you're waiting - encouraging, don't you think?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
How well do you manage to express your feelings? Or how well do you manage not only to allow and express them, but also to communicate them consciously? We live in a society in which we are always supposed to feel good and when we are asked "how are you?", we often don't wait for an answer or take it seriously, but automatically expect a "good" before moving on to the actual topic of conversation. In social media, communication is even more special. People don't necessarily formulate complete sentences and work a lot with images, icons or emojis. The latter are simply small symbols - including faces - that reflect different moods. This often makes it easier to communicate your current mood. If you do the same: which emoji are you currently using? And which one would you like to be? Which one would you choose as your life emoji?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was driving past a place the other day on my way to the railway station where the road was cracked along its length and had a slight camber. This road had been repaired not so long ago. When I saw this crack, I thought to myself that the subsoil at this point was obviously active, i.e. in motion, and had damaged the road accordingly. I continued to wonder what would happen if this indication was not acted upon - would the road be torn up there, would the surface be completely broken up and, if so, what would that mean for the use of the road? Or will this imminent damage be recognised and countermeasures taken in good time, which would, however, have a negative impact on the flow of traffic for a while? Emerging damage or problems often announce themselves. The only question is whether we see them, want to see them and are prepared to react to them in good time. How do you feel about this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We used to play the gallows game in pairs as children. One of us thinks of a word and draws as many small squares as the word has letters. The other has to guess the word by guessing the individual letters. If he guesses a letter correctly, it is entered in the corresponding empty space. If he guesses a letter that does not appear in the word, the other player gradually draws a gallows with each unsuccessful attempt, with a person hanging from it. If the drawing is completed after about 10 unsuccessful attempts, the guessing player has lost. If he guesses the word before completing the drawing, he wins. This game reminds me that we are often keen to count other people's mistakes and at some point say: that's enough. Peter once said the same thing to Jesus when he asked: Is it enough to allow a person to misbehave 7 times? Jesus says: No! Don't even start counting, just forgive. What does this request trigger in you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Minimising effort with minimum drag is the aim of progress. This can be seen in Formula 1 cars: their shape and exterior is chosen so low that they experience as little air resistance as possible at their high speeds and therefore travel as quickly as possible with the lowest possible fuel consumption. In sailing, it's exactly the opposite: here you deliberately seek out the air resistance, the wind that gives you the drive to move forwards. For me, this contrast has a strong pictorial quality: on the road, the path made by man, he endeavours to reach his goals by means of his own propulsion. In creation, on the water, he seeks the driving force that he cannot control and co-operates with it instead of fighting against it. In the Bible, the wind symbolises the Holy Spirit. In this comparison: Do you allow yourself to be led by God's spirit and in His environment or do you follow your own self-made paths under your own steam?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a saying that one crow does not peck out another crow's eye. So people go easy on their own kind and don't attack each other. But what happens when injustice occurs? Are we then brave enough to speak up, even to our own kind? The weak always need the influence and the voice of the strong. Unfortunately, they are all too often silent. How do you deal with situations of injustice? When it affects others, do you raise your voice for them in front of your peers? Or do you remain silent and passive like a crow? If Jesus had not raised his voice - figuratively speaking - for us humans on Good Friday, Satan would have had the last word. Thank God Jesus did not remain silent. Also and precisely because it cost him everything. So that undeserved justice could be done for us. So not only are our eyes saved from being pecked out, they are even opened.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What a match and a firelighter have in common is that they can light something. In most cases, this is done deliberately and without risk to the environment. For example, lighting a candle or a campfire. However, the match differs from the lighter in a few ways: once lit, it has a very limited burning time. It is sensitive to environmental influences such as moisture and can break when rubbed. However, it also produces considerably less waste and, as far as I know, is environmentally friendly to dispose of. When lighting a fire, it can even be disposed of directly in the fire. So in terms of life cycle, it is much better than the lighter. But it does require a little more care and more conscious use. I can light the lighter as often and as briefly as I like, a match is used up once lit. Conscious use of our limited and sometimes sensitive resources - do you manage this well?
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You are probably familiar with how certain moments or places suddenly come to mind, like lightning thoughts, and then trigger different emotions or memories. These could be beautiful or threatening, joyful or associated with fear, etc. They are triggered by very different things such as scents, thoughts, people, objects and more. These memories are linked to emotions that we come into contact with again. The memory therefore not only takes place in the mind, but also in the soul. In the case of negative feelings, this can be stressful and sometimes it is necessary to work through them, sometimes with professional help, in order to heal internally. I experience positive memories as undeserved happiness, the richness of life, gifts. These are the ingredients that mean that at the end of a life someone can say: I am full of life and in a positive sense. Do you nourish yourself in this direction?
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If I asked you how you define a window, you might say: A window is a recess in the wall of a house. This recess allows light to enter the house. This is correct - but incomplete. If it were only the recess, then the wall would simply be interrupted. However, as I understand it, a window includes at least one pane of glass. In many cases even at least two, which are in a frame and this can often be opened. Why this clarification? Because it is crucial: I use it to determine what I want to let in and what I want to let out of the room or building. This closing mechanism is important for a window, otherwise it's nothing more than a hole in the wall and everything can get in and out. Closing mechanisms that you can consciously operate are also important for our soul and our spirit. Does this work for you?
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It is said that people like to take the path of least resistance. And I think that's true in many areas and situations. At least that's how I experience it myself. But there is also another side to it: passion. Where I am passionate, I fight, something is important to me and I seek it against all or at least a lot of resistance. The German term Leidenschaft already contains the essence or drive for this: A willingness to suffer. Willingness to suffer for something that is important to you. Not the path of least resistance. The two approaches differ in their focus: the least resistance chooses the most comfortable path and the goal is secondary. Passion focusses on the goal, with the willingness to pay the necessary price for it. Which one do you think has more life in it? Have you decided in favour of life?
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A rope has very different uses. The most obvious, or I suspect most commonly used, is to tie things down or bind them together. But a rope is also used - for example in a park near where I live - to protect a meadow from pedestrians. In other words, the rope stretched around the meadow signals to park visitors: please don't go onto the meadow. Technically speaking, this would be no problem, as the rope is only about 40cm above the ground. To tie up or to keep away - almost diametrically opposed. Both with the same object. So there are many things in our lives that can be used for one or the other almost opposite purpose. The decision is up to us. The responsibility too. Just like in paradise: to eat or not to eat the forbidden fruit. Conscious obedience or rebellion. It is the same entity within us that makes these decisions.
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In Greek mythology, there is a dog called Kerberos. He guarded the entrance to the underworld, the realm of the dead, and made sure that no dead person went out and no living person came in. He did this until the day Heracles - also known as Hercules - came and overpowered him. He strangled and bound him. Of course, this story reminds me of what we celebrate at Easter - that Jesus defeated the devil with his suffering and death and subsequent resurrection, thus giving us eternal life and also opening up access - not to the underworld, but to eternity, a place that is presented in the Bible as a new creation that is not subject to transience. While Heracles used his own strength, courage and cunning for his heroic deed, Jesus acted out of love and gave himself. All that remains of Heracles is the myth; of Jesus we know that he is alive and will return.
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I attend conferences and trade fairs from time to time and companies often exhibit there. Over the years, I have seen new companies emerge and, unfortunately, older ones disappear. I have got to know start-ups and large established corporations. What they all have in common is that they have a name. In the vast majority of cases, this is not by chance. It stands for something, has a message and usually makes a statement about the purpose of the company or its services, products or offerings. Sometimes it's a small cell whose full resolution you need to know in order to understand the statement and sometimes the statement is already clear from the name. Sometimes it is a product name of this company and sometimes it indicates in which market it participates. But actually it is always a clear statement in connection with their vision or mission. If you were to see your life as a company - just for the sake of argument - which company name would you choose?
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Test tubes are used for very different purposes in the laboratory. For example, reactions can be tested or small quantities of liquid can be stored in them and they are suitable for heating over a Bunsen burner, etc. A test tube is therefore - as I understand it as a layman - a test environment in which either presumptions can be verified and proven or new things can be tested in very small quantities. As far as I know, however, there is no test tube that is designed in such a way that it can be placed upright because it is round and therefore cannot stand upright. The round shape has the advantage that it is more stable than a rectangular shape and allows the test substances to be distributed more evenly. A holder is therefore required. This simple example shows me that, for all the greatness of such a jar, it is useless without a higher support. I think this also applies to our lives.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are one-way streets in our neighbourhood, which means that vehicles have to take roads with lots of bends. There are shops there and so lorries also have to go there. There is a narrow place where vehicles are allowed to cross. This is also a sharp and tight bend. There are beautiful old houses there - and for some time now there has also been a stone bollard about 80cm high. As soon as it was there, it was knocked over and lay destroyed on the road. It was repaired and put up again. Since then, this procedure has been repeated many times. What is the solution? Remove the bollard and risk damaging the building façade or continue to invest in repairs? A difficult question. To remove goods or prioritise or decide what is more important, regardless of the cost. Do you also have principles that are so important to you that you hold on to them against all odds because they are so important to you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Fashion trends change regularly in many areas of life: In clothing, accessories, hairstyles, etc. For men, there is also beard fashion: Beard yes or no, if yes, how long, what type etc.? Full beards have been fashionable among younger men in the recent past. For some time now, moustaches have also been worn again. But a moustache is not just a moustache. There are shorter, longer, wider, narrower... that is - no: I don't see any narrower ones. And that is probably due to the Third Reich, to Adolf Hitler. His moustache characterised his appearance and I assume that nobody would want to look like that and identify with him. It's interesting or frightening how a single person can trigger such negative sustainability. Our behaviour leaves its mark. It's good to look back from time to time and check whether these are the ones you really want to leave behind or whether you need to change your behaviour.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The next Olympic Games will soon be taking place in Paris. The logo for this event is five coloured rings that overlap or are connected to each other. Each of these rings has a different colour and represents a continent. These are Europe in blue, America in red, Asia in yellow, Australia in green and Africa in black. The colours are derived as follows, according to conventional wisdom: Europeans often have blue eyes, the indigenous people of America have red skin colour, those of Asia have yellow, Africans have black and Australia is largely green. Very controversial today because of the racial connotations. This explanation is also wrong. The author of this colour assignment wanted to express: One of these colours appears in every national flag, so that all nations belong to these games. They are therefore also invited and identify with them. A completely different meaning. So beware: the common general opinion is not always the correct one.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For some months now, the world has been looking with concern at the Middle East, where there is unfortunately a lot of violence. The flag of Israel contains the Star of David. I once looked up what it stands for. One of the things I found out was that the downward-pointing triangle symbolises that man has received his life from God, while the upward-pointing triangle symbolises that man will return to God. The six smaller peripheral triangles stand for the six days of creation and the common, larger part in the centre for the seventh, the day of rest. I find this remarkable. No symbolism of the power of the people or the ruler or any other autocratic claim. It is an appreciative and, in a certain sense, humble reminder of where man comes from and where he is going and to whom he owes his life. A place that puts this at its centre actually deserves peace. No wonder it is so controversial due to the arrogance of man.
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I recently read up on the subject of hair and found the following information:
Each hair consists of a hair shaft and a hair root. The shaft is the visible part of the hair, the hair root is in the skin. It is encased in the hair follicle, to which a small muscle is attached that can raise the hair. Many nerve fibres also end at the hair follicle. This enables us to perceive hair movements. At the lower end, the hair root is spherically thickened. It is called the hair bulb. New cells are constantly being formed in the hair bulb, which stick together and become keratinised. The entire hair is made up of this horny strand. Because new keratinised cells are constantly adhering to the hair from below, it gradually pushes itself out of the skin. In this way, the hair grows about 1cm per month. I was overwhelmed by this information. A muscle on every hair. King David was right when he thanked God that he was wonderfully made. You can read about it in Psalm 139.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
New products are constantly coming onto the market. This is one of the characteristics of our market economy orientated society. New products are needed to open up a new market or simply to generate money. In our affluent society in particular, this happens in the food sector. Many things that we don't really need are being innovated and presented with a lot of elaborate marketing. Small snacks such as chocolate balls and the like, for example. I notice that there are roughly two categories of products: the perfect-looking ones and the totally individualised ones. For example: the perfectly round chocolate ball or the purely random and unique chocolate crisp. Both express a certain longing of ours: Individuality and uniqueness and at the same time perfection. I believe that from God's point of view, this is his creation. If you want an illustrative object as an example: look in the mirror.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The horseshoe is often regarded as a lucky charm. This is because iron used to be a valuable commodity and finding a horseshoe was considered lucky, just like finding money today. It was also believed that iron had magical powers, as horses did not seem to feel pain when shod with hot iron. This led to the belief in the magical powers of iron and thus the horseshoe as a lucky charm. Many people therefore have one at home. But can luck be fixed? Isn't it much more the moment and less a state? Being lucky and being happy are not the same thing. While in the first case good things happen to you unexpectedly, in the second case you are largely responsible or at least partly responsible. I can be happy without a lucky charm, I can choose to be happy. It's a question of attitude and not of possession. And that alone is happiness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to explain something to someone but just couldn't find the words? Or you were abroad, couldn't speak the language, but really wanted to talk to someone, for example to order something in a restaurant? In these cases you feel handicapped or mute. It's like in dreams where you want to say something but you can't make a sound. This can be not only frustrating, but downright frightening. Not being understood, not being heard is, in my opinion, one of the worst things that can happen to you, as if you have been wronged. How valuable it is to have a form of communication, a common language that is clearly understood by everyone involved in the conversation. Not something that can be taken for granted. Make yourself aware of this privilege today and be grateful for it. Among other things, it makes you viable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is said, 'Sharpen your edges and you will bump yourself less'. But it also means 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.'. The iron grinds to sharpness in the second case and in the first case the sharp edges are ground blunt. Are the two statements contradictory? No, they are both true. If I sharpen my character by interacting with others, it does indeed become sharper - but not in a destructive way, but in a constructive and helpful way, which can also mean that I allow the rough edges of my character to change for the better. In this way, I become prepared to make a firm appearance, a clear stance and a sharp statement in situations that require it, while other situations call for gentleness, restraint and mercy. Blessed is he whose character is able to assess situations with wisdom in such a way that his character becomes a blessing for everyone involved.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Has it ever happened to you that you wanted to get on the train at a platform, but then the carriage you had to get into was so far behind or in front that the platform was no longer there and you only managed to get on with a giant step? Or the same when getting off? Or maybe on a tram or a larger car, when moving to the shop floor etc.? Then you must have missed an intermediate step or an entry or exit aid. Something like this is inconspicuous, you hardly see it and don't notice it at all if you don't need it. But if it's necessary, then you'll go to great lengths to have this intermediate step. Sometimes little and inconspicuous things are essential after all. Hence the impulse for today to be aware of these things in everyday life and to be grateful for them. A glass of water when you're thirsty, an open door, the working toilet flush etc.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Chemically speaking, salt is something very simple because it consists of only two elements: Sodium and chlorine. Nevertheless, it is something special, it seems to me: on the one hand, it can be extracted from the ground and, on the other, it is found in the earth's large bodies of water, i.e. in seas and oceans. It is used by humans as a flavour enhancer in food preparation and as a preservative. In most cases, it is invisible where it is present in an environment, i.e. not in its pure form. Too much of it is unhealthy and it is precisely this excess that has the aforementioned preservative effect. That seems somehow contradictory. But it is. What is used positively and intentionally in one place can be harmful in another context. This also applies to our behaviour, our words. And we are responsible for this. Once again: the context is crucial. We are also responsible for making judgements about this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I find it interesting that when it comes to the end of the world and the transition to eternity, Jesus uses very concise comparisons. He speaks almost exclusively in parables and metaphors and comparisons in his discourses. And he compares the time in eternity to a magnificent, lavish wedding feast. However, he compares the transition there to a night-time burglary by a thief, and he and the apostle Paul after him warn and admonish us to be vigilant. The almost absurd question is posed as to whether a householder would not be awake and intercept the perpetrator if he knew that he was coming to rob him. Logically, he would. And by this Jesus means that it is just as logical that we should be prepared and vigilant when it comes to being aware that Jesus is coming again and will then put an end to this age and begin the new one for us. Prepared for eternity. A statement worth thinking about in depth.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know your joy triggers? They can be very different. Often - and thank goodness for that - it's people and encounters with them. But not only. I recently came across a statement that spontaneously appealed to me and triggered precisely this effect: Happiness and joy and, interestingly, that's what this statement is all about. I read: "Being able to see the light of the sun means happiness and joy." That sounds very banal, especially for us people without a visual impairment. It could easily be changed to "Being able to feel the light of the sun means happiness and joy." That's why it made me so happy and touched me, because I think: it's something that I can't earn, plan or otherwise influence and it's also not available 24 hours a day. But it happens without me doing anything - and then I can just let it be given to me. The quote comes from King Solomon's collection of wisdom.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you work with a computer at work today, it is common to work from home or while travelling. The employee has access to the company data shared with him via his computer over the Internet. This is as if they were physically in the office, as if they were on the local network. This is made possible by what is known as a virtual private network, or VPN for short. It refers to a network connection that cannot be viewed by unauthorised parties and therefore offers the necessary security to work securely with confidential data from outside the office. With additional technical methods, this connection is then tap-proof. A kind of communication tunnel into the company, even to the boss if necessary. Since Easter and Pentecost, this has also been possible on a mental and spiritual level. Prayer to our Creator is possible from anywhere, tap-proof and confidential. What a privilege.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you recognise the following situation? You live in a neighbourhood and there is a neighbour. You meet him for the first time, then for the second time. You soon get the impression that this person is a bit special or strange. Perhaps he doesn't greet you and when he does, he does so very strangely or doesn't hold the door open for you, even though you are about to come to the door, etc. Every further encounter with this person confirms your impression of them. You start to talk about this person and how strange they are in your environment - and so this person becomes stranger and stranger to you. What is often forgotten in this perhaps amusing process is that it is not only my image of another person that becomes increasingly negative and distorted, but also my behaviour as a result. This phenomenon can also be applied to many other everyday situations. Perhaps it's time for a reality check?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Nowadays, if you don't know something, you ask Google. Google knows everything. Very practical - well, as long as you have internet access, otherwise it gets difficult. But this direct access to knowledge also has its downsides. On the one hand, we don't become smarter, although we perhaps look up and read a lot more than we used to, but rather dumber, because we don't have to memorise what we've read. Secondly, it accelerates the already existing process of losing authority. If anyone and everyone can look up anything, then there will be no need for experts. Or in short: nobody needs to tell me anything, I know better what is right and good. That seems extremely dangerous to me. After all, experience is not available via Google and it is precisely this that makes up a substantial part of qualified expertise. At least so much so that the relevant experts deserve the authority they deserve. Do you agree?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you hate the climbing pole when you were a child? I remember how we tried to climb up this pole with enormous effort, especially as young schoolchildren, but failed after just a few moves. Later, it was much easier for me and I was able to apply techniques so that I could get up the pole more easily and it was only a matter of time before I was at the top. Looking back, it's clear to me that my physical strength increased with age, but also that I was more trained and eventually developed a will and therefore a technique that enabled me to get to the top. Even today, strength, willpower and focus are still components that enable or at least facilitate the achievement of goals. But they challenge your own ego and are unpopular in this day and age of non-commitment. What do you think of these three qualities? Would it be time to promote one or the other again?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is not uncommon for people who are prominent or in the public eye to talk about their vocation and to debate whether or not the task or lifestyle they have chosen actually corresponds to their vocation, or to mention personalities who live or have lived their vocation in a very special way. The term is of biblical origin. A calling is symbolised by a cloak, especially in the case of prophets. The prophet's mantle expresses the calling of a person to be a prophet as pronounced by God. The image makes it clear: a calling is sometimes a burden that you carry, but sometimes it is also a protection and can be passed on. If you transfer this symbolism to your life, will it help you to define your calling: something in life that you carry, that you also feel, that is sometimes a burden but also protection and warms you? Something that you would like to pass on to the next generation?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever seen a pan with a scratched base? This means that the surface has been damaged either when cleaning or emptying the pan with objects that are too hard or improperly. The pan is therefore permanently damaged. If you go ice skating, you will also leave scratches or scuff marks on the ice from the sharp blades of your skates. The two objects can therefore be compared: The scratched pan and the scratched ice. Both are damaged and no longer untouched and smooth as they were originally. In the case of ice, however, the smooth surface can be restored with the appropriate device so that it looks like new. I imagine the forgiveness of sins granted by Jesus in the Bible to be similar: without it, our soul remains permanently scratched like the bottom of the pan. Through it, we can always start anew and completely healed.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You have probably seen geometric figures that give you a three-dimensional impression. For example: a square is two-dimensional, flat or even. A cube, on the other hand, has three dimensions. You can also draw it in such a way that you get the impression of a solid and not just a surface. So far nothing special. But remember: on a plane, a sheet of paper, i.e. in two dimensions, I can depict a reality that is one dimension higher, i.e. in three dimensions. Not at all self-evident. Our senses are therefore able to perceive this higher dimension. What applies to the eye in this case also applies to our mind and soul. Time and again in life we have moments when we realise, when we see with our mind, that there is a higher dimension than the here and now. Eternity. That is where we are travelling to. Can you see that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a child, you probably also used the seesaw in the playground, where one or more people of roughly the same weight sit at one end and then take turns lifting each other up and then back down again. However, the whole thing only works really well if the weight at both ends is more or less the same. I think it's a nice image of how we can elevate each other in our dealings with each other, for example by putting the other person at the centre of our attention and taking a back seat ourselves. So I use my influence - my weight, so to speak - so that the other person receives the praise or attention. And then it changes again. My consciously stepping back brings attention to someone else - and then it changes again - because staying too high for too long, even on the seesaw, is no fun and it is better if the person in a lower position lowers the seesaw again to get off.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In life, it happens all the time that not everything runs smoothly or the way you would like it to. You make plans for the day and are well on your way - and then suddenly something unexpected happens that throws your entire schedule into disarray and perhaps also causes great concern or stress and overwhelm. How do you react then? And what helps you then? I find it interesting that in the prayer book of the Bible, in the Psalms, in such a situation the person praying does not take refuge in prayer or Bible reading or any other pious activity, but in nature. He talks about looking at the mountains in the 121st Psalm and then asks himself where help might come from. He seems to find the answer in this force of nature: the one who created all this is also powerful enough to provide help in his current situation. Do you also have such hopeful perspectives?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, in ornate written documents or books, the first letters of a section were often specially emphasised. These emphasised letters are called capitals. The opposite is the common, i.e. the rest of the text. Versal comes from the Latin versus, which means the turning of the plough, the furrow, the line. That makes sense. When reading, however, I often felt that this emphasis was so strong that I perceived it more as an art element than as part of the text and therefore often had the impression that a letter was missing. Sometimes you can want to emphasise something with good intentions and achieve just the opposite - confusion instead of emphasis. This is also familiar in conflicts: If the point of view is emphasised with too much force of words or volume, you often no longer hear the content, but only the strength. Therefore, when communicating, pay attention to what is moderate and understandable for the listener. In the end, it serves everyone.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We humans are sometimes strange creatures. On the one hand, we want a lot of security, predictability, clarity, etc. We appreciate clear rules, depending on the type of person we are, we are keen to ensure that agreements are adhered to very precisely and, especially in the West, we are very influenced by state laws, regulations etc. and rely on the punctuality of public transport. Woe betide us... on the other hand, we are also the ones who stand on the beach at the end of the day or in the mountains and watch the sun go down and give free rein to our longing for something we cannot put into words in the vastness and infinity. There is the order that gives us security and there are the longings that lead us into the vastness. They are roots and wings at the same time. It is a transcendent mixture of the inexplicable and yet so familiar. Or it is the unmistakable indication that we are conceived from eternity and destined for it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Anyone who unexpectedly breaks a shoelace knows how annoying it can be. The remaining piece is often too short to tie the shoe properly and tightly. However, you can't just use any string or something similar as a replacement. The length must be correct so that there is not too much shoelace or too little to tie. The thickness must be right so that you can get the bendel through the shoe eyelets and ideally, of course, the colour must also match the shoe. It's not without its challenges, everything that is needed for a well-fitting shoe. If you don't have laces, at best the shoe will slip, at worst it won't hold at all and will be useless. Who would have thought that... something as simple as a shoelace is one of the reasons why we have healthy feet and can move well in everyday life. Another day as a reminder to appreciate the unappreciated people and things.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that bees don't build hexagons for honeycombs, but round cylinders? As they work on these cylinders, they heat the wax. This makes it soft and mouldable. In this process, it takes on the most energy-efficient shape - that of a hexagon. The heat and the external pressure thus lead to the most optimal shape via the melting process. You could also say that in this case, creation produces the perfect solution. Then you could think further: if creation or nature had reached this perfection through evolution, then potentially everything in nature reaches perfection through the evolutionary process. Including man as part of it. If we look at man and his behaviour and how he shapes the world and behaves in it - then we are a long way from perfection. For me, this is an indication that the theory of evolution does not hold up and that humans are in need of redemption instead.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A coffee machine has a container into which the water is poured to prepare the coffee. The water tank is prepared before preparation so that the subsequent preparation process can be completed successfully. The good thing about the water tank is that, depending on its size, it can be filled with a lot of water and can therefore prepare not just a few coffees, but a large number. However, this also means that if the tank is not filled as required and the water is left to stand, it is no longer fresh, which affects the quality of the coffee and causes the tank to calcify, which damages the machine. The greater the capacity, the more important the necessary maintenance. This also applies in life: the greater the influence, responsibility, etc., the more important it is to look after your own resources to prevent major damage. So take care of yourself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are people who like to take responsibility - and therefore also those who do not. In my opinion, taking responsibility has to do with identifying with something or someone, taking an interest and investing your heart. That you are not indifferent to what happens to the thing or the person and that you are prepared to invest yourself where necessary. The word itself contains the term "response" - and that seems remarkable to me and emphasises what I mean: I respond, I do not remain indifferent or merely observant or uninvolved. An answer usually also means taking a stand, showing one's colours, standing by something, showing profile. Responsibility can be difficult and sometimes even life-changing or life-shaping. But it can also motivate, energise and bring great joy. How is that for you? Are you one of those who are willing to take responsibility and therefore carry it, or do you just observe?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The desert is a place where water is in short supply. It is therefore a place where life is in great danger. I myself only have ideas about such areas based on reports. I have heard that the desert is a special place and not just a place to be avoided at all costs. Especially in spiritual matters, the desert is a very crucial place - we read in the Bible that the people of Israel received commandments and instructions there and made a covenant with God. Prophets met God there and were encouraged and commissioned anew. John was there before his public ministry and Jesus also went there quite deliberately. We also know desert times in a figurative sense. We talk about it when we find ourselves in situations where there is supposedly little life in and around us, where life becomes dry and hard and nasty. If you find yourself in such a time, know that there is life in the desert too, it is just a little more hidden, but it is there.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Honey is a delicious natural product that the industrious bees provide us with - or perhaps more correctly: that we steal from the bees. If we weren't such food thieves, the bees would have more. But would there then be more bees? The fact is that although we harvest the honey and actually take it away from the bees, there is enough. You can interpret that however you like. In any case, I think it's great that these hard-working animals are so industrious that we can benefit from their labour and have a healthy natural product to feed on. The give and take doesn't always seem fair, as in this case. We simply take. But it still works without the bees suffering. The additional feeding by beekeepers is also limited. So if you find yourself in a situation today where you feel exploited: perhaps the comparison with honey bees will help you to be a little more relaxed for once.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Ski poles, whether alpine ski poles or cross-country ski poles, have small discs at the lower end. These are sometimes a little bulky to transport, but are helpful when in use. That's why you have them. If I want to push off in the snow, the pole doesn't help me that much without these plates because it simply sinks into the soft snow and pulls me back instead of helping me to push off. Or to put it in a less complicated way and get to the point. Resistance helps with and for moving forward. That's worth thinking about. Because, as a rule, we don't love resistance. We prefer it when everything runs smoothly, when the path is flat and direct and there are no obstacles or detours to overcome. In this case, however, the resistance that we actually have to tackle with strength is our means of progress.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you throw a stone into a calm, still body of water, waves are created that spread out fairly evenly in all directions - in other words, circular waves are created. This is not only beautiful to look at, but I also find it fascinating. From the entry point of the stone, something goes further. So the stone doesn't just sink, but triggers something else. An action causes a reaction. A basic law of physics. But not just physics. In psychology too, I would say. Placed words, gestures, actions - all our behaviour also triggers something - and in the best case - to stay with the example of the stone - good waves into our surroundings, in all directions. How about consciously trying this today and observing the consequences: throwing stones in the form of good words into the water around you and observing the resulting waves?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Eating is a serious matter. At least that's what I was taught as a child. I was always told "You don't play with your food!" Without questioning this, I obeyed - and stopped playing with food. Too bad. I found it strange why you are allowed to design cakes or other desserts so lovingly and decorate them with smileys etc. My conclusion: you can't play with food, but you can with desserts. Even though you eat it too. Perhaps not all food should be considered food. That would be another explanation. But in the end, I soberly realise for myself: eating can be a joyful affair, especially in a happy community. And that's why I think it's okay to play with food - as long as you treat it respectfully and not carelessly or wastefully. And I think this applies to every area of life, not just food. Therefore: be playful and happy!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are numerous situations in life in which we are dependent on situational resources. For example, when I operate the windscreen wipers in my car, they may work perfectly in the rain - but if I want to clean the windscreen and there is no cleaning fluid, the wipers work in vain. Or I want to read a technical article, understand its content and put it into practice - but I'm too unfocussed due to lack of sleep and can't process the content, so all my previous knowledge and cognitive abilities are of no use to me. It is particularly unfavourable if the necessary resources run out during execution - a display showing how much is left in the tank, like in a car, is extremely helpful. Our soul and our body often show us this too. But if we fail to recognise these signals and refuel, we come to a standstill. Are you taking care of good resource management in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For me as a child, an effervescent tablet was like a table bomb on New Year's Eve: full of surprises, mysterious, astonishing, endlessly watchable and simply wonderful. With its bubbling in the water, it really caught my attention and I always wondered how it works, where in the tablet these thousands of bubbles are hidden. As an adult, you hardly ever ask yourself these questions any more. You throw the tablet into the water, do something briefly and then drink the drink with the dissolved substance. No more amazement, no more being spellbound, no more fascination. A pity, really. I think we miss out on so many beautiful things in everyday life because we're either so used to them or so busy with other things. Perhaps a reason to consciously notice the little things today. The growing smell of the toaster, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the first spoonful of yoghurt or a ray of sunshine that hits you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At the Venice Carnival, special masks are used to cover the eyes. In addition to covering the entire body with these masks, the eyes are also made unrecognizable so that the person cannot be recognized directly. Nevertheless, the mask allows you to look at others with your own eyes. This is contradictory: on the one hand, I don't want to be recognized, yet I want to recognize others and use the mask to keep my view of others clear. Sounds clever. But if everyone acts like this, everyone ends up wearing masks and everyone looks at each other and no one recognizes anyone else. But not clever. It's often exactly the same in life: you see an advantage for yourself, behave accordingly and perhaps actually have this advantage in certain situations - but then the others act in the same way and ultimately not only is the advantage gone, but everyone is poorer - or as in Venice: unrecognizable and therefore unrelated.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In crime thrillers, it often happens that if the perpetrator is not caught at the scene of the crime, a search for clues is carried out. The forensics team arrives in special clothing so as not to contaminate the crime scene and to find even the smallest trace of the perpetrator. If they finally find something and the traces found allow the identity of the perpetrator to be determined, they can track him down. We find many traces in our lives - both good and bad. And it is not uncommon for other people to steal things from us that actually belong to us. Happiness, contentment, trust, etc. Perhaps it's time to look for traces of the perpetrators who stole these things from you and, if you were able to find out who stole them from you and when, to reclaim them and demand their return or to reappropriate them in a conscious act.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I used to go to the hairdresser, I was asked how I wanted my fringe cut - the hair that fell on my forehead. It was very easy to see whether the fringe had been cut precisely or not: you could see straight away whether the fringe had been cut straight or whether there were individual hairs that were longer or shorter than the neighbouring hairs. Remarkable, because there are actually so many hairs on the head, but the quality of the entire cut is judged on the basis of just a few. It's often like that in life: Individual pieces stand out and receive special attention, while a larger part of the whole is hardly noticed. Does this mean that the few that do attract attention are more important? Perhaps because the whole is inferred from them. Nevertheless, they are essentially the same as the others and do not differ. If you or others get more attention, remember that this does not have to be or is not representative.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently had a business meeting online. It's February, so it's winter. In the call, the person I was talking to could be seen via his webcam - and he was wearing cool sunglasses in his office. Even before we could speak, I wondered what that was all about. I had already given it some thought and - to be honest - had formed some opinions about it and was about to make a stupid remark or comment when he beat me to it and told me that he had an eye doctor's appointment and that since his eye lenses had been surgically replaced, he was particularly sensitive to light after such check-ups. How ashamed I was of the thoughts I had just had. It reminded me that you have to be careful about drawing conclusions about others based purely on their appearance. Perhaps this will also help you today when something unusual comes to your attention - to exercise restraint in jumping to conclusions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, the most precious asset was property or money, i.e. material things. Then this changed in recent decades and, especially in our westernised and highly technologised world, time became the most precious asset. This is still the case. Time is precious and finite for us in this world. However, I think we are on the threshold of a new change. Already now and even more so in the future, trust will be the most precious commodity, I dare say. In times of artificial intelligence, deliberate misinformation, etc., the question of who or what is trustworthy and who we can trust with good reason is becoming increasingly important. After all, this can be life-deciding. How prescient and timely is the Bible, which says in the 10th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews: "Do not throw away your trust, which has a great reward. Do you realise how precious your trust is and how crucial it is to whom or what you give it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I'm travelling by bike on country lanes, I feel the bumps pretty well. These are transferred directly from the ground to the bike frame and ultimately to my body. At higher speeds, such as when riding downhill, you can feel such transmissions very well as bumps. This can really shake you up and, in the worst case, even cause you to fall. Vehicles designed for these uneven surfaces therefore have shock absorbers to cushion such impacts. However, impacts are not only physical, but also psychological. It is not simply possible to cushion them with a mechanism. You need a life foundation on which you stand and which then supports you. In the New Testament, Jesus addresses this and says that those who take his message seriously and live by it have such a protective mechanism that holds them up even in storms. I can confirm this from my own experience.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Foods are increasingly being categorised according to a traffic light rating system and printed on the packaging. This means that foods rated green are healthier than those rated red. Of course, the intention behind this food rating system is that the population develops a greater awareness of healthy eating. That is laudable. But I think of the vast majority of people on the planet who are happy if they have anything to eat at all. In their eyes, this may be an incredible decadence of our Western society. And rightly so. That's why I think it makes sense to ask ourselves from time to time: what is necessary and where do I consciously reduce my options to a sensible level by consciously foregoing all possible options? So I wouldn't have to introduce such traffic light warnings for food either, but simply limit myself to a healthy level and do without a certain possible selection.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some things in life are barely visible or not visible at all and yet are very important. A simple example is the air we have to breathe. We don't see it, it's just there and very few of us are grateful for the regular breathing process. It simply works. But if it doesn't, either because there is not enough air or because our respiratory system has problems, we notice this very quickly and it has an immediate negative impact on us. It's similar with loyalty. It is rarely visible and yet very important. Although I can occasionally make a conscious decision to be faithful to my spouse, for example, in many cases in everyday life it simply develops and grows over time. But how drastic it is when faithfulness is lacking, absent or broken. So there are values in our lives that are not very visible or present, but are essential for our well-being. It's good to realise this from time to time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that you can only sneeze with your eyes closed? I've never tried it any other way, but since knowing this and observing myself, I've realised that this is actually the case. It's not a big deal and it doesn't affect or restrict my life much or would be better if I could sneeze with my eyes open. But there are other things in life that limit us more. For example, options become fewer as we get older. By the age of 65 at the latest, I realise that my professional life is over and that I can no longer choose or pursue any other profession than the one I had before. From a certain age, some people may have to accept that they won't have any children or grandchildren. Or I realise that it is no longer possible to learn certain sports. There are limits to life. Restrictions. Unpopular in an age of opportunism. But a reality. Good for those who are reconciled to it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is the saying "Architects can do nothing so well as lose." This comes from the fact that architects take part in many competitions and often emerge as losers rather than winners. But apparently they don't let that stop them from continuing. I find this very remarkable and admirable. We are all more or less dependent on recognition and success, and rejection and defeat affect us in one way or another, even if we sometimes have to expect or reckon with it. It's all the more impressive when people don't let this stop them from carrying on - like the architects, who apparently continue to be creative, design projects, generate ideas and thus also express that they still believe in their talents, abilities and the application of what they have learnt. So I wish you this architectural perseverance for similar situations in which you may have experienced setbacks or rejection.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German, the term Enttäuschung (disappointment) is a combination of "ent" and "Täuschung" (deception). This literally means the release from a deception - which is good in itself, although it usually triggers negative and not positive feelings. In English, the analogue term is "disappointment". This is also made up of "dis" in the sense of the opposite and "appointment", which means something like appointment or date. I almost like this definition better: it's as if you have an appointment but it doesn't materialise. If the meeting or appointment is with someone you like, this usually triggers sadness and feelings that I associate much more with disappointment. Disappointment also harbours self-reproach, that you are too demanding and therefore almost bring the disappointment on yourself. That's why the English expression is more salutary for me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We loved reading comics as children. The stories were told not only through the written word, but also through visual representations. However, the pictorial representation severely restricted our own imagination. So with comics it was always clear that the stories weren't real - an effect that I didn't have with novels. There I imagined how these stories had actually happened. Pictures are often helpful - but not always. They also limit and, as in this case, severely restrict the scope of what is possible. With this in mind, I understand why God forbids people to make a picture of him. It would be helpful: an image as a reminder of him. But it would also limit him in a way that would not only not do justice to his nature, but would also restrict us in our relationship with him. His encouragement that anything is possible with him would then be somehow surreal or just fiction.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is the ambivalent image of the absent-minded professor. As a prototype, he is somewhere in his thoughts in other spheres and only partially participates in real life and is only half present. As amusing or sweet as this image may be, it is also tragic. A counterpart who is never really fully present to the world around him. Distracted. Not collected, not focussed, but scattered, like a handful of individual pieces that you simply throw down. You can't do much with them, the parts that perhaps belong together are not where they should be and would be useful. They are therefore useless in their isolation and do not fulfil their purpose. It is no coincidence that the evil one is called a diabolo, i.e. a jumbler. Purposefully creating disorder isolates and destroys. Good order creates and enables life. It was like this at the beginning of creation: God brought order to chaos, so the story goes. Life emerged from this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are all familiar with the phrase "stop the beginnings". This means that a dangerous development should be stopped in good time or at an early stage so that no damage is done. And I'm sure we all agree with this principle. But then there is also our inertia - and this is not always compatible with what we actually think is good. At least that's how I feel. Specifically, it was like this for me: I recently wanted to put on a pair of jeans when I realised that they were almost completely worn through in a very - shall we say - unfavourable place. I didn't have the time or inclination to choose another pair of trousers and said to myself: next time I'll take them to the tailor. I then realised that I had the same behaviour last time and would probably have the same next time. So my tip to you today: don't let your inertia get the better of you when it comes to making a change. Before it's too late.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I wash by hand in the sink, I seal the drain with the plug so that the water stays in the sink. At the same time, we have well-sealed windows and doors so that no water enters and causes damage in the event of heavy rain. This is logical for us: in the first case, the water should stay in, in the second, we want it outside. Hypothetically assumed: From the water's point of view, it could say to me: what do you actually want? Should I be inside with you or are you going to lock me out? Can you please make up your mind? We would then probably be confused because we wouldn't have this binary view. Let's be honest: sometimes we feel the same way about people: we don't understand them and interpret their behaviour as contradictory. Perhaps the water comparison will help you to accept that other people sometimes feel differently and are different and not contradictory in the way we think they are.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As children, we sometimes got trail mix when we were tired or hungry while hiking. In German it is called "student's food". I had previously wondered about this term because I imagined that students would only eat this mix of dried sultanas and nuts. I then imagined that this would perhaps make them particularly smart or that the students had such a special task that required them to eat mainly sultanas and nuts. Later I thought: maybe the students are just so poor that they can't afford anything else. I became more confused when I learnt much later that there are also student slices: the very sweet chocolate biscuits that are sold in the shape of crème slices. That, in turn, I found very rich. The diet of students is still a mystery to me today. So the conclusion for me: names do not always express the essence of what is being named.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I mentioned the importance of the car windscreen some time ago. It is enormously helpful or even essential for travelling at the speeds that are normal for cars today. Without this windscreen, our eyes would probably water and we would be in danger of no longer being able to see clearly due to contamination from dust particles in our eyes and therefore no longer being able to react. This would be a great danger to ourselves and others. Ski goggles have the same effect: at high downhill speeds, they still allow us to see clearly, especially in snow flurries. However, it is important to remember that both the windscreen and the ski goggles must be clean and well maintained. Dirty or defective goggles can be as fatal as no goggles at all. Therefore: protective mechanisms are good - but only as long as they are maintained. This also applies to our soul and our spirit.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you know the board game Halma. We used to play it from time to time as children and it was one of my father's favourite games. It goes like this: The game board is a hexagonal star. The figures of the maximum of 3 players are placed in a maximum of 3 of the 6 star pieces. The aim is to be the first to get the entire number of pieces into the opposite part of the star. To be able to move a piece, the following rule applies: it can only move from one square to the next if it jumps over another piece - one of your own or that of another player. Clever players therefore know how to position their own pieces in such a way that the longest possible jump paths are created so that their own players reach their destination as quickly as possible - and they also make optimum use of the position of the other players' pieces. It reminds me that you can reach your goal faster together if everyone is in a good position. That benefits you and helps others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you had the choice between two different drinking tubes - which one would you choose? The completely straight one or another one that is twisted into itself? With the latter, the absorbed liquid takes much longer to travel from the glass to the mouth and it also takes much more pulling from the mouth to consume the drink. What would be your choice? I suspect that most people choose the gulped tube despite the greater effort involved. Why? Because it's more interesting. In our lives, there are sometimes winding paths and we don't always manage to get from the start straight to the finish. This sometimes causes us trouble, sometimes full of doubt or even hopelessness. Nevertheless, despite the winding paths, there is an achievable goal. The prayer of Asaph formulates it hopefully in a prayer in Psalm 73 as follows: "You, God, guide me according to your counsel and accept me with honour in the end." I wish you this confidence.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
After an accident in which a bone fracture or similar occurs, a larger or smaller plate is temporarily or even permanently implanted in the affected area. Depending on its position and size, such a plate can restrict freedom of movement. These plates are then often removed again and are mainly used to immobilise the affected area and protect it from movements that could hinder the healing process. This is not always pleasant for those affected. You are no longer in pain, so you want to move as you did before the accident - but you can't because of the plate. Annoying. Or rather: thank goodness! Although this restriction is a hindrance in the short term, it saves you from permanent damage in the longer term. If something in your life is currently blocked - remember that this may be a good thing for the moment, even if you don't yet recognise the effects.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Depending on the situation, circumstances, encounters or other things trigger deep memories of my childhood. I use the term associations for this - a kind of link between the immediate experience and memories from the past. However, by definition, an association is a group of people who have come together for a specific purpose. That makes sense, but I use the term in a different way. For me, they are an indication of how strongly I am subject to the dimension of time on the one hand - i.e. as a person, I can only physically move in one direction in time and only ever with the same factor - on the other hand, they show me that my spirit is able to overcome this dimension and that time is therefore not absolute for my comprehensive life. The idea of eternity comes closer and that it is very likely to continue after this life. At least that's what I associate with my experiences.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Metal that is not matt has the property that it can reflect, or at least certain metals - as far as I can judge as a layman. I'm thinking specifically of a spoon. When I was a child, I used to look at my own reflection with a spoon. In other words, I looked into the spoon and saw my reflection in it. Now the spoon has a curved surface - and depending on whether you hold the spoon so that the curvature goes backwards or vice versa, the curvature is in the direction of itself, the reflected image is turned 180 degrees upside down. In physics, we speak of convex and concave surfaces. It was and still is funny and fascinating how the same mirror object can reflect such a different counterfait. Or to put it another way: what I see or get reflected depends on my point of view. So sometimes it's worth leaving your own point of view and adopting other perspectives.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Friendship is a precious commodity and I suspect that none of us can live without it. I don't know how to define it. When do I start talking about friendship in a relationship? When I have good feelings or when I exchange personal information with the person in question? For me, it's a matter of the heart - although I can't really explain what I mean by that either. Words fail me here. And somehow I think that's a good thing. What I particularly like about the term is when I look at it in English: there it's called friendship. And I like the back part of the word: ship. And I imagine that I am travelling together with another person in a boat or ship. You don't get off so quickly in the middle of the water. That is fidelity. Faithfulness in a relationship. Perhaps an approach to defining the term.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I recently entered the term raccoon in an online search engine, I was amazed that the search engine did not primarily offer me information on the animal, but on an online shop with the same name. I wondered what had happened - the actual information had been completely pushed into the background and was replaced by a virtual stranger and presented as if this was the correct content for what I was looking for. Is this simply because in this case the online shop is spending so much money on advertising to make it so prominent? Or has the actual content been replaced by the copied content due to the number of queries and clicks on the shop? Either way, it reminds me to look behind things and not trust the first thing that comes along, especially in the digital age. What a blessing the mind we have been given is - you learn to appreciate it anew. Maybe you will today too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the Middle Ages there was iconoclasm. Sculptures and paintings were wilfully destroyed in and around churches because the worship of God in the form of images was interpreted as idolatry and therefore everything pictorial in religion was to be destroyed. From the point of view of a believer, it was perhaps a liberation because fear-inducing representations were thus gone and the threatening aspect was no longer so prominent and God was no longer restricted by a human-style representation. Nowadays, pictorial representations are often used to convey information because they are easier to remember than pure text. Imagery can help, but it is never the real thing. So we should neither make images of God, who is far beyond our imagination anyway, nor of our fellow human beings - who have the right to be as they are. Not always easy, but the only way to authentic relationships.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you have ever ridden a bike in the dark - and by that I mean really in the dark, for example in the countryside where there is no public lighting - then you will appreciate a light on your bike. Without one, depending on the state of the moon, the path is barely visible or not visible at all, which automatically leads to a slower ride or too much risk. Nowadays, bikes don't always come with lights and people use mobile lights that have to be fitted - but also charged. A light on the bike that has a flat battery is fatal in such a case. Good maintenance is therefore essential. I encourage you to make the necessary preparations today for the day's upcoming tasks so that you are prepared for possible situations and do not experience unpleasant surprises or even danger! In other words: Be prepared!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Statistics often feature impressive graphics with bright colours, large and small circles or sharply rising or falling lines, etc. If the corresponding article is consistent, the title already reveals the message of the statistic, namely the interpretation of the data. What is rarely communicated directly, however, is that the author or authors often pursue the intention of consciously forming an opinion. Statistics are therefore only used to convey one's own opinion to others in a supposedly scientific manner or to convince them. However, statistics are very easy to manipulate and the same figures can be analysed in one way or another - in other words: as you see fit. This is also often the case in arguments. Hence the advice for today: if you find yourself in a situation of a perhaps emotional discussion, then check yourself and the other person: is it about forming a genuine opinion or just about convincing and, if necessary, be on your guard.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are older houses in our old town that have really beautiful roof decorations. The gutters, which often have an animal or mythical creature head where the collected water flows out, are striking. In the past, this was done to ward off evil. Today, in our supposedly enlightened world, this is hardly possible any more. For one thing, nobody believes that it would work and for another, nobody would probably pay for it. What a pity, really. The beauty and art in everyday life is lost as a result of the over-dominating intellect. Playfulness dies in the process. Yet it is precisely the often unnecessary, playful or playful that does us good and provides an important counterbalance to the deconstruction of our way of life. I encourage you today to recognise, appreciate and enjoy these playful forms in everyday life. Be it a spontaneous child's drawing, a successful advertising poster or a spontaneous smile on the street.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Sometimes you have the choice between an absolute and a relative approach. For example: I spend 200 francs on a pair of shoes. That's a lot of money in absolute terms, but not much in relative terms if you compare it with an annual income of CHF 80,000. Or vice versa: I consume half a gram of zinc. That's very little in absolute terms in terms of weight - but a lot in relative terms: it's 50 times the daily requirement, so it's potentially toxic. Once, when Jesus was teaching in his house and there was no way to get through to him because of the crowds, four men resorted to a radical, lawless variant: they demolished the roof of the house so that they could lower their sick friend down to Jesus from above so that he could heal him. Jesus' point of view was that he saw their concern and their faith and appreciated it, not their actions, which were unauthorised by the law. Our way of looking at things in everyday life is therefore very important.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's right in the centre of your face and some people like it, others don't: your own nose. I find it interesting that it so prominently characterises a person's face. Its job is to detect odours and to filter and regulate the temperature of the air we breathe in. But why isn't it simply flat or less visible, perhaps at the back of the head or inconspicuously on the neck? Why is it open at the bottom and not at the front or top? Why do we have two openings that are directly neighbouring and not further apart like the eyes and ears and thus lead to a better perception of space? I don't know the answers. Perhaps they exist and an ENT specialist could explain it all to me. What remains for me is amazement, unanswered questions, gratitude that the organ usually works so well and a smile at the fact that a nose really does sometimes look strange or even funny and characterises a face and therefore perhaps also the person to whom it belongs.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I went to school, suddenly trainers came onto the market that no longer had to be tied, but had a Velcro fastener. That was new, revolutionary and I thought it would be the new future and laces would disappear. Why? Because it was so much easier, quicker and more comfortable and younger children in particular would no longer have to learn to tie their shoes. I was wrong. It didn't turn out that way. Today, I almost only find Velcro fasteners on shoes that have something to do with health or are for people with limited mobility. What I have learnt from this is that the supposedly simpler and more comfortable option is not always the one that lasts. In this case, laces and tied shoes have outlasted the modern age. Proven things are not called that for no reason. Perhaps this will help you today in everyday things that may seem boring and uninteresting - but are tried and tested. Appreciate that!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our times, our world is becoming more and more virtualised. I noticed this in the logo of an app on my smartphone: the icon of the app for digital payment shows coins. How contradictory: the payment is not physical with coins but purely virtual. I can't even see what's happening. Social contacts via social media are also becoming increasingly virtual. Online meetings in shops. Tickets on public transport or access to restricted areas using a badge card. And much more. Nevertheless, there are things that cannot be digitised or virtualised. Our diet, medication for health problems, personal hygiene, etc. We humans are physical beings, materialised so to speak, and essentially need a world like this. A hug or a well-intentioned hand on the shoulder cannot be replaced by a virtual super thing. Perhaps you would like to give someone such an experience today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Not so long ago, you had to go to the post office or bank with your savings book and ID to make a deposit. This was a somewhat time-consuming process, as many people had the same plans towards the end of the month when wages were paid out and the queues at the counters were correspondingly long. Today, this can be done much faster and at any time via eBanking, without the hassle of travelling to the post office or bank during opening hours. Back then it was a step-by-step process, today it's direct. I'm not an advocate of "the journey is the reward", but a step-by-step approach still has the advantage that you can follow the process or path better. No beaming from one place to another like on the Starship Enterprise. Such paths are sometimes longer than desired and perhaps also more tedious. But they help our soul to come along for the ride. And that - in my opinion - is the goal.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A parrot has a striking beak that it can use both to open hard nuts and as a kind of third foot for climbing. The beak, or rather its shape, is characteristic of the parrot and it knows how to use it very purposefully. If we think in evolutionary terms, the question arises: has the beak developed in such a way that the parrot can survive or has it adapted its lifestyle and diet so that it can use its beak in the best possible way? The fact is, however, that with its physical equipment it has found a lifestyle that enables it to live a life with a future and that has so far saved it from extinction. It also shows that he is living within his means. This can serve as a role model for us: that we too live within our means instead of mourning something or being dissatisfied because it is not available to us but to others. That helps a lot towards contentment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A filter has the task of separating substances. It allows certain substances to pass through, while retaining others. This is clearly illustrated with coffee: before the brewing process, the coffee powder is one component, all in one. Then hot water is poured over the powder in the filter and a separation process takes place: the powder and certain substances are retained, while the caffeine and other water-soluble substances pass through the filter. Quite selfish really. You only want something specific, the rest should be retained and then thrown away. Or is it health-conscious and precautionary because the filter serves to prevent everything from being absorbed? I think that a filter is a positive thing. Where it is able to retain bad things, it protects against contamination. This applies, for example, to our thoughts, information intake, etc. A good filter that is maintained helps us to utilise our own energy efficiently and in a targeted manner and therefore to live a healthier life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many decades ago, there was a campaign "Love is..." and then this sentence was continued in different variations. It always featured - as I interpreted it - a married couple (or today we would say lovers more neutrally) in a kind of comic strip form. The sayings were short and somehow simple, deliberately undifferentiated. For example: Love is... knowing that you always have your back - and then the cartoon male stood behind the cartoon female. Or: Love is... turning the other cheek - with the female comic holding out her cheek for the male comic to kiss. Somehow the sayings and comics had something light, almost not to be taken seriously, because they came across in a kind of ridiculous way. I thought or think: they are cute for those in love, but seem ridiculous to those who have difficulties with the statements. Love is... that's what I say today: stick with it, even or especially when it's difficult.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I've always liked golf balls. Maybe because of their shiny surface or because of the dents on the surface. I think there's something classy about a golf ball, so you can easily put one up as decoration. I had wondered where these dents in the ball came from - whether it was simply a peculiarity or functional. I was surprised to learn that the first balls were smooth. However, with use, they became more and more dented and furrowed. It was noticed that those worn balls flew further than the smooth ones. So all the balls were now given the dents - which are called dimples, by the way. What was actually intended to be worn out and discarded turned out to be an innovation and improvement in the end. I therefore encourage you to see - and find - potential for further development and profit from supposed defeats or unsuccessful opportunities. And to learn in the process. Good luck!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, there are coarser and finer structures. I think of trees: the strong branches, but also the very fine twigs. The latter are more likely to be found on the ground when it's windy or stormy, while the strong branches stay on the tree. Why does nature have these weak parts at all if they are obviously so susceptible to adversity? These fine structures are often important links: the leaves, which are important for photosynthesis, are connected to the stronger branches via fine stems. It is not uncommon for flowers to be attached to such fine structures - and it is thanks to these that the flowers later become edible fruit. The fine structure is therefore important - even if it is susceptible or more susceptible. That's why it needs more protection. It's the same with us humans: weaker members of society need more protection than others. And our inner, finer structures also need this extra attention. Do you take care of your finer sides in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At a funfair there are sometimes bumper cars. Small cars on a magnetic surface with which you deliberately drive into other such vehicles and thus deliberately bump into each other - or try to avoid all these attacks. It's fun and makes great memories. You need a chip for each ride, which you can buy at the ticket office. The chip cannot be used for anything else. It is made of plastic. Practically worthless. But it is the only way to access the experience described. As little material value as it has, it still has great experiential value. Perhaps even so great that it creates lifelong memories. Just as such a simple, almost worthless chip harbours enormous potential, so it is with you. An encounter with you can be life-changing or life-shaping for others. Don't underestimate your impact, your influence!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you already thought about ethical behaviour? About demands on others and on yourself? The fact is that none of us leads a flawless life - we fail in our thoughts alone. One of these catalogues of standards can be found in the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament. Jesus sets out the standards for a righteous lifestyle that apply before God. But none of us can live up to these standards. So what does that mean? Turn away in frustration? No. I see it like this: I take a super powerful engine as a comparison - but in a shaky, rotten vehicle. You can't utilise the engine power, you have to reduce it to match the quality of the vehicle, otherwise the engine and vehicle will break down. Analogue to us: our mind and will agree with the formulated demands - but our body and life are not able to implement them. That is why there is forgiveness and always the grace of a new beginning. Thanks be to God.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What do you think is better? A mobile phone or a paper clip? Which would you choose? Probably the mobile phone. It is certainly more modern, can do much more, etc. But I still maintain that the paper clip will outlive or outlast the mobile phone. Did you know that the paper clip has been around for over 125 years, whereas the mobile phone has only been around for a few decades? The modern or most modern is not always the best. So many things have come onto the market in recent years, experienced a hype and quickly disappeared again. The Walkman or something else. But what remains is what has stood the test of time. This is obviously the case with the paper clip. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome that endurance comes from patience and that endurance in turn strengthens hope. This is worth thinking about. Are there any areas of your life that require patience and probation? Then be hopeful and don't give up! The tried and tested will endure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As children, it was more common for us to take baths than showers. Today it's the other way round for me. Maybe because we were taught that showering uses less water or maybe because it's quicker. Apart from that, a shower cubicle takes up
less space in the bathroom. So there's a lot to be said in favour of showering instead of bathing. Nevertheless, I remember how as small children - my sister and I - we used to bathe together, splash around, throw the soap foam at each other or play with Lego ships. Bathing was fun, washing was secondary, rather annoying. And after bathing, we'd get into a cosy bathrobe and into a warm bed or at the dining table. When I think about it, I realise that it doesn't take much for something special in everyday life - relaxation, fun, taking time out from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To be able to enjoy. Take a bath, relax. Why don't you treat yourself to some "just-for-you time" today and enjoy it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Ideally, when you move into a new flat or holiday home, there will already be cupboards in the rooms. Cupboards are basically functional objects, but in my opinion they are not just that. Free-standing cupboards in particular are part of the room furnishings and therefore also have a certain aesthetic function. Carpenters are able to customise this aesthetic. In the past, there were also cabinets and cupboards that were beautifully decorated with ornaments or paintings. Why actually? Because we have a sense of beauty and this has a great influence on our mood, motivation and therefore our ability to create and perform. A carpenter therefore not only does functional work, but also aesthetic work. Today, try to do your everyday tasks with an attitude and design of beauty - setting the table, greeting people, writing emails - and all the other things that we call ordinary or that we no longer even notice.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I can eat ice cream straight from the box or I can use an ice cream scoop to prepare it nicely in a suitable dish, maybe add a biscuit or other decoration and then eat it that way. In terms of quantity and energy intake, there is no difference. Consumption is consumption. But how you eat it does play a role. Why a scoop of ice cream tastes different or perhaps better to me than if I were to eat the same amount from the box is not entirely clear to me from a purely logical point of view. Perhaps because I associate the scoop with the moment of a dessert and therefore with pleasure and enjoyment. Or maybe not. In any case, I realise that there are always moments in life that make a difference - even if or although I don't understand it in the end. I don't have to. You can enjoy it without having to understand it. In that sense: enjoy what you can on this day and don't ask why.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are many fakes in the world. Those that are very easy to recognise and those that can only be recognised by experts. The fact is, however, that counterfeiting is usually only done on really valuable things - because that's where it really pays off. In other words, large banknotes and not small change. Pictures by well-known artists and not by no-names. When we look at our behaviour, it is sometimes the same: our outward appearance does not always reflect what we look like on the inside. So we're faking here too. And the more important a situation or person is, the better our fakes are. Also in terms of motivation for jobs etc. The solution is not always obvious because the blatant truth can sometimes be hurtful or perhaps harm us because we are in a relationship of dependency. Nevertheless, truth and authenticity are important - and ultimately more valuable. For everyone involved. Analogue to a genuine work of art - instead of imitation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the German language we have the phrase "Ohrwurm" (earworm). It means that you can no longer get a melody out of your mind or memory. The origin of the saying is probably that in the past, ear diseases were treated with dried and crushed earworms. It is interesting that the medicine for the treatment has become the term for this sometimes rather annoying phenomenon. As annoying as the earworm-phenomenon is, it can also be useful - if you have fond memories of something, for example, or associate good experiences with the song. Persistence as with the mentioned phenomenon is not everyone's cup of tea, even in everyday life. Some people are very good at it, others find it difficult and experiencing such people when they remind you of something is not always welcome. Nevertheless, it can help us not to repress important things and put them on the back burner. Perhaps you have an earworm right now that you need to take to your ears and heart! Then do it!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If I stand in front of a building and look at it from all sides, I can form a good opinion of it, at least from the outside. But I will never be able to judge it fully if I have not seen and experienced it from the inside. I also don't have a top view - I can't judge the roof from my position on the ground. It's the same with us humans: we could only judge each other if we could see ourselves completely and from the inside. But we don't do that. Nevertheless, we constantly judge each other - and are judged. This was already the case at the time of the Apostle Paul. That is why he wrote to the members of the church in Corinth: since he became a Christian, he no longer judges other Christians according to human standards - because they have become a completely new, different creature as a result of belonging to Jesus. This impresses me and challenges me positively in my dealings with others - you too?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine you have the choice between a glass of cool sparkling water and a glass of fresh spring water straight from the source. Most people will probably choose the spring water. Even if the cool sparkling water is good - the spring water is still of exceptional quality and beats all other options. Why is that? I suspect it's because it's the original, the most original version of the product. We instinctively have this quality awareness that the original is better than all derivatives. It's actually the same with us humans. On the one hand, I think of the other person: the more authentic he or she is, the easier it is to trust and open up to each other. On the other hand, it also applies to ourselves: the more I am myself, the better I feel, the more relaxed and pleasant I am for those around me. I wish you such source moments today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The peacock reminds me of an animal that slowly strides along, fanning out its wheel and showing off its beautiful feathers. In our language, we speak of the proud peacock because its behaviour is interpreted as wanting to show everyone how beautiful it is with its slow gait, raised head and beautiful feathers. Human interpretation. The peacock has beautiful feathers. That is a fact. And he doesn't hide it all the time. In our society, we often have the phenomenon that someone is quickly perceived as proud or arrogant when they show their talents, abilities or good qualities in public. Why is that? Is it our envy? I encourage you to be unashamed of your abilities and live them out - no matter what others think of them. These are your gifts that you have been given to use, not to hide. If you appreciate your own, you will be much better able to enjoy the merits of others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you noticed that others do certain actions or other everyday things differently to you, or that you think they do them in a strange way? The normal thing would be the way you do it... well, that applies to your perspective. From their perspective, perhaps you are the one who does things a little strangely. Take a look at how often you notice this in everyday life. And then I invite you to evaluate the two different approaches in such a way that the other person's is quasi normal and yours is extraordinary. And by that I don't mean: strange or otherwise negatively connoted. This difference should invite you to see the whole thing with humour and perhaps you will even be able to use this difference as an opportunity to smile or laugh at yourself. If you manage to do this, it will certainly have a liberating effect. Lightness in everyday life can be so simple. Good luck with it!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are many different types of pumpkin and their preparation. For example, I discovered the spaghetti squash a year ago. Externally, it only differs from the others in shape and colour. But they do the same among themselves. Inside, it looks the same as the others: the flesh and the seeds. But... its flesh has the peculiarity that when it is cooked, it can be pulled through with a fork and then the flesh comes off in the form of long threads - similar to spaghetti. This looks very decorative, is very tasty to eat and can be combined with tomato sauce or something else. However, this characteristic is not visible per se. It is hidden. We humans also have hidden sides that are deep within us and can only be found if we allow and seek them out and create the right conditions. Perhaps you can create such ideal conditions for people around you today and discover new things about them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We often use certain words or come across them and pass them by carelessly. As if we were simply inserting an additional filler word into a sentence or nothing more than a conjunction. Yet these words or terms have a content and meaning to offer that is enormously profound and can actually leave us speechless. For me, the term 'joy' is one of these. It is used very lightly and quickly. But I think it actually has enormous content and value, far more than we realise in everyday use. What triggers real joy? It liberates, relieves, relaxes, inspires, motivates, releases hope, energises and creates community. And it often just happens. It cannot really be planned or achieved. A gift of life without a price. For everyone, whether young, old, poor or rich. I wish you such a moment of joy today. Enjoy it consciously and experience its richness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Over 30 years ago, I went to the south of France for a kind of active holiday. This included a cave tour. We went underground and through labyrinthine passages. We divided the entire group into two groups. Each had a guide. Our guide made a joke of not telling us what to expect. And so, on one of the routes, the corridor became narrower and narrower, even in height. In the end, we had to squeeze through one behind the other and couldn't even turn our heads. There was no going back because we couldn't turn round - and it was unclear whether we could continue forwards. Fear and panic began to spread through me. Of course, we ended up in a so-called hall. But until then it was scary. I wondered whether I could trust the guide. The question arises in real life too - who do I trust when it comes to the existential management of my life? Who do you trust with your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In earlier times, the moon and sun were often depicted with one face. Humans humanised these celestial bodies. I imagine that these celestial bodies lost some of their mightiness as a result. That may sound strange. But I think we humans can deal with it better if we have the impression that we have a living being - in whatever form - opposite us. It may be despotic or inaccessible, but we seem to be better able to deal with it, even if our powerlessness in the face of it does not change in any way. Perhaps because we believe that we may have a small sphere of influence even in the face of what we consider to be overpowering violence. And we often do the same with God. Christmas alone bears witness to this: how we portray the sweet baby Jesus. But that doesn't work with God. He is sovereign, infinitely greater than we can imagine. So it is all the more astonishing that he nevertheless becomes human.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German there is the saying 'having a roof over your head'. This means that you are not homeless. It does not mean that you have your own home, but you are not exposed to the wind and weather. I would say that Mary and Joseph had a roof over their heads in the stable at Christmas, but it wasn't their home. The easiest way to describe this expression is what it doesn't mean: being homeless. Homelessness seems to me to go further than in German. Homeless in the sense of no home, no homeland. Where we live, what or who offers us protection is just as important as the protection itself. King David also experienced this during his lifetime and he recorded it in writing in a text that has come down to us as Psalm 18. At the beginning he writes: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress. My God is my refuge, my shield and my fortress. Do you also have such a roof over your head?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you are one of those people who love being by the sea and enjoy diving or snorkelling. That's not mine. But I have seen some wonderful underwater footage from the sea on television. You can see all kinds of sea creatures and how they move: the fast and nimble fish that you can barely keep track of, the ponderous but mighty whale as it dashes through the water and the almost sleepy-looking jellyfish or similar animals that seem to float through the water with slow movements. As humans, we all have more or less the same gait and, provided we are healthy, we all move in the same way. But not so in our thinking or decision-making or tackling and solving tasks. The "movement" or forward motion of others may seem strangely alien to us. But it is their way. Analogous to marine animals: accept this otherness and be completely free to cultivate your own way of walking. That is diversity.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A freshly snow-covered winter landscape is probably one of the most beautiful things that nature has to offer. The snow consists of ice crystals that have beautiful shapes. These ice crystals are usually hexagonal. The physical explanation for this is that this is the most efficient way for water molecules to grow in a solid state. That sounds too sober to me. I simply marvel at their beauty. As children, we used to try to catch snowflakes and simply look at these little works of art with great joy and a certain admiration. Economically, you could also argue that this beauty is a waste because it is too invisible and too short-lived. The creator seems to see it differently: Jesus once said that even the greatest king in all his riches is not dressed as beautifully as a flower that God has made. Wow. A powerful statement. And a challenge for human pride. I think that's a good thing.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't know anyone who likes to wait. Waiting is unpopular because it makes it clear that you are dependent on something or someone. That's not a good feeling. I can think of moments when I had to wait in the cold for a train that was delayed indefinitely. When we talk about waiting, we quickly move on to expectation. We probably all have some kind of expectation of ourselves, others, the state, the church and so on. These are sometimes painfully disappointed. Would it therefore be better to be so autonomous that I have no expectations and therefore no potential pain? Perhaps. But it would also be a poorer life. How nice if you can still wait and then savour the moment it arrives. In a letter to the church in Rome, St Paul writes that the whole of creation is waiting for its final redemption. So this is only the penultimate - the best is yet to come. A nice perspective for waiting.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the cold season, chestnuts are sold at single booths in our town. They are nice and warm to the touch and taste delicious. What we eat are the seeds of the fruit. This means that we are actually eating what is intended for the next generation. So - generally speaking and regardless of whether there are enough chestnuts - we are faced with the decision: do we forego the pleasure and invest these seeds in the next generation - or do we enjoy them now and then no longer have these seeds for sowing next year? Depending on the situation and what resources are involved, this is a difficult question: do I take time for myself and enjoy it - or do I invest it in something whose yield I will not receive immediately. For example, with children or other people or spiritually. I wish you much wisdom for these small but important decisions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many fruits in nature and some vegetables also have a skin. This is often harder or even much harder than the core. This is certainly intended to provide a certain degree of protection against unauthorised access. The skin therefore protects. In certain fruits, however, the skin also contains a great wealth and a great variety of nutrients. In many cases, we still peel such fruits today, thereby exposing many nutrients that are valuable to us or carelessly throwing them away. However, shells sometimes also have the task of looking particularly attractive so that they can be eaten and spread through excretion. We humans have a saying about the hard shell and the soft centre. By this we mean that someone appears very hard on the outside, but is actually very sensitive and soft. Which face or shell do you show on the outside? Hard or exaggeratedly attractive? Do you know your outward appearance?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently completed a safety training course at work as a refresher. Among other things, it covered behaviour in an emergency situation involving injured people. As a young person, I learnt an acronym - the GABI - in the emergency aid course, which I should use as a step-by-step guide when giving first aid to injured people. This acronym has become so engrained in my memory that I can recite it very spontaneously - even though a completely different acronym, ABCD, is taught today. Such an acronym and the constant reminder of it give you security and a clear process when everything goes haywire in an emergency situation, especially your own emotions and thoughts. It is therefore wise and good to prepare for emergency situations in calm times. Also for emotional and mental ones. Do you have such an emergency plan? Do you know who you can turn to if you need help? Are you prepared? If not, I'll give you the tip from Psalm 51:15.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know the experience that when you are enthusiastic about something and want to convince others of it or infect them with your enthusiasm, others who don't see it that way can be real brake pads? And do you perhaps even get annoyed with these people because they slow you down in front of others? In fact, this may be quite annoying - because it affects our ego and we don't get the approval or encouragement we want. On the other hand, such people are sometimes a real blessing. I was out on my bike the other day and my brakes were pretty worn out. I no longer felt really safe for a situation in which I would have had to brake hard on the spur of the moment. It reminded me of the value of a brake and how life-saving it can be. Perhaps this perspective will help you the next time you find yourself in a similarly frustrating situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is the verb to contradict. I contradict someone and mean that I disagree with their statements and have a different view or attitude or opinion. Then there is the noun contradiction. You might think that this is simply the nounised verb. But I don't think that's the case. For me, a contradiction is something that is inconsistent and not coherent. In other words, something that expresses that there is no agreement and no reliability. So someone says this on the one hand, but demonstrates something else or says something else that doesn't agree with the first statement. In my opinion, this undermines the trustworthiness of the person or thing. I consider contradicting to be important and right in part because it recognises one's own responsibility. However, a contradiction shatters trust. So my tip for today: contradict yes, where appropriate. But avoid contradiction!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you someone who adheres very strictly to recipes and their instructions when cooking or are you someone who prefers to create meals or pastries freely? I tend to belong to the second group - with all the advantages and disadvantages... I think the advantages are that sometimes unexpected creative things come up and I'm quite free and relaxed when I'm cooking. On the other hand, the risk is of course the disadvantage that something can go wrong because the composition or the proportions of the ingredients are not right. With the first group, there is certainly a greater guarantee of success, but less freedom, creativity and possibly also relaxation. So both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, however, it is important that the ingredients are in a good ratio - balanced, so to speak. This also applies to the way we organise our lives - in terms of community and retreat, work and rest, distraction and concentration. Do you manage to achieve this balance?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The logo of a British energy company looks as if the company is active in the agricultural sector or is particularly environmentally friendly. The logo is a kind of flower in green colours. In reality, however, it processes crude oil and sells it as fuel or petrol, among other things. So when you consume the product, you are led to believe that you are doing something environmentally friendly when you fill up your car with gas. A deception - in my opinion. It's not uncommon for this kind of - what I call - window-dressing to happen. Not only do the companies benefit from this, but the customers also have a slightly less guilty conscience. Nevertheless, it remains a deception, window-dressing. Pilate asked the question almost rhetorically almost 2000 years ago: What is truth? But he didn't want an answer. Truth is not negotiable, even if we would like it to be. Stick to it and stay in it, even if the deception is tempting. In the end, it is not worth giving in.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you have a minor injury, a patch is a good thing. You can use it to cover the sore area without having to put a lot of effort into bandaging or the like. The patch has a specific size that must fit the sore area. It usually has at least two areas that adhere to the skin and an area with dressing material. However, a patch is a temporary solution. It is usually used for a light, small wound that heals quickly anyway and is simply covered for protection. If there really is a larger wound with a risk of infection, more extensive wound care is required. Nevertheless, the patch is good and sufficient for its purpose. You may find yourself in a situation today that requires a similar solution: no great effort, but still something that supports the situation, even if only for the transition until the goal is achieved. Then let yourself be satisfied with it and don't strive for perfection.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I learnt the 10-finger system on a typewriter. However, it was already an electric and not just a mechanical one. The further development was the computer - which offered or still offers far more than just the possibility of word processing. But would the computer as we know it today exist without the typewriter? I suspect not. The typewriter was certainly the inspiration for at least the design of the computer, even if it was only for the keyboard. In the future, we may only be able to control such devices using speech or eye gestures or even brain waves and thoughts. So was the typewriter in vain because it only had a short lifespan? I think not. It was important throughout the development process. That also applies to you. You are important for this time in your environment because you leave your mark and leave traces. Without you, the future would be different. You are important, you count - especially in the new year! Therefore: Have a blessed and happy new year!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's not the season for hot air balloons at the moment, but I still find them fascinating. They rise into the air and overcome gravity for two reasons, or rather because of two conditions that must be fulfilled: on the one hand, they have an air mass separated by the envelope and, on the other, a heat source that heats this air mass so that it is sufficiently warmer than the surroundings and thus leads to lift. For me, this is a nice image for passion: a person - analogous to a balloon - has an inner fire for something in the form of a passion that allows them to overcome obstacles and achieve unexpected goals. Do you also have such an inner fire that allows you to overcome obstacles? Or did you have one and it's time to rekindle it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you happy with your surname? I've had different experiences with mine. The name Stark - which is German for 'strong' - is self-explanatory. As a boy, I was repeatedly challenged at school and provoked by older boys by asking me questions and physically attacking me with "show me if you're really strong!". That was mean and humiliating and unpleasant for me. I am now proud to bear this name. Not so much because I have the impression that I am physically extremely strong, but rather because it has become an essential part of my identity, because I have also experienced a lot with it. I imagine that in the past, the surname was just as important for identity - often through the professional activity that was still valid for a lifetime back then. Identity is important, it gives you stability - both for yourself and your environment. And it is a gift. It makes me unique and that alone is a miracle. Maybe you'll remember that the next time you sign your name.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You have probably already used a whisk to beat egg whites into beaten egg whites. The whisk consists of just a few wires arranged in an arc all round. However, when the whisk is used correctly, it achieves amazing things - much better than if the same material were used in the same way in a ladle, spoon or moulded surface. The clever arrangement therefore has at least or even more influence on the desired result than the force or energy used. This is also sometimes the case in our everyday lives: it is not always a question of investing as much time or energy as possible in a project, but of doing so at the right time, in the right place and with the right means. It is important and crucial that you are aware of this, think about it and then act accordingly. I wish you this wisdom for appropriate resource-saving behaviour with high effectiveness today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When an idea is depicted in a comic or in visual language, it usually takes the form of a light bulb that lights up. An idea is usually a spontaneous thought, a creative act that comes out of nowhere and is not necessarily planned in advance. At least the beginning of an idea. The elaboration happens afterwards. Sometimes it is also called an epiphany - which is probably why the light bulb is there. An idea begins with a thought, which in turn is born out of a question, a problem, a challenge, a desire for change or a creative drive. Either way, I think it is a kind of infusion, a creative dose from the supernatural, that which is not accessible to us by will. Something like a coincidence in the sense that it comes to you. And thus for me a spontaneous contact with the Creator of life, who in any case transcends all our ideas and our ability to think. I wish you moments full of ideas today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Black soil. Have you ever seen it somewhere? In Switzerland, I once saw strikingly dark agricultural soil in the Bernese Seeland that really did look almost black. There are apparently larger deposits of black soil in the Amazon region and also in Eastern Europe: in Hungary, Romania and further afield in Ukraine, Mongolia and other places. Actually, I don't associate the colour black with anything good: darkness and emptiness and thus implicitly also a non-existence. But in the case of the black earth, this is not the case. It is said to be very fertile and its composition makes it unnecessary to fertilise the soil for crops to grow. So you can be wrong - or rather: you run the risk of generalising too quickly. In some cases, perhaps most, black does not have positive connotations. But not always. Let this be a warning to you today not to generalise too hastily.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Most people use a bunch of keys for their house keys or wear them on a chain around their neck. At least all of them do so in such a way that they don't lose them by accident. Why is that? Because the key is important - it authorises access to your home. I use the key to decide whether the door is closed or open and therefore who is allowed in and who is not. Carrying the key as described is possible thanks to something quite banal: a hole in the key head. This means I can either attach it to my key ring or attach it to a chain. That would be very difficult without the hole. Banal, primitive - but very effective. There are not always, but often, simple solutions to complex challenges in life. For example, a clear yes or no. We just often make it too complicated for ourselves. Today, I wish you the wisdom and courage to make clear, simple and perhaps banal decisions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know what a Christmas person is? I certainly don't, or rather, I can't imagine what it is. It is - as I saw recently - the modern term for Father Christmas or Saint Nicolas- that was news to me. Yes, the gender issue is spreading far and wide. For me, sometimes to the point of absurdity. For me, Father Christmas is male, has a beard and that's the end of the discussion. I don't know a female or neutral form of it. If it becomes accepted that we are no longer allowed to say Father Christmas in future, then I see the danger of an enormous loss of our Christian culture, our roots and also our tradition, which really has something good about it. When I think of Christmas, I can only smile: God had obviously foreseen this development - and that's why he gave us the Christ child, not the Christ boy. The child saves us - even from this disastrous situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we describe a person as poor, we mean that this person is pitiful, that they have experienced bad things through no fault of their own and that several unfortunate events have led to a miserable situation. In this context, poor is not primarily meant financially, but in the sense of lacking the ability to act or being unable to change the bad situation themselves. And in fact, it happens time and again in life that we find ourselves in bad situations through no fault of our own that we are unable to leave. The famous King David was obviously familiar with this experience and therefore wrote in the 34th Psalm "The righteous must suffer much". But then he also writes: "But out of all this the LORD God helps him. For he is near to those who are brokenhearted. He saves those who are without hope." I wish you this hopeful perspective if you need it right now.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The products we buy usually contain a considerable amount of packaging material. On the one hand, this serves marketing purposes because the manufacturer presents itself prominently and usually very positively on the packaging and encourages consumption and, on the other hand, the packaging naturally serves to protect the product from damage during transport. At a time when we should and want to consume in a way that conserves resources, the legitimate question arises: do we really need this packaging? Without it, a lot of damaged goods could be lost or become unusable - that is not ecological. But neither is too much packaging. So a compromise is needed to use as few resources as possible and still offer the best possible protection. We are constantly faced with such compromise challenges in everyday life and there is rarely a perfect solution. I wish you the wisdom to find good solutions and make decisions today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If I compare the bones of a dinosaur with those of a small fish, there are enormous differences in circumference, size, weight, etc. The bones of the small fish are probably even bendable, whereas the largest bones of a dinosaur cannot even be lifted by a single person. The skeleton is therefore orientated both to body size and to the physical activity and functionality to be performed. I find this remarkable and by no means self-evident. Suppose we had a super-stable skeleton, but it was extremely heavy - we wouldn't be able to move as far or as fast as we could. Conversely, if our skeletal system were too light or thin, we would be in danger of being quickly injured internally and thus disabled. This is how the body and many other things in life are designed for us - even if we would sometimes like things to be different. Many things are just the way they are, for our protection.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, I was fascinated by Legos. And then suddenly Lego figures came onto the market. It was like jumping into a whole new world. Now it was no longer just vehicles and buildings that could be constructed, but you could really play with people, roles, various professions and tasks with the figures. This awakened a whole new part of the imagination and when I look back, I really immersed myself in a different and, for me at the time, just as real world while playing. The characters came to life and many a story emerged that I have long since forgotten. At some point, as I got older, that got lost. Today, over 40 years later, I ask myself: Why? Why couldn't I retain this creative imagination and become so boringly realistic? I invite you today to return to this childlike creativity and enjoy it! Allow what can happen, but pay attention to positive experiences!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The owl is the symbol for the intelligence service. I imagine it is for two reasons: firstly, because the owl is said to be vigilant, nocturnal and cunning. Secondly, because I think it is secretive. And it's not for nothing that there's the saying "Talk is silver, silence is golden". I'm sure you've also found this to be true in certain situations. But sometimes you see things that you need to process and talking about them often helps. Because it's also true: "If you keep swallowing, you'll die from the inside." How well do you cope with this tension between talking and remaining silent and processing your experiences? Do you have confidants who support you here and can you be such a confidential confidant for others?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I know some people who love travelling. Of course, you can be travelling in your own country or much more often in other countries and therefore other cultures. A trip like this, especially if it is longer, is planned carefully and with enough time in advance for planning and booking, and finally you get in the mood for it. I imagine that you then also have certain ideas of what it will be like and visualise one thing or another in your mind. So far so good. But sometimes it's also the case that these trips are the highlights of the year and you live more for this special time than for everyday life. And because pre-excitement is the best kind of anticipation, it's quite possible that being constantly preoccupied with what's to come means you miss or disregard everyday life and the present. And yet there is no real time except the present. How well do you manage to live completely in the present?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I imagine that if I had seen a fruit of the cocoa tree for the first time, I would have been really happy that it was so big and I would have thought that it was really good. If I then opened it, I might be disappointed to see that there wasn't much flesh inside, but a considerable number of seeds. Would I then have thrown the fruit away in disappointment or ignored it in future because it wasn't what I had expected? Possibly. But the truth is that the many seeds, which I found disappointing, are precisely what we use to make chocolate or cocoa powder today. So if, despite disappointment, you know what to do with what is there, something unexpectedly good can come out of it in the end. I wish you just such experiences today. But remember: you must not give up in the face of disappointment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the colder months of the year, we are glad to have heating. In the case of central heating systems with radiators, the maintenance of the system is very important for its effectiveness. While the heaters are not in use during the warmer months of the year, air can build up in the radiators - and this then prevents the desired heating effect. These radiators must therefore be vented regularly so that they function as desired again. Sometimes it is the same with us in the mental or spiritual area: we neglect this and without realising it, we form opinions, attitudes etc. that are simply shaped by exposure to the corresponding environments. It is therefore important to consciously review our own points of view, politically, socially and also spiritually and religiously. Do you do this regularly or do you simply allow yourself to drift or be influenced by current trends and opinions?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the German language, it is not automatically clear what the term "Strömung" refers to. Is it about the current in a body of surface water or rather a group of like-minded people who have a definite opinion on a certain topic and represent it? Depending on the strength of the current, the latter are enormously influential - the term "influential" is also used here in the context of water bodies. Currents and their influence are actually like the behavior of liquids: they can penetrate far and wide and move, change or, in the worst case, destroy things through the flowing force. Just as water does after a heavy rainfall, for example, this can also happen socially and, in the worst case, cause enormous damage, especially personal injury. It is therefore very important to be aware of which currents you allow to influence you. Do you know the currents that influence you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you move house, you have to take down lights in the old place and hang them up again in the new one. This means that you also have to insert the lamp wires into the designated positions at the new location and screw them on. To do this, the two wires of the lamp are stripped at the end so that the current can then flow and the lamp can light up. Without stripping, no current flow would be possible. However, if the entire wire were not insulated, it would be very dangerous because any contact would lead to an electric shock. I also see parallels here to us humans as social beings: we have to isolate ourselves from the environment in order to protect ourselves from too many impressions. Nevertheless, we also need moments in which we are completely open, quasi isolated, where intimate relationships can develop, where we are completely ourselves and also vulnerable and accessible. Only then can the current of life flow. Do you have a healthy relationship between isolation and de-isolation?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, my father showed me how to slate with stones. In other words, you throw the stone just above the surface of the water and it bounces there and then bounces on until it sinks into the water. The choice of stone and the way it is thrown are crucial. You can refine your throwing technique by practising. However, the quality of the stone is almost more important: it works best with nicely polished, round stones that are not too big and heavy. These slate beautifully and back then we counted how often the stone bounced over the surface of the water and who achieved more of these bounces. This example can easily be transferred to life: the more we grind or allow our character to grind, the easier life becomes, especially in the face of impact or resistance. This is why grinding processes are not always pleasant, but in the end they help you move forward - just like a bouncing stone.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine in your mind that you have to put a small Matchbox racing car in front of you. How would you place it? So that it would drive in the direction from right to left or from left to right? Somehow we all have our preferences. If it's different, it's not wrong, but it still somehow doesn't suit us. You could do the same with crossing your arms: which one is up: the left or the right arm? Depending on your personality, you may not automatically find it strange or uncomfortable or whatever. Details. Definitely. But also an indication that we cultivate habits. Perhaps even rituals that we follow - which shoe do you tie first, for example? When these habits are broken, we are sometimes challenged - but it also helps us to be more flexible. Perhaps today is a day to consciously do things differently and see what that does to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A figure of eight in a bicycle wheel means that the wheel is no longer running true because it is "wobbling". This happens when the rims are deformed because an external influence has caused this deformation and thus twisted the entire wheel. To prevent this from happening, or in the ideal state, the spokes serve to keep the wheel in a balanced tension frame to enable optimum riding. Where the spokes join the rims, they are secured by spoke bolts or tensioners. These can then be used to change the tension ratios in the wheel - for example with a figure of eight in the wheel. So a practised hand knows how the spokes need to be tightened so that the geometry of the wheel is restored. Small screws, subtle corrections with a big effect. We sometimes need this in our everyday lives too: small corrections here and there in our lifestyle to make our lives smoother again.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As humans, we are - technically speaking - a mechanism that is very well equipped with various sensors. We perceive through our senses and we process these impulses in real time and thus act according to the situation. While many technical components do this in a similar way today, most of these objects only work for the moment. Measurements are taken, analysed and an action is triggered. And that's it. For us humans, however, there is more to it than that: what we perceive remains. Even if not always consciously, at least subconsciously. This shapes us, whether we like it or not. Ultimately, we only have very limited control over which perceived impulses and impressions we retain and which we no longer want to retain. And because such impressions leave a lasting impression on us, it is important to pay attention to which stimuli and impressions we expose ourselves to. Do you have an awareness of this and appropriate hygiene?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What comes to your mind when you hear the word "goodness"? If you are religious, then you know this word from this context. If not, you may relate it to the area of quality assessment or a statement about the quality of something. The latter indicates the nature of a product or object, at least in German. So when you say that something is of high quality or high value, you formulate it like this: a first-class product. In a religious context or in relation to people, kindness is used in the sense of friendliness, benevolence, mildness and an attitude characterised by forbearance; especially when someone does not succeed in something or the person becomes guilty, disappointed. It is said of God that his goodness is infinite - compare Psalm 36. This enormous benevolence relates to us humans. What a loving environment we have with him. I would say: a first-class relationship!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
How do you define diversity? Do you associate positive things with it? Primarily, diversity sounds quite good: there is a lot. But diversity can also mean: Contradictory things are present at the same time. In politics, for example, there are often very opposing opinions, views, attitudes and people. Depending on the tone, this can lead to very heated disputes. This is not always pleasant. And it is not always productive. Such differences can often block each other. The result is stagnation. So is diversity helpful or would it not be better for one authority to simply give orders? We are also familiar with such dilemmas in our own personalities. We are sometimes divided inside or find it difficult to make decisions. Diversity is a blessing in the sense that we don't just think and act unilaterally - but also a responsibility that at some point decisions have to be made and things have to move forward.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was in Greece the other day and went outside in the morning when it was still dark. I had a relatively wide view of the horizon and could see how the horizon began to glow as a sign that the sun would soon rise and the day would soon begin. I was thrilled by this sight. While I was still standing in the darkness of the night, the day was already heralding itself with this ever-increasing brightness and I knew that in probably less than 30 minutes the darkness would have passed and daybreak would have arrived. The glow heralded what was soon to come: the beginning of day. What a sign of hope and encouragement. I may still be standing in the darkness of a situation, but as a sign of hope I can already see what is coming that will dispel the darkness. What a truth and hopeful reality: the light is always stronger than the darkness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Just a few years ago, opening and closing a door was clear: with a metal key. Today, this is no longer so clear. While there are still locks that are considered mechanical locks, electronic locking mechanisms are also used today. I can operate a locking device in a hotel with a card or a chip and in other places with a smartphone or in a car with a contactless electronic signal. In German, people used to use beard keys because they had this conspicuous part at the end that was used to lock and unlock the mechanism in the lock. In English it is a bit. I like that: bit as in computer science. And there, as we know, there is only 1 or 0. Or, as with the lock: closed or open. And we also talk about open or closed personalities in people. Which do you consider yourself to be and why, and could this change?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was recently in Greece on business, the breakfast buffet included a kind of bread roll ring with sesame seeds. So I decided to look up what sesame is and whether and if so, how healthy it is. I was amazed when I read what sesame is used for and what it is good for or supports health. It has very good fats, is rich in protein, supports healthy digestion, lowers blood pressure, has a positive effect on cholesterol levels and much more. It's amazing, I thought, what's in such a small seed. Why this or what for? Random evolution - but if purely by chance, why so many positive properties that serve no one? For me, it's more an indication of how well the Creator provides his creation with good things. He not only creates, but also sustains or provides what is necessary for healthy development. Such discoveries amaze me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At televised sporting events, experts are often used as co-presenters for the live event. Sometimes - taking football as an example - they look anything but sporty: they are sometimes relatively old with gray hair or no hair at all, don't exactly have an athletic body and don't look very sporty in their overall appearance. The eye is deceptive. They are often men who have had a very successful, active sporting career and now serve as experts with their experience and knowledge, using both their experience and their trained eye. I've never heard a co-commentator who was just a sports scientist without any experience of their own. Fortunately. I think the important questions and situations in life call for good practical advice, not acquired university knowledge. So it's better to get this from experienced people than from pure students.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In an athletics stadium, the runners run on a special track that is divided into several lanes. It seems logical that a complete lap on the outermost lane is longer in terms of distance than on the innermost. It's like circles: the larger the circle, the larger its circumference, depending on the radius. Nevertheless, the athletes all run in the same direction, pursuing the same goal, albeit in their own lanes. Depending on the length of the run, these are also staggered so that the distances are all the same and the competition is fair. If you compare the oval course with circles, you could say that although the circles are different, they all have the same center. In this way, we humans can also be very different personalities and still have one thing in common that unites us. For example, the same Creator worldwide who gave us life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We use the phrase "a ten a penny" to express an unimaginably large number. When we think of the vastness of the universe, it has long been beyond our imagination. If we think further, we realize how small we actually are. This can lead us to freeze and live our lives fatalistically in view of the smallness of our own being. What is interesting, however, is that this is not how people have behaved throughout history in Christianity. They were obviously not paralyzed by their lowliness, but saw the greatness of the Creator behind it. This motivated them in their search for this Creator to go further, to explore, to discover. They looked away from their own insignificance to the greatness of the Creator and wanted to delve deeper and deeper into the mysteries of creation out of awe. I believe it is the divine in us that drives us to do this. It is the omnipresence of God within us. God is there. In our lowliness. Especially in it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you also like cake. Two different cakes come to mind: a cake with a super smooth, perfect gelatine surface on the one hand and a crumble cake from a tray with angular crumbles on top on the other. Perhaps you have a preference for one or the other. The crumble cake is made by grinding the still solid butter with flour and possibly other ingredients to form crumbles. At first glance, it doesn't look very appetizing or hospitable - especially in comparison to the cake with the perfect surface. But what looks so artisanal tastes delicious when baked. So what may visually imply something different does not necessarily have to be so in essence. The prophet Samuel once felt the same way and God kindly enlightened him and said: "You know, man sees what is before his eyes, but I see into the heart of man."
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was at a fair the other day and saw cotton candy being transported in a large plastic bucket. I interpreted that this was because if the candy floss was squeezed or otherwise came into contact, it would collapse or break. It's similar with certain hairstyles that are very airy and stylish: you don't want to wear a cap or a bicycle helmet on your bike so that the beautiful hairstyle and the airy look don't break. Anything that has a fine and delicate structure and contains a lot of air can withstand little or no external pressure. Otherwise the structure will be damaged and the air inside will disappear. It's the same with us humans: we have a sensitive structure when it comes to our spirit. Not all influences are helpful and if we feel under pressure, this has a negative effect on our spirit, our spiritual vitality. Are you aware of this and are you protecting your mind accordingly?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When a company designs a logo, it does so in order to create a recognition effect. So if someone sees this logo repeatedly, they associate it directly with the company. The same applies to advertising with a slogan, a melody or any other sequence. Recognition is the key word. Sometimes it's the same with places: when we pass a place, it triggers memories or experiences or whatever else we associate with that place. And the same applies to people. Not for everyone. But if someone has made a special impression through their behavior or something else unusual, perhaps just their appearance, then we associate this experience with that person. This doesn't just have to be by chance. Perhaps you have the opportunity today to give another person such an experience through an exceptionally good gesture and thus leave a lasting impression.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Impressions stay in your memory. For example, if I have watched a film in the evening, individual sequences or images from the film keep coming back to me the next day, even though I may have only watched it to switch off and not really consciously or with much intention. I sometimes notice the same thing with things I've heard or when I cycle past an advert. Much of what our senses perceive is left behind. Or as the Latin proverb aptly puts it: semper aliquid haeret - something always sticks. This makes it all the more important to consciously pay attention to what we impose and inflict on our senses. We do this more or less carefully and consciously when it comes to food. How is it with you? Do you have a healthy approach to consuming information or would it perhaps be time for a diet for your eyes or ears?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As I work a lot in the field of cartography, I spend a lot of time working with maps. Among other things, there are always maps that show the administrative borders in Switzerland. It's interesting to note that because I've repeatedly worked with this data over the past few decades, I can directly recognise individual areas even without their spatial context. I am so visually familiar with the course of the border that I can recognise exactly which element it might be. The eye has learnt and the brain has stored what it has learnt and can call it up if necessary. We humans are as individual as these surface boundaries are. We have our profile, our quasi footprint - and that's a good thing. The fact that we are all so individual and still function as a society is actually great and is close to a miracle. Are you also grateful for this: you are allowed to be yourself and yet you are part of many other individuals.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you someone who keeps up with fashion? Perhaps you're now saying: no, I'm resistant and don't go along with every trend. Maybe so. But the fact is that we can hardly avoid it: for example, we can only buy clothes that are available - and these are often created according to the latest fashion. Perhaps it's different with hairstyles or with men: moustache or beard or whatever facial hair. I notice how younger men in particular are very... let's say... susceptible. Yes, let's be honest: appearance is important to us - because it is non-verbal communication with the environment. That's why we pay a lot of attention to it, and not without good reason. But depending on the fashion trend, this can change very quickly. And what about the inside? How much importance do you attach to training and developing your character in the way you would actually like to be? Such a development does not happen by itself. That is a fact.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Birds protect their young with their wings. They spread them over the young animals, shielding them and giving them warmth. Spreading these wings so wide - or so I imagine - requires an enormous amount of strength. When I stretch my arms out fully, I can feel the weight and effort after a short time. Protecting others, being there for others is not an easy task and is an exhausting mission. In the course of our lives, we experience again and again how others - as the saying goes - take us under their wings and thus protect and support us. We often don't realise how much energy and strength this costs these people and how much they give up or put aside for us. Perhaps a day to thank such people - parents or superiors - for this and to appreciate it. Read Psalm 91:4: He covers you protectively with his wings; under his wings you will find security.
II wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently talking about how we let ourselves be moulded or coined. Another comparison: I can cut out a biscuit without embossing it, i.e. just the shape, or I can add an additional embossing. In a way, both are a clone created by the biscuit mould. But with the embossing - and this is perhaps a bit far-fetched - I can think of the comparison that the biscuit is still the biscuit, but can be embossed and still remains the actual biscuit. This leads me to the transfer to life in the form of: Do I simply become or remain a copy or even clone of something I would like to be or of someone who serves as a role model for me - or: as with the imprinted biscuit: do I allow myself to be imprinted and influenced, but live this influence consciously as me, i.e. consciously through my DNA, thus ensuring my own version through the interpretation I live and thus an original. Which version applies more to you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In a large grocery shop, where Asian dishes are offered for take-away, the soya sauce - which I assume simply goes with it - is available in small portions. However, it is not available in a small bag analogue to a salt or pepper sachet, but in a small plastic fish. This looks attractive and goes far beyond the functional. I therefore imagine that these portions, which can be taken away for free with a meal, are very popular with sushi lovers. But what happens after consumption? Where do these plastic fish end up? In the rubbish? On the street? It is widely known that we have a problem with microplastics in our food chain and that this is dangerous. So should we do without it, even though it is on offer? We are always faced with such dilemma questions in our lives. How do you find your answer and what are your guiding motives? Are you honest with yourself?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the time around Christmas, many people make biscuits. The idea is to cut out the general shape of the biscuits, sometimes decorating them afterwards or embossing them with a separate cutter. I have also tried various ways of cutting a logo into biscuits that is still easily recognisable and legible after baking. If the dough rises a lot during the baking process, the original pre-baking embossing may disappear completely or at least become unrecognisable. Therefore, for this application, it is best if the dough is well embossed before baking and only slightly risen during baking. In other words: if it keeps its shape during the embossing and baking process. Transferring this, one could say: the more I am and remain myself and allow myself to be shaped in this way - the more easily this will then be recognisable to others. Is that the case for you and what are you shaped by or do you allow yourself to be shaped by?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my parents' house, where I grew up, the Autumn Fair, one of the biggest funfairs or fairs as they are called, was only a few hundred metres away. Where I live today, it's a bit further - but I still live in the city where it takes place. Many people come to Basel especially to enjoy themselves. I live here. Still: if I don't go, I don't get anything out of it. So it doesn't matter how close or far away I am from it: even on my doorstep - if I don't go, it passes me by. So it is with some things in our lives: the opportunities are there and it would take little effort, maybe even just an active decision, to take advantage of those opportunities. Yet we miss some or many of them and they pass us by unused. Do you know this? Do you have regrets or do you regret missed opportunities? Perhaps today is a day to resolutely seize them when they arise.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you have been in a situation where you had to tighten a loose screw or loosen a tight one. Of course, the best way to do this is with a screwdriver - that's what the tool is made for. It also works best if the size of the screwdriver fits the size of the screw and if the notch in the screw head is intact. However, the latter is sometimes not the case: the notch is widened or broken or otherwise no longer intact in some way. In the worst case, the best screwdriver is of no use and the screw can no longer be loosened or sufficiently tightened. But this does not happen all at once. It happens over time and repeated incorrect use. If today you are at a point in life or business or a little thing that doesn't work: is it because you have already behaved inappropriately over a longer period of time and would the consequences be to change something about it in the future?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Because I am fascinated by watches, I look at different models from time to time and marvel at the way they are made, their appearance, the functions and details, etc. I notice that the different types have names borrowed from other languages. A stopwatch is often called a chronometer - in reference to the term chronos, which comes from the Greek and means time. Meter also comes from the Greek and means as much as measure or measure - we know this from many other combinations of terms such as gonometer for angle measurement or thermometer, etc. Of course, all these terms could be translated literally or almost literally into English - but it is not uncommon to keep the original foreign-language terms. A hint for me for this episode: not everything always has to be new and unique - it is also quite good to fall back on the existing, the tried and tested. Maybe that's what you need to do today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently in a holiday flat where there was a device that made sparkling water out of drinking water. The way it worked was that I had to clamp the bottle into a device and it contained a cartouche of carbon dioxide, which was then forced into the bottle at the push of a button. So I had fine sparkling water within a few seconds. I couldn't see exactly how the process worked because the container was not transparent. But there was a clear "before" and "after". I was also amazed at how quickly and well mixed it was. There were no spots in the water that had more gas and others that had less. The whole thing reminded me of a passage in the Bible where the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus: "Rather, be filled with the Spirit of God". I imagine Paul's invitation to be something like the bubble machine: The influences I expose myself to, I will be filled with. Which ones are with you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are notebooks, writing pads or training materials that have a spiral binding on the edge. This is usually a relatively stable wire that holds the individual sheets together through a very specific geometric deformation. The special thing about it is that this binding is really very stable. So even if one element of the spiral binding were to break off or be deformed, this would have little or no effect on the overall cohesion of the individual sheets. Of course, it is correspondingly tedious if you want to detach the sheets from this binding. This binding reminds me of the property of stubbornness: the wire is close-fitting and quasi far over-redundant shaped like a stubborn arrangement that does not want to allow the cohesion to be loosened under any circumstances. Therefore: stubbornness creates cohesion or holds together. A good quality - as an antipole, when stubborn people tend to annoy you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a boy, I loved playing with Matchbox cars. These were cars, made of metal, that were relatively small but nevertheless very realistically reproduced. Their size was only a few centimetres - hence the term: Matchbox cars, i.e. matchbox cars. At that time, I even had a car park with a petrol station to expand my vehicle universe. You could also open the doors on these cars. They were very sturdy - they had to be, because they often flew across the room or fell off the table. They were fantasy catalysts: when we played with them, we were in another world. What happened there with the cars was somehow real, even if it was controlled by a child's hand and invented in the child's brain. They stimulated our imagination. Do you also have things in your everyday life that make you dream and fantasise in a positive sense? Not in the sense of a utopia alien to reality, but of a creativity that shapes the future?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently bought a pastry at the bakery that had a kind of puff pastry at the bottom, then a layer of vanilla cream followed by another thin layer of puff pastry and caramelised almond leaves on top. It was difficult to eat because the top layer was hard. If I applied too much pressure to separate them, the vanilla cream would ooze out on the side. I wondered which of the different layers I would like best. I knew which one. Then I wondered if I would buy and eat a sweet that consisted only of that, because that would be my favourite. Then I realised that I didn't want that. It is precisely because there is something else that the special or favourite stands out all the more. If qualities in others bother you, remember that this may only be in contrast to the pleasant sides, which you may no longer even notice. Therefore, appreciate everything in its combination and thus the person in itself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Just the other day the topic was the dark tunnel and that this is not only negative but also holds a potential of hope - a possible path, even if not quite easy. But a path nonetheless. When you go from light to dark all of a sudden - for example, the light suddenly goes out in the stairwell or you switch off the light before going to bed - you usually hardly see anything, certainly not something that is dark anyway. With time, however, the eyes get used to the different lighting conditions and suddenly you recognise things that were not visible before. For me, this too is a sign or image of hope for times that are not easy: Our gaze can adapt through adverse circumstances if we allow it, and we begin to recognise things that were invisible to us at the beginning. Despite darkness, we see, we recognise and thus we also find our bearings again. This for encouragement!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I think of cow patties, childhood memories come to mind first and foremost. How we used to go hiking across meadows and every now and then it happened that we overlooked a cow pat and stepped right into it - in the worst case, the pat was still fresh. Older patties were fortunately so dried out that little of the mass stuck to the shoe, which was not the case with fresh patties. Actually, it shouldn't happen that you step into such a thing, because they are visible and delimited and sometimes you can even smell them. And yet it happens. What helps is to clean it as quickly as possible, be it in the grass or at a nearby well. Scolding and getting angry does little good. And it's the same with the famous faux pas that you put your foot in every now and then. Sometimes unintentionally, sometimes simply through a lack of carelessness. The best thing is to put it right as soon as possible. This is a tip or reminder.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Looking at my watch, I notice how fine and thin the big second hand is. It is straight and thin and yet looks very fragile. Thanks to its minimal thickness, it indicates the seconds extremely precisely. So I can see very clearly what time is now displayed. This also applies to the other hands, of course, but they are not always as delicate. This precision in design and workmanship thus leads to clear communication. I don't have to guess the time, I can read it. Precision is sometimes very fine, sometimes sharp and sometimes sharp. But thanks to this precision, misunderstandings are avoided, clarity prevails. This is also true in communication: the clearer the message, the fewer misunderstandings. If today statements perhaps hurt you or seem too harsh, remember that they are clear and precise and what a gain this is. You know where you stand. Do the same with others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In life, a tunnel is often an allegory for a dark, difficult time. In the natural world, a tunnel exists where there is actually no natural path or access: for example, a traffic route not over but through a mountain. This also makes it clear that an enormous amount of effort is needed to create this passage. This is very time-consuming and expensive, but in the end it is literally also a breakthrough and often an enormous shortcut or time saving for the journey and not infrequently also safer. It is precisely the latter that gives the allegory mentioned at the beginning a lot of hope: the path through the dark tunnel may be arduous and energy-sapping - but at least: it is a path. It is not simply a dead end or an end. This gives hope in everything that is difficult and, as a rule, every tunnel also has a bright exit at the end. That should encourage you today. Also read Psalm 23:4.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On a road, lanes are separated by stripes. The primary intention is to order crossing traffic flows and thus avoid collisions. Modern road signalisation has a certain materialisation so that a noticeable noise is produced when one drives over it. If the lane is very narrow and you often drive over this pavement, it may be quite annoying - but in principle this pavement feature is life-saving. It is quite possible to fall into a microsleep when tired and be in danger of losing control of the vehicle. This floor covering has already saved me from dangerous and perhaps life-threatening situations when I was overtired on the road after a transatlantic flight. Sometimes fellow human beings or circumstances that are annoying at first impression are nevertheless preserving for us - we don't know what we would get into without their criticism.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I made myself a poached egg in a pan. However, because I only cleaned the pan after the meal and it had been sitting on the cooker uncleaned for a while, residues of the egg white dried on the inside edges. These remnants were quite stubborn and it took quite a bit of rubbing to remove them completely. I couldn't see the residue with my eyes, but I could feel it with my fingers. Depending on the allegory, we humans are also compared to vessels - we have a capacity and the question is then what is inside us. What thoughts, what values, what inclinations and attitudes, opinions or even what spirit. Some things are based on personal experience, others have simply been adopted. Either way, it makes sense from time to time to take a critical look at what is inside me and shapes my thinking and ultimately my actions. Are you striving for such a regular inner cleansing?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You may or may not be interested in politics. In our times of global uncertainty, the importance of politics and diplomacy is gaining in importance and is therefore once again increasingly in the attention of people and the media. The term politics comes from ancient Greece and means something like "the things that concern the city" - i.e. the community. Today, one could also speak of a nation - or very generally: of the area of the social community for which concrete politics is conducted. This can also be your team at work or the association, the parish. And politics - ideally - seeks the common good, the well-being of all and looks for ways to implement this in various areas of tension. With different perspectives and representations. What is that like for you? Is your politics very much shaped by your personal view or with a view for the common good as a whole?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a mountain in the Bernese Oberland called the Niesen. A train goes up or you can walk up the mountain. It is beautifully situated by Lake Thun. Now, in the mountains, the weather can change very quickly and circumstances can become dangerous. So you can start in sunny weather but still end up in a thunderstorm. As a possible guide, there is the saying "If the Niesen has a collar, you can dare." Which means: if there is a band of clouds around the top of the mountain, it is favourable for a climb. Such wisdoms and proverbs abound. Some ridicule them. But they have some truth. They are mottos from a time when nothing was stored digitally or on a smartphone. Oral exchange was common. This wisdom has perhaps already saved many lives. Therefore, as an encouragement: listen to the advice of experienced people around you. It can save you a lot of pain.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When was the last time you thought about your first name? I mean: that you consciously took a moment and thought about what it means to you to bear this name and what you associate with it? I don't believe that names are coincidence or meaningless. Of course, names are always more or less trendy over time. I don't know what the trendsetters were in the past. Today it's well-known personalities from films, sport, politics or other domains. And when I read certain texts from the past or from other cultures, I find it difficult just to pronounce them - apart from that, they are unfamiliar to me. But names have a meaning and thus for me also a destiny or calling to the corresponding person. Do you know yours? Do you already live them? Sometimes people with certain names appear in your dreams - they give you a message through the meaning of their name. Do you listen to it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It won't be long now and then the months will come when the days are also shorter. I like to light a candle then. In Advent anyway. And when you look at a burning candle, you can see the flame. Just like when you look into a burning fire. What I find special is that you see the flame, but if you were to reach into it, you wouldn't really find anything physically tangible. With water vapour, which you can also see, at least the vapour condenses, but with a flame - I suppose - there is nothing but the heat that we burn ourselves on. It is something visible but not tangible. We can testify with our eyes that we see it and yet we cannot touch it or pass it on. Each one of us has to see it for ourselves. In Christianity, God is compared to a fire consisting of three flames. I can now understand this well when looking at the candle flame. He can only be experienced individually.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A doormat, although old-fashioned, is nevertheless widely available. It is usually placed in front of the entrance door or a door to the garden or terrace. The purpose of the mat is to wipe or brush off dirty shoes or, better still, their dirty soles, so that the dirt remains outside and is not taken into the home and soils the floor there. So dirt from outside should not be taken inside. If you transfer this to thoughts or information, you can ask yourself: what kind of mental or emotional doormat is available to me to leave the corresponding everyday dirt outside? I think one answer is forgiveness. Especially in the case of emotional injuries. In order to be able to forgive, you need the appropriate resources. We do not always have these within us. But the Christian good news provides an answer and access to this resource. In this way it is possible to live inwardly clean.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I went to the pharmacy the other day and ordered a certain product. Before I left the pharmacy again, I was given a small piece of paper as confirmation of my order. To me, this note seemed obsolete. The staff have known me for years and since I would be coming back the next day to pick up the product, I didn't see the reason for this note. The next day I picked up the product, showed the note properly and everything went smoothly. The note was not necessary. But: if I had forgotten, if a new employee had served me or if I had come much later - the note would have served as a witness to my order. We sometimes need such witnesses in everyday life. Especially when our feelings say something different from reality or doubts plague us. That we are creatures created by God and loved by Him is sometimes doubtful for us. But the empty cross is a visible and speaking witness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't know anyone who likes to wait. This is especially true when we are waiting for something that is very important to us. Waiting often also means expecting a certain outcome of an event, for example: a positive decision on an enquiry, a negative report on a medical examination, the arrival of an ordered item and much more. It is linked to hope and dependence is also integrated in waiting. If we didn't have to wait, we could do everything ourselves. In addition to dependence, there is also counting on something. If I didn't wait for something, I wouldn't expect the expected to happen. The waiting process is sometimes painful because it is uncertain. Often this vulnerability is worth it. If you are currently waiting - then I wish you joyful anticipation and great gratitude and joy when it arrives. It is incomparably greater than if you had got it yourself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently bought an iceberg lettuce and a Cicorino Rosso. Both lettuces come in such a way that they have almost spherical-like their leaves around a core very close together and you can then peel off the individual leaves almost like you would peel off the layers of an onion and use them. That in and of itself is nothing exciting. But when I was loosening the leaves and preparing the salad, I noticed how close-fitting the individual leaves were and wondered how the growth was going. The leaves are so close together, how can the individual layers grow without friction or without interfering with each other? I still don't know - but what I am left with is amazement at nature and what it produces that is great and, for me, astonishing. A miracle in my salad bowl. So wonderful, in the middle of everyday life. Do you also have such everyday occurrences that a closer look leaves you in awe and admiration?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, there were kiosks in very many places in the city. You could buy all kinds of things there: Newspapers, sweets, and weekly markets from the public transport season ticket. It was not uncommon for schoolchildren to buy a lollipop or chewing gum or the latest MickeyMouse magazine on their way home after school, if it was the day it was published. Today, there are only a few kiosks left in the city. You can still find them in train stations and sometimes in shopping centres. A pity, really. They were contact varieties. Today you can find more vending machines or take-aways for snacks, and you pay cashless with your mobile phone or credit card. And newspapers are read on smartphones. Convenient, perhaps, because they are available 24 hours a day. But also empty, because the mood of the salesperson is missing - whether stressed or happy. Perhaps a day to celebrate and rejoice in every eye contact that so happens in everyday life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are often bicycle stands at official bicycle parking areas. In the past, and sometimes still today, these are metal constructions that offer a kind of clamp for the bicycle. You clamp the bike with a little pressure so that it is stabilised and stands upright and does not tip to one side. This saves space. However, this technique has the disadvantage that if you don't press the wheel in enough, this stand is of no use. Or if it is anchored too tightly and something heavy bumps against the bike, the jammed wheel can become deformed. So what is actually a good idea requires appropriate framework conditions that have to be met. You are responsible for some of them, but you cannot influence others. An assessment of how safe such a place is can help to ensure that the bicycle is not damaged during parking. Perhaps there is an area today that requires your special attention and assessment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A hinge is a rotating joint that we most often find on doors or lids. It allows a room or container to be closed or opened. Neither the door nor the lid has to be completely removed or pushed, but they are simply rotated in a circle around the hinge. If this is not done against gravity, it can be done with relatively little effort - unless the hinge is stuck or damaged. Another property is that the hinge - if correctly fitted - helps to ensure that when the door is closed, the space is actually closed and not just partially closed. This is why hinges are also adjusted to achieve precisely this effect of perfect closure. Opening and closing, access and demarcation - these are opposites that we also need in our personal lives. Closeness and distance. Are the corresponding hinges intact in your areas of life or do they need adjustment?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the Old Testament in Psalm 103, King David exhorts himself to honour God because He makes him joyful and his youth is constantly renewed like an eagle. The image of the eagle touched me. Supposedly, the allegory means that just as the eagle's feathers are always renewed, so God always renews one's youth - but how and why? David sees the reason for this process in one's own behaviour or attitude. Namely, the one he mentions at the beginning of his text. It is the call to honour God, to show gratitude to him, or as he calls it: to praise God. We often praise others for a deed, an achievement, an ability or a quality. This is also the case here: Praise to God is for the fact that he renews our lives again and again, and that through and thanks to him we always receive new energy and strength for the challenges of our lives. Is this also the case for you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Radiators are used for heating in many rooms. These are located on a wall and heat the corresponding room. It is interesting that the heat source is not in the middle of the room to have a radial effect in all directions, but at the periphery. A radiator has the characteristic that it has the largest possible surface area due to the many pipes in order to give off as much heat as possible. If the aim was to transport heat with as little loss as possible, this would be the least favourable variant. And that is why it is used this way. Interesting: in a small, punctual place there is an emission source that influences a space many times larger. In social structures, this is sometimes also the case: one person influences a whole group or a minority influences a whole society. Often, unfortunately, to the negative. If this is also happening to you at the moment, can you set a counterpoint of good that influences all those affected in a positive way?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am far from knowing anything about professional audio recording. But if I'm not mistaken, there are some external features that are supposed to help record the sound quality optimally. These include foam around the microphone and other such devices to help avoid sibilance or other unpleasantness. It's interesting that this is still practised today, when I could imagine that one could also eliminate or clean up disturbances by means of software, i.e. in the recording. Nevertheless, external precautions are taken. How is it in your life: do you also take external measures to ensure that you are well or do you compensate, do you then process difficult things internally? Outwardly could mean reducing problematic relationships or saying no to requests, etc. Instead of processing overload or stress inwardly afterwards. Remember: "No" is a complete sentence.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
During the pandemic period, many business meetings no longer took place physically and on site, but virtually and online. The necessary software ran on the computer and if the camera was set, it showed the camera image to all participants during the meeting - this was usually the relevant person taking part in the conversation. Many programmes offer the possibility to define a free background - that is, to replace the real background with any background, such as a photo or a landscape. This then sometimes looks as if you are taking part in the meeting from the sea or the mountains, etc. It is amazingly real in parts - but especially with water pictures you can see that it is just a static picture. A closer look reveals the truth. What about you: do you show what is real or do you like to use pictures that show something different, better than what is real, to put yourself in a better light?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my professional environment I knew someone who had a very specific way of saying things. He expressed this quite often in conversation. I cannot describe or reproduce it. At the beginning, it seemed to me like a spontaneous utterance in the sense of "oh I like that" - until I realised that he did it all the time, regardless of the situation. What first caught my attention now caught my attention more and more and finally it annoyed me and I could hardly hear it anymore. Unfortunately, it meant that I could no longer take the person completely seriously. I don't know how this tic came about on his part, nor whether he was aware of it and whether anyone had ever pointed it out to him. In any case, self-observation from time to time or external reflection help to eliminate such communication killers. Do you have such a reflection mirror that protects you from such strange tics?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day we were talking in the family about the use of gelatine. It was reported that when gelatine is used for baking cakes, lumps always form, much to our chagrin. The conclusion was: you just have to practise more or try this or that. I then suggested looking on the internet to see what advice or tips there were. And indeed, we found what we were looking for very quickly - a small video tutorial had one or two good tips that might actually make the difference and thus prevent lumps. A banal example - and yet very illustrative in the sense: something I want to improve does not automatically get better by simply doing it again and again in the same way, but better to invest some time in specifically asking for advice or experience from others. Maybe you also have things that need to be improved - can you possibly get advice from someone?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know the expression that something is memorable or we imprint something - by this we mean: we remember something that we can recall later. The imagery behind this is: you have a mass, clay or stone, and with an appropriate tool you work it and imprint an image or text into this material. This is much more durable than sticking the image or text onto the material. Embossing - as with coins - guarantees that what has been embossed will be preserved until the end of the wearer's life. Unfortunately, my memory is not that stable. But I still have memories from over 50 years that have stuck with me. If you work the surface of an embossing with sandpaper, you can make the embossing disappear, unfortunately. It seems to me that the flood of information and the spirit of the times are also like that: they grind important imprints out of us and our society. Do you know this? Do you do something against it so that the good imprints remain?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In plane geometry there are rules or laws that simply apply and are immutable. For example, two straight lines always intersect at exactly one point if they are not parallel. Or two circles can either be congruent, have exactly one common point - if they touch each other - or otherwise have exactly two but never more points of intersection. The same applies to a straight line and a circle. One could discuss this at length and perhaps even debate advantages and disadvantages - but one could not change this. In today's world - or so it sometimes seems to me - the behaviour is exactly the same. Perhaps an irritant, but nevertheless: as human creatures we only have two genders to choose from, no matter how we feel. Other things are perhaps more banal or certain rules apply in the work environment. When you sign the employment contract, you also confirm that you will respect them. How easy is it for you to live with rules from outside?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we use the word end in German, we usually or exclusively do so with the meaning that something is coming to an end or has gone or will go. End in the sense of a cessation, conclusion, being finished. And when we speak of the "end of the world", it is usually understood in a negative way: in the sense of: the end of the world, now it stops, everything is dead. However, at least in Greek there is also the meaning of full ending. This means that something is not finished in the sense of "now it is finished", but something has come to completion. So the end of a work of art is not: it has ceased to exist, but it has been completed, you can't make it any better - and that's how it is now. This meaning is much more hopeful for me. Perhaps this will inspire you to see an end in certain areas of life as something positive and promising...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I bought some very fine seedless grapes the other day. These have - compared to the usual grapes - no seeds. That means you can just bite them without biting on a seed. Practical, pleasant - I admit it. But what made me think about the name was this: They are called seedless. So the focus is on what is not or no longer there. Why aren't they called full-flesh grapes? Then the focus would be on what is there, that is, that there is only pulp in the fruit, nothing else. So often - it seems to me - we are mentally and linguistically deficient. We see what is missing, not what is present. So often we say "I only have..." instead of "I still have". This "only" also indicates a lack. Today, pay attention to your inner attitude towards your existing resources and consciously cultivate a positive, grateful, appreciative language regarding your resources.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a pot of fresh basil on my terrace. It is admirable how big and strong these leaves can become. But there are also fine, rather puny specimens. I was particularly struck by how flabby they are when they wilt. There is no longer any sign of the strong potential that they actually have. The same applies to other tender plants like a shamrock or others. What happened there? Surely the connection to the mother plant is missing, where all the nutrient supply comes from, and possibly also simply enough liquid and/or sunlight. But it is not uncommon to succeed in reviving such supposedly dead plant parts by supplying them with what they need, making them strong and bringing them back to their intended purpose. Are there perhaps ideas or dreams in your life that seem to be dead but have the potential for revival? Will you dare to make this investment?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I was thinking about an iron bar. I thought how incredibly robust, hard and stable such a part is. We used to do pull-ups on it when we were kids. There was no chance of deforming or breaking one. That made me wonder: as humans, we have managed to create things that are far stronger and more powerful, more massive than we are, or than what we can influence without any other tools. Of course, this ability brings with it a great responsibility and also a danger of abuse. It becomes quite extreme when you think of the destructive power of weapons that we are able to produce. Thank God, these are not accessible to every person. But you don't have to go that far - words are enough with which we can sometimes literally achieve powerful things: build up or destroy. Often, however, we are not even aware of their effect. Perhaps today is a day to reactivate this awareness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A table normally has at least one tabletop and four legs. It is desirable that the table is as evenly levelled as possible and does not wobble. This means that the four legs must be very precisely measured and matched to each other. They must also fit the underground, otherwise all the precision work is useless and the table will still wobble. This is because four legs are actually one too many, and although this redundancy brings stability, it also requires more precision. Not so with a tripod: it never wobbles, no matter how uneven the surface, because there is no redundancy. But it is not as stable and it is difficult to set it up so that a flat surface is parallel to the ground at the top, i.e. without a slope. So you have a choice: flexibility or stability. Or: short-term pragmatism versus longer-term stability. Maybe you have to choose between these today - depending on the situation, one fits better.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It has become autumn time and I love this time of year because, on the one hand, it brings incredibly beautiful colours in nature to light and into being and lets nature once again appear in tremendous splendour. On the other hand, it is also harvest time - what has taken time to develop, patience, care, nutrients and much more can now be harvested and enjoyed. A huge variety awaits us here. Pumpkins are one of them. A product that was largely unknown in my childhood, now very common and popular. Such fruits can become huge and they are a witness to the fact that even dung can become something very good - and I mean that quite figuratively. Even on our dung, in all the breakage and loss and damage, a great deal of good can still become - why? Because it is inherent in dung that it is very rich in nutrients. Your dung too. There is still a lot of potential in it. Use it for growth!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we are honest, we have to say: as humanity we have achieved an enormous amount. In the past decades alone, our technology has developed tremendously, medically we have achieved breakthroughs and we have reached an unprecedented level of resilience, at least globally. We are able to do tremendous things like fly to the moon, move entire mountains, etc. And yet, as individuals, we remain very vulnerable. I suspect that each of us knows moments of disappointed hope. That can be very painful, it can even break people inside. In all our outwardly impressive development, we remain highly vulnerable on the inside. Against this background, I was all the more moved by something I read the other day: a prophet in the Old Testament, his name was Zechariah. In a translation of his writing, it says in the 9th chapter "your hope will not be disappointed". How powerful, how comforting, how calming, reassuring. That is what I wish for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suppose we all have our own individual ideas about love - what is love? And I also suspect that we initially start from ourselves - so: how do we perceive love? There is the well-known book of the five languages of love, which describes how people basically perceive and give love through five different channels. Certainly, most of us agree that love is more than just a feeling. But the feeling - let's be honest - is somehow already part of it. It doesn't always have to be butterflies in the stomach, but we do expect a certain emotional experience. I think that here in the West we basically have a strongly hedonistic understanding of love. In contrast, I read the statement of the person who gave his life out of love for people, Jesus. He says: you love me if you do what I tell you. Love is therefore strongly linked to obedience. How does that resonate with you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Cherry picking is a figurative word for a selfish effort to secure only the most attractive parts of something in order to leave the more unattractive ones to others." So says Wikipedia. In politics or in argumentation this is also used: one speaks only of the positive or the aspects that support one's own point of view, but not of the whole truth. There is something contemptuous about this behaviour from my point of view. Because it does not take the needs of the environment or the other person seriously, but only focuses on one's own advantage. Depending on the context, this may be considered a success, especially in a business environment when it comes to closing a deal. But in the long run, it is unhealthy. The quote from the physician Paracelsus also applies here: "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; it is only the dose that makes a thing not a poison. Indeed: such behaviour poisons. Not only the atmosphere, not only the trust of those involved and deceived - but much worse: one's own heart. Therefore: cherries yes, but not without the environment containing them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In biology class at school, we had the pleasure of looking at various things under the microscope. We then had to reproduce this in drawings, which I didn't do very well. But the fascination of being able to see things with such a device that I don't normally see and yet are there was still there. And so we looked at more than just leaves and insects microscopically. Paper structure suddenly became visible or the tip of a pencil or our own skin particles and hair etc. When you see more, you know more. When you know more, you have more responsibility to handle this knowledge, this realisation, wisely. In other words, expanded knowledge or special skills and talents are not just open doors to something that is not open to everyone, but brings with it responsible action. Are you one of those who face up to this responsibility or do you prefer to look the other way in order not to have to take responsibility?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suspect there are not many technologies that have had a relatively short life span. For me, these include the overhead projector. This is a device on which transparent transparencies were placed. What was written or drawn with matching pens was then projected onto a surface. Both here and with slides, what is relatively small in the original is massively enlarged by projection. That's what it's supposed to do, so that you can recognise it as well as possible. In psychology, too, we know a phenomenon called projection: one projects into or onto others what one would like to see there or what one does not see in oneself and then images onto others. This in itself is not really good. But it becomes bad because, as with the overhead projector, the magnification or exaggeration effect occurs. This is harmful in relationships and often distorts the truth. Therefore, caution is advised against such projections.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, I was allowed to watch and later help my father when he changed the tyres of our car. From winter to summer tyres or vice versa. He had a spanner that looked like a cross. If the screws were loose enough, he could turn the spanner with a pulse so that the cap came off very easily. I found that fascinating. In retrospect, I think that someone must have once had such an idea to design the spanner in such a way that such practical handling was possible. Or someone invented this practical handling with the tool that was available. Today, it's probably all done electrically assisted. But in the event of a breakdown somewhere, you still need that lathe operator. Good for the one who has learned his trade. Are you ready for unexpected mishaps in everyday life, such as postponed appointments, conflicts, etc.?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In some older films set in prisons, the prisoners are seen shackled or bound with chains. The feet are put in chains, shackled, so that the possible length of the step is reduced enormously - this prevents the convict from escaping. There is something degrading about simply looking at the situation with a little distance: a person is put in chains by other people, kept in custody, deprived of his independence and his freedom is deliberately restricted to the greatest extent possible. This is independent of what this person has done before. Restrictions, shackles and bonds degrade us. They rob us of our identity as freely created creatures. Unfortunately, we know all too well our own bondages such as bad habits, addictions and other attachments. These too degrade us. Would it perhaps be time today to free yourself from such a bondage and give freely? Can you do that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are these older aircraft that you rarely see flying. They are more likely to be seen as exhibits. In any case, one would not plan an overseas trip with such an aircraft, at most an Alpine flight or otherwise a rather shorter round trip. Not so with a large jumbo jet. Here, one would hardly mobilise such a large and heavy piece for a regional air show, but plan a long-haul flight with it. The individual models therefore have their own suitability and capabilities, and in connection with this they also trigger corresponding, realistic expectations. If you have to deal with other people today - no matter where - then be realistic with your expectations and demands towards them. Do not expect from a child what is not age-appropriate and from a co-worker what does not correspond to his or her qualifications. And don't be overwhelmed by others' perhaps exaggerated expectations of you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you spill something, especially sweet liquid or something sticky, you have to clean it up, because otherwise the mess will remain and, in the worst case, be spread and create a hygiene problem. A wipe is worth its weight in gold in such a case. If you can moisten it, you can simply wipe over it a few times for smaller amounts and the mess is cleaned up. The spilled substance is then in the cloth and can be carried away and rinsed out under a tap. So the flannel is the tool or carrier medium for the problem. Quite a humble task: to admit that one takes the dirt or the fault of others upon oneself, brings it to purity and then allows it to be washed out and squeezed out. That's how I imagine forgiveness and reconciliation in order to have pure relationships again. Who is this flannel in your life? Or do spills stick to you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's one of those terms that we rarely use and that sound a bit old-fashioned in Swiss German and not modern or trendy at the moment. I am thinking of the word tenacity. On the one hand, it sounds a bit dusty, and on the other hand, what it means is anything but trendy. Today, everything has to be done quickly and immediately. And if it doesn't work, an alternative has to be found immediately. Waiting or insisting on something or being persistent, enduring, not giving up, holding on to something - that's not so popular and above all - let's be honest - boring. Because nothing much happens while waiting. But tenacity has its very own quality. I compare it to muscle training, and muscle mass that you can build up. This tenacity - according to my thesis - strengthens resilience and raises frustration tolerance, and I think in the end it also makes you happier and more balanced. What about your level of tenacity?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you are also one of those who like spaghetti. And as far as I know, spaghetti is always served with a sauce - be it Bolognese, Napoli, Verdura and others. In my experience, the spaghetti is then nicely turned into a kind of heap or almost a ball in the middle of the plate and the corresponding sauce is then served on top as a topping. The sauce and the spaghetti are not mixed in the best possible way in the kitchen, but it is left to the guest to do this. Why is that? I believe that it is simply much nicer to look at when the meal is served as described, instead of already fully ready to eat in the form of the aforementioned mixing. Aesthetics play a role here. As I've mentioned before, we are not purely functional beings. Where could you consciously incorporate more aesthetics and less functionality in your everyday life today?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a well-known poem on the Roman Fountain by C.F. Meyer, which he published in 1882. It is relatively short and describes how the water of a fountain goes from one bowl to the next. So a giving and taking, a flowing and resting. It sounds so gentle and balanced. Perhaps it is, too, when you watch the water play. But what you can't see, or hardly see, is the considerable energy that brings the stream of water upwards in the first place, so that this balanced, almost stoic flow can take place. It does not happen by itself. An external power source is necessary. I think it is the same with us humans: simply out of ourselves we cannot live our lives in this world in a balanced way, giving and taking, flowing and resting. We also need an inner source of power that balances, gives energy for this balance and works constantly and reliably. What is that in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are different types of drones and they have developed enormously in recent years. One type is the so-called quadcopter. It has four rotors and can be steered so that it can fly in all directions without having to turn around first. So there is no front or back in the real sense. This construction reminded me of something quite different that took place more than a few thousand years ago: it was when a man called Ezekiel had visions in the Near East and saw celestial beings that could also move in all directions without having to turn. He describes these beings in his book in the Old Testament. He saw them several times. He thus had an insight into a reality that is otherwise inaccessible to our natural eyes. Such a world also exists and I look forward to having my eyes opened to it in eternity.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In English there is a saying "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". In other words: try something out to see what you have or what it's good for. On the other hand, I often notice that, due to our spirit of the time, many people often have very concrete opinions about things that they don't even know from their own experience. People act as if they knew what it was all about, as if they were experienced and as if their own opinion was tried, tested and reliable. So there are more and more experts on the various topics - without these alleged experts really being people with expertise, i.e. real experience on the subject. Regrettable. Today, many parents are experts when it comes to their children's education, employees judge their superiors and in sport, every spectator knows better than the referee anyway. Do you know this from your own experience? Are there areas where an adjustment in the form of more restraint is needed?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are various symbols in figurative language or allegories. For example, the drop that makes a barrel overflow. In this case, the drop is not meant literally, but simply something very, very tiny, but enough to cause a situation to escalate in the end. Or the blind chicken that finds a grain of corn: It means that even the most incapable person can succeed in something, even if it is only a pure stroke of luck and not the person's ability. And then there is the strange image or symbol of the horn. It is very common in the Bible. I didn't understand what it meant for a very long time. But it means power, strength, authority. It is used in prophetic visions for kingdoms and dominions - but also in Mary's hymn of praise when she says about Jesus that God is raising up in him a power of salvation. In other words, a power from which salvation emanates. A channel of becoming healthy and healed, of coming home, of "everything will be all right again". What a beautiful image.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I was thinking about how often, or rather how rarely, I still travel with cash and how dominant cashless payment has become for me and many others. You pay by mobile phone or hold your credit card up to a contactless sensor that securely handles the entire financial transaction. But what is behind all this? Establishing a bank connection from A to B, transferring the exact amount, receiving it, all this via the public internet, secured, protected against malicious intentions, etc. All this simply works - although we see nothing of it. Everything is digital, invisible. Yet we have enormous trust in this process, almost blind faith. And at the same time, there are people who say they only believe what they see. That's why they don't believe in God. Well, if you believe in a safe, invisible money transaction, why shouldn't you believe in a good God who loves you? One is no more visible than the other, it seems to me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was swimming in the Rhine recently and a motorboat passing me at some distance caused considerable waves, I had great difficulty keeping my bearings while crawling. The ups and downs of the waves confused my sense of direction and I could no longer rely on it exclusively, but had to look up much more often to see which way I was swimming. I have experienced the same thing in my professional environment: you get a lot of negative feedback that it goes in the direction of bullying and then you start to doubt yourself and your competences - although this would not be appropriate at all. So we are very impressionable. A remedy for orientation difficulties is a distant goal, a so-called landmark. This is sufficiently far away and fixed. If you look at it and use it as a target, you can adjust your own path at any time. In other words, a navigation aid. What landmarks help you in life when the waves are high?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever had to defrost a refrigerator or freezer? Then you may have been amazed at how much ice has accumulated on the inside walls. Or maybe you have noticed that it takes a lot of force to open the door of the refrigerator or freezer immediately after it has just been closed. Both have to do with insulation. In other words, how well does the door close, or how well insulated or tightly does this door close. The tighter the better, i.e. the more energy-efficient and economical, the better the refrigerator can do its job. The principle of insulation also applies to us humans. The better we can close ourselves against what is against our destiny, the better we can fulfill our tasks and thus our purpose in life. And vice versa: the more negative and destructive things we let in because of a lack of emotional and mental insulation, the faster we freeze up inside. Is it time for you to defrost again?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you imagine a radio or even have one in front of you, you will certainly see certain elements such as a tuning device for the stations, an on/off button, the loudspeaker and possibly more. And all this in an attractive design. Why so much effort? You could leave out the whole cover and the design and make the device smaller and cheaper. Maybe. But it would also be more dangerous. Dangerous for the user, because he might get an electric shock, but also dangerous for the construction and functionality of the device. So the cover does not only serve marketing purposes in the form of an appealing design, but it protects both the device and the user. Direct access to the inner workings is thus deliberately denied - and serves to protect. Sometimes we are annoyed that certain things are or remain denied to us - but perhaps they ultimately serve to protect us. You never know.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The term horizon originally comes from ancient Greek and means boundary line - which actually makes sense. It is the line that ultimately gives our farsightedness its limit. Seeing further is not possible. Not with all our efforts. And even if we were in a total plain - like on the beach of an ocean, for example, and looked across it - somewhere there is a limit, we simply cannot see any further. On the one hand, our view is physically limited by the layers of air that are ultimately not completely transparent, and on the other hand by the curvature of the earth's body. So even if there were no obstacle - infinity is not accessible to us. It is worth considering this also with regard to one's own life, one's own resources and relationships: there is no infinite availability here either. We all live with a limited measure that is once used up. Blessed is he who handles these resources with foresight.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you want to protect something from external influences, then you surround it with a suitable cover or other protective mechanism. So if it needs to be resistant to sharp objects or blows, it needs to be a hard, tough shell. The harder, the better - but the harder, the more inflexible in most cases. So if you want to have maximum freedom of movement at the same time as maximum protection, you can't avoid making certain compromises. Either you construct the armour in such a way that it consists of many small, flexible but interlinked elements - this serves the freedom of movement, but also brings more weight - or you optimise the material requirements to a minimum, but forfeit freedom of movement. The armoured rhinoceros, for example, has large panels that partially overlap so that it is still protected even when moving. Compromises are not always nice and comfortable - but sometimes necessary.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I give you the keyword wild boar - what do you think of? Asterix and Obelix? Or a hairy pig's head with sickle-like, pointed canine teeth sticking out of its mouth on the right and left? Most - I suspect - are associations of a stereotypical kind. Simply because very few of us have had the opportunity to observe and study wild boar undisturbed over a longer period of time and thus form a picture of the animal's traits and character from our own experience. Needless to say, this is exactly what happens to us over and over again in our daily lives with other people: we have our clear opinions and perceptions of others - such as celebrities or sportsmen or politicians or neighbours or bosses and employees. This is despite the fact that we have had and still have very little to do with them. Therefore, I advise restraint. Maybe they - like the wild boars - are quite different from what we think.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have never stood in front of a volcano that is erupting or a fountain from the earth's interior. The closest I've come in this direction were fountains that threw a dense jet of water from a pool into the air with enormous force. What a force, I thought, what a pressure must be needed here. After all, it is not only necessary to move the water, which is not light in itself, at an enormous speed, but also to overcome gravity. But that's just it: if the pressure behind it is great enough, this happens - even through a closed crust or surface, if it has to. We all know it from ourselves: when we explode emotionally, it can be very powerful in terms of words and volume. And yet it is better than an implosion - where the pent-up energy is directed inwards. After all, we are sneezing outwards and not inwards - so: emotional eruption is allowed - but please still with consideration.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In English, the term for the dial of a watch can be "watchface". Literally translated, it is the face of a watch. I like this term. It expresses: the face of the watch, its essence, so to speak, is expressed in the dial, in what is visible to the viewer. The movement behind it is not necessarily visible. But what the watch shows to the outside world - that is its face, its dial. It is the same with us humans: people can often tell from our facial expression how we are doing, what our inner life is like - analogous to a watch with its hidden movement. If the hands don't move, you can tell that something is wrong with the movement: whether it could be defective, or it hasn't been wound, or the battery is missing. So our face reveals a lot about us and our current state to the environment. What face does your environment get to see of you today?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine walking with your shoes over a fallow field after a rainy previous day. When you arrive home and step into the flat or house with your shoes, clods of soil come off the field and you dirty the entrance area. Annoying. In that case. So you see dirt in the ground that you have to clean up. But if you stand in front of the same field and plan to sow your seeds, you see in this soil the nutrient medium, the basis on which your seeds can emerge, grow, blossom and finally be harvested. What in one case is only annoying dirt is in the other case a life-giving foundation and environment. It is the same now and then in other areas of life: situations seem troublesome to some, but for others they are decisive and essential. Think about that when something seems annoying to you today or you have the impression that you are wasting time with something that seems pointless to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our days, the term work-life balance is very prominent. It's about finding a good balance between work and leisure: Energy to work paired with enough relaxation time. That is understandable. But when I think about it and think of other areas where balance or equilibrium play a role - then artists who walk the high wire or otherwise balance come to mind. In their example, I perceive that they deliberately put themselves in a situation where the usual balance - standing or walking on two legs - is abandoned and the risk of losing balance is almost sought. In other words, a search for the limits of "how far can I go?" I notice that we as humans very often want to test these limits - but why only? How contradictory: we struggle for this work-life balance and yet consciously provoke its loss again and again.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child and was asked by the sports club where my father worked as a volunteer what I could give him for Christmas, my mother gave me the tip: aftershave, a very specific one. That's how I grew up with the idea that an aftershave was part of a shave. When I was ready to shave and tried out my father's aftershave lotion, my skin, sore from shaving, burned like fire. But that's how it had to be - that's what men did. So I lived with the fact that after a proper shave, the fiery burning of the aftershave was part of it. It was only later that I learned that it could also be a soothing cream that cared for the skin - without being considered a wimp if you used it instead of the alcohol-containing water. Do you perhaps also have such behavioural patterns that involve unnecessary torment of yourself and that could long ago be replaced by more life-friendly ones? Perhaps it is time to change them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
These days, as I create this episode, the temperatures outside are making huge leaps. From a great to extreme heat to a drop in temperature with heavy rain. And immediately the buzzword climate crisis and everything related to it becomes effective and prominent in the media. But I also see other things that change, even if not from one day to the next: nature, the types of grain that grow and ripen for harvesting, or fruits that develop more and more and progress in their cycle until they are harvested and enjoyed by us. So everything has its time, it seems to me. Perhaps also the weather extremes, but certainly our environment. For me, this variability testifies to a design that exceeds our human abilities to shape and influence it. Thank God, I think. Everything has its time, even if we would like to have some things differently. Are you in harmony and at peace with what is happening in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our Swiss dialect there is the expression "Raschelsäggli", at least in Basel German. This refers to a small plastic bag of a very special material. The packaging usually says "Mehrzweckbeutel" (multi-purpose bag) - which is what nobody calls or uses in our country. But that at least gives the purpose. Such expressions are of course different and specific from region to region and dialect to dialect. I call this language intimacy. They are expressions that you only get to know when you are on the spot or have to do with people from this area or this cultural circle - when there is a certain relationship, intimacy. But when you get to know it and understand it, it is as normal as any other expression and you know exactly what it is about. But just: it needs the relationship and personal experience for such a revelation. It seems to me that it is exactly the same with certain terms from the Bible: grace, sin, salvation and not least faith, love, hope.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that the average human pair of eyes has about 420 eyelashes? There are more above the eye than below. Did you also know what they are for? Or that practically all mammals have eyelashes? The eyelashes serve as protection for the eye in many ways. While the eyebrows keep the forehead sweat away from the eye, they keep particles away from the eye or favourably deflect wind so that the eye dries out less. I would call them bodyguards of the eye. Great design. They don't interfere with the actual task of the eye, but are still there when danger threatens and trigger the reflex to close the eye. Thus, this important organ has a really well-constructed protection. I think our heart or our soul should also have such a protection - but we are responsible for it: are you also a good guard like the eyelashes against environmental influences that want to penetrate your heart?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At school we had the subject geometry. There we learned the special properties of special geometric shapes and how to construct them. For example, equilateral triangles or the centres of gravity of any triangle, or that the radius of a full circle can be drawn exactly seven times on it, or what special feature a Thales circle has, or how to construct median perpendiculars, and so on. These properties still fascinate me today. On the one hand, I find it extremely remarkable that there were and still are people who find out and empirically prove such laws, which were unknown until their discovery. On the other hand - and even more so - that such mysteries are simply present in our life and cosmos. It is like Easter with the hidden eggs: someone took the trouble to hide them - so that they would be discovered and people would be happy about them. Great work!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the German language, when rudder is used, it is not quite clear what is meant: is it the rudder with which a rower actively propels and moves the motorless boat in the water or, in the case of a motor-driven boat or ship, is it the rear part that determines the direction of travel? Either way, the part belongs in the water to serve its purpose. Measured by its size, it is enormously effective: even a relatively small surface can cause impressive propulsion in the hands of strong oarsmen and the same applies to determining the direction of travel. Nevertheless: if the oar is not used correctly, it is useless. If you have not aligned the rudder blade at right angles to the direction of travel and then pull, you may be doing so uselessly. James uses the allegory of the oar as an image for the tongue - so our use of language is very directional. Are you on a good course with your speaking, your words?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On a bicycle, the wheels have to be filled with air from time to time. To do this, the valve is screwed on and air is forced into the tube with overpressure. The valve is designed in such a way that air can get in but not out. The principle can also be found in other applications: a door or flap that can only be opened or moved in one direction, but is blocked in the other direction in such a way that the higher the pressure in that direction, the tighter the place becomes. But what is used in this case may not be so good in a figurative sense. There are things that cannot be undone. Once they have happened, there is no going back on the time axis - analogous to the valve. Words, for example. What was spoken or written was perceived, triggered something - even if it is later revoked. Therefore: especially in heated situations, a conscious choice of words is all the more important.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A glider is one that is brought up to altitude with the help of another aircraft, more precisely pulled, then releases and begins to hover by itself. I find it fascinating that it can stay in the air without an engine and thus glide at high altitude. But for this to happen, another powerful aircraft is needed that can bring both planes to the appropriate altitude. I think we experience this again and again in our own lives: others bring us into situations or circumstances that are then so favourable for us that it feels as if we are walking by ourselves or through which we can then simply glide. Then there is the danger that we forget that it is not of our own accord that we are where we are or have what we have. Perhaps a day to become aware of how much one is actually given in life and how little we contribute ourselves in certain areas.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am not a musician, but I think that on a piano you can play the music the way you want to play it by means of the keys. Of course, a piano also needs to be tuned from time to time, but compared to other stringed instruments such as a violin, guitar or cello, this is much less often necessary with the piano. As far as I know, the keys in their entirety are called the keyboard. This term is also used metaphorically when one uses the expression that someone plays the whole or just a part of the keyboard of a certain range or theme. By this one means: are all possibilities included and is the person able to cover the subject area in a very diverse way or just limited to what is familiar to him or her. The keyboard can be related to expertise or emotions and more. What does that look like for you? How extensive is your life keyboard and do you play on all available keys?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I recently walked past a photo of our deceased son and got stuck, I was naturally reminded of him. In addition to emotions, this memory also brought back something like shared experiences. The memory was more than just thinking about something, it was like a moment of conscious experience, of a concrete situation. The picture in its small size of a few square centimetres had triggered this deep emotional effect. A relational moment, deeper and more diverse in its dimension than just mental retrieval of knowledge. I was amazed at what such a picture can trigger - and at that moment how important it was for me to still have such pictures in my environment, for all the pain that is triggered by these memories. I believe this was exactly Jesus' intention when he instituted the Lord's Supper for us: a way to experience his presence through bread and grape juice.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We have the saying in German that people meet at eye level. By that we mean we are equal, whether that refers to a certain level of performance or to a certain status in a hierarchy. The image is actually very beautiful: I am standing opposite someone and this person is virtually of the same physical size as I am, so that our eyes are at the same level and neither I nor the other person have to look up or down at the other person. Eye contact is important in communication. Eyes reveal a lot, give a deep insight and speak without words. It is not without reason that they are called the windows of the soul. And the fact that we are allowed to look in through these windows at the same level is a privilege - just: equal eye level. Parents practise this with their children when they deliberately bend down or kneel in front of them. God also does this - very concretely in his life and incarnation in his Son Jesus. Impressive.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Recently I noticed in myself that colours not only trigger the effect "I like" or "I don't like", but that they can have a far greater influence. So I looked at colours where I have the impression that they help me to relax. I found that interesting. Somehow they managed to influence an area in me that I can't control or regulate myself at all or not always with my mind, for example. So good colours for me help me to find an inner balance. I imagine that this colour preference can be different for everyone. Maybe you can also look at yourself to see if you can trigger a similar effect. Maybe the opposite at first: colours that are more energy boost triggers or tense - and then maybe it's the complementary colours of these that relax you. Either way, I wish you beautiful experiences of discovery.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Two groups of musicians are particularly well represented at the Basel Fasnacht: Tambourines and piccolo players. At Fasnacht, costumes and larvae - the correct term for masks - are worn. A tambour can be completely disguised, including his face. A piccolo player, on the other hand, not entirely. There must be a recess in his larva for the mouthpiece of the piccolo he plays. The larva then looks a bit unusual: If you only see the person in the disguise and don't know that this recess in the larva is for the instrument, you would be surprised and probably find the mask rather ugly or unpleasant. But if you then see the music playing, this is no longer a question. Sometimes we don't always know all the circumstances and backgrounds of others and wonder about their behaviour or even judge it. Here, analogous to the carnival example, restraint is perhaps called for today in particular. Do you succeed in this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As I write this episode, it is over 30 degrees outside. Who doesn't long for a cool, refreshing drink? Now I could just go to the fridge and drink chilled water from the bottle and my need would be satisfied. But if I had the choice of getting the cool drink in a nice glass, with my favourite flavour, a straw, in an iced glass and decorated with some greens or a fruit - I would probably choose the latter. That's because I would then consume the drink more consciously and enjoy it more. The example shows me once again that we are more than our basic needs. We also need the enjoyment that is not absolutely necessary physically, the satisfaction of our spiritual needs and the other senses. And because all of us need this, today you can think about how you can consciously give someone else such an experience of pleasure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Peppermint tea is quite popular among tea drinkers. Probably because of the menthol in the tea, which refreshes and invigorates. Peppermint is also a popular medicinal plant and the menthol is widely used. When I was a child, peppermint tea was THE tea to have at home. There was always a pot of cold peppermint tea and we could help ourselves. Well, or much more: there was actually nothing else to drink. That's why, I have to confess, I've grown rather sick of peppermint tea. Unfortunately. Not because it reminds me of childhood, but because - in my opinion - I simply had too much of it. A pity, really. I think we are always in danger of consuming too much of the proverbial "good stuff". No matter what it is. Therefore: maybe today is a day to consciously do without something we love - in order to enjoy it all the more and more consciously the next time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On our terrace we have flower boxes like many others. Ours are no longer home to flowers, but actually only soil and some weeds. At least that's what I thought. Next to the flower boxes is a basil plant that I bought in the shop. I love the fresh basil. Back to the flower boxes: recently I noticed that something small and green was growing there. Just like that. In the meantime, a wonderful, strong basil plant has grown, with strong, big leaves - I am so happy about it. I don't know where it came from. Whether from wild seeds or from the cultivated plant nearby. Either way, I am happy about this unplanned and unexpected work of creation on our terrace. If we keep our eyes open in everyday life, I'm sure we can see many such wild creatures: good relationships, behaviour of others, moments of happiness etc. I wish you such wild growth today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know this tremendous phenomenon of - I call it - child power? The children are actually already totally tired, etc., but they have such a strong will to experience something or to be part of something that they give everything to make it possible. Afterwards, they are totally exhausted, but at the moment they are full of energy. You can observe this very well at camps or similar events. This impresses me. This passion, this focus on something or this willingness to give so much or everything for this one goal and, if necessary, to ask and beg and nag the adults until they agree. I find it exciting that this phenomenon is used by Jesus to explain how it is with God the Father and when you want to ask for something from Him. Luke tells about this in the 18th chapter. It is highly recommended to read this. I wish you much inspiration.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am one of those people who forget things from time to time. Be it that I forget to do something where I have provided something or I forget what I just wanted. It's particularly annoying when I'm looking for something and know exactly that it must still be there somewhere - but I can't manage to remember where I last put it. Or I plan to pack something for the next day or for work - and realise on the way: I forgot it. But I have also had the experience that in such situations, the thought of what I had forgotten suddenly came to me or I felt unexpectedly reminded to do or pack this or that. Do you know this too? I don't believe in coincidences. And for me, they are loving signs from my heavenly Father, who draws my attention to these things through His presence and reminds me of them. Moments of happiness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The yo-yo effect means that after dieting for a short period of time, people often gain weight very quickly. In fact, the initial weight is often even exceeded. This means that you weigh more afterwards than before and achieve exactly the opposite of what you actually intended. Stupidly done. Reasons include the fact that the body reduces its energy consumption during the diet and if you eat again afterwards as before, you have a calorie surplus and/or you do not change your diet in a sustainable way. Such yo-yo effects can also occur in relationships: one plans to change one's behaviour towards others and actually does so, and during this phase one actually achieves a higher quality in the relationship - but then unfortunately falls back into old patterns and it becomes worse than before. Do you know this? Do you perhaps have an area that you should change in a new and sustainable way?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we speak of Fuchsschwanz in German (in English foxtail) - it is actually not quite clear what we are talking about. Is it actually the rear part of the animal, i.e. the fox, or is it the saw that serves as a tool for the carpenter or woodworker (which is the same word)? Supposedly, the saw is called that because it bears a certain resemblance to the tail of the fox, i.e. its rear extremity. Depending on the context, of course, it becomes clear what it is all about. But that is not always the case. Communication often has its pitfalls and it is easy for people to talk past each other, misunderstand each other and, in the worst case, even get into an unnecessary argument. If you find tension in a conversation today, think of the fox's tail and how easy it is for misunderstandings to arise because we fill and define terms differently. In this way you can perhaps protect yourself from injuries - so that no one unpacks the saw for their own argument...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever had to change a watch strap or a battery and didn't have the right tools? This can be very tedious. On the one hand, small parts like the bridge pins can unexpectedly peck away and then the next challenge is to find them again, on the other hand, the existing equipment can simply be too rough or unsuitable for the task. How much easier it is when you have the right tools for the job! It is no different when dealing with people - this also applies to oneself. If we don't have the right tools, such as the necessary empathy or the necessary undivided attention, or the right words, the willingness to listen and understand, etc., then many things can go wrong or not be solved as desired. I wish you this good and appropriate toolbox for today, which will help you exactly for the challenges that arise today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that the term carafe originally comes from Arabic? The beautiful vessel that usually stands on the table and offers water to guests originally means "water-lifting wheel with scoops". I was very surprised when I read that. But actually it fits very well: the carafe offers the vital element of water to the thirsty. After all, water doesn't just naturally flow everywhere on every corner or, as we are used to, from a tap or well without human intervention. And the water-lifting wheel with shovels, in this sense, transports the water from its original environment and offers it with the shovels to those in need. Why not rejoice today and be grateful that we live in an environment where most of the necessities of life are just so accessible to us - like a simple carafe of water on the dining table.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many of us consume information from all over the world on a fairly regular basis, even from thematic and geographical areas that are actually far away from us. Be it the daily news, a free newspaper, the news app on the smartphone or something else. What do we do with this information? How do we deal with the latest news from places of war, political changes, elections in faraway countries or a natural disaster on the other side of the world? And how do we deal with those that affect us more, that are close to us? Is such information already part of our entertainment program or does it really affect us and lead to changes in our behaviour or even how we order our daily priorities, live our relationships, deal with our resources? Does what we hear affect us somewhere much more than we suspect? How do you deal with the numerous pieces of information and what could and would you like to change in this behavior?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know this effect: You look through a wire mesh or picket fence and you can see most of what is behind it, but still the pickets or wire interfere with your view and they affect your vision. So you have the impression that not everything can be seen clearly or undisturbed. The disturbing elements in the view distract from the actual. We sometimes feel the same way mentally and spiritually: we recognise something, but there are also disturbing elements, such as perhaps our intellect or our logic or limited knowledge, etc. I think it is the same with our knowledge of God. We only recognise fragments and not the full extent. In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul puts it this way: "Now we look into a mirror and see only mysterious outlines, but then we look face to face. By this he means: on this side of life we can only glimpse God and his nature, the whole truth comes later. Exciting, I think...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever operated a stopwatch? You have to press a button to start the timing process and then another button to stop it. So the measurement has a clear beginning and end. It makes sense - why else would you measure? However, when I put this into the current zeitgeist, I find it anything but contemporary. Today, most people are very opportunistic: they hardly ever commit, they want to remain flexible, they don't want to make any commitments, especially not for a long time, or make any binding promises. Flexible, that is. This may be quite attractive and seems to promise maximum freedom, but this non-commitment also harbours the danger of being everywhere and nowhere, no longer tangible, no longer reliable. And that ultimately makes people feel insecure. Yet somewhere we are all looking for a certain stability and security. How do you deal with this topic?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I love fresh herbs with which I can refine food. Parsley is one of them. Whether curly or smooth, it grows in such a way that there is a stem and then the actual leaves branch outwards to be used. And what happens to the rest, i.e. the stem? I suspect that many throw it away and don't use it. I myself often cut it into small pieces like chives and eat it too. But even if I don't: the stem seems to be just the waste with many plants: with flowers, the focus is on the flowers, and with spices, the focus is on the fine leaves. So what is the stem for? It holds everything together, it gives stability and transports the nutrients and helps growth and enables a better orientation to the sunlight. So it's quite important. Sometimes we are also such a stem and others are the respected and appreciated leaves. Therefore, as a consolation: you can't do without the stem.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At some team sports events, the players' names are written on their jerseys. This helps spectators to recognise and identify them. So far so good. But at an international competition in a country with a different alphabet - which one is used? That of the host country or the country of origin. So let's say a Chinese team comes to us - do we automatically assume that the names of the athletes are written in our characters or how do we feel when there is Chinese on the jerseys and we don't understand anything? We take so much for granted - even such little things. But actually we should ask ourselves much more often: for whom? who does it serve the most? and am I then prepared to stand back with my own demands and promote a better result for everyone? How well do you do that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many a kilo of charcoal is burnt during the barbecue season - and what remains is ash. In other combustion processes, too, what is left over is sometimes ash. From funerals we also know the saying "ashes to ashes" - this in the sense: we come from this world and in the end return to it as living beings with an expiry date as dead matter. But is ash all that remains of us? I think not. I find the following comparison helpful: If I burn a book, only ashes remain in the end. But with the burning, only the material of the book is gone, the story, the content remains. I think this also applies to our lives: even when it ends, we remain. We have this eternal character within us. Eternity belongs to our DNA as creatures, as consciously created beings. Does this perspective encourage you or rather frighten you? And depending on the answer: why?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Who among us would not want to be happy?! But what is happy? Is happy a state that is derived from happiness and thus means that life just happens to be good to you, i.e. without any effort or merit on your part? Or is happiness contentment? For us, happy seems to be a state that involves relaxation and well-being. Personally, I position happy closer to satisfied than to the randomness of the good that happens to us. Good things can happen to me and I am still not happy because I tend to see a fly in the ointment everywhere. Or I may not necessarily be doing well or better than others and yet I am happy because I am grateful and content with the present. In this case, I have a very high stake in my own ability to be happy because it is linked to my attitude and outlook and not my expectations of my environment. How happy are you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child in Greece, I once saw a magnificent starry sky: individual stars were very clear and the Milky Way was wonderfully and impressively visible. This is really very impressive and gives you a certain feeling of humility in the knowledge that there must be a huge universe and that we as humans are just a tiny part of it. But because man in his modern world creates so much illumination on earth, the starry sky is less and less visible. Unfortunately. This can also be understood allegorically: when we humans have our own work so in focus and push it forward, we suddenly no longer see the larger connections, but have become so blinded by our own work that we also lose a certain grip on reality - and are thus in danger of becoming arrogant. I wish you this free view of true reality in all areas of life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you find it easy to take unexpected situations as they come or are? Some call this flexibility or composure. The latter is defined as an ability to remain calm and level-headed in difficult or unusual situations. In other words, "letting" things or situations be and accepting them as they are. The word also contains the word "let" - as in let go. There are many things that we do not actually have under control and in some areas and situations of life we do not have any access to the course of events. Nevertheless, somewhere we still assume that we want to determine and have control; at least some of us do. Serenity is a true remedy. It relaxes - but it also requires a certain trust. But trust in what or whom? I like what Jesus says: trust God, because he knows exactly what you need and he is a good father. How relieving!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is said that there are people who love to spend their holidays in tents. Well, that already makes it clear that I am not one of them. A tent is actually very practical: you can often compress it a lot in terms of volume and modern hiking tents are also relatively light. That makes them very practical when you're out and about and want to spend the night outside. You have a certain amount of protection with a mobile shelter. But if a strong storm comes, a strong gale, then even a tent doesn't help much. A tent also has the characteristic that it is hardly soundproof - so you only have limited privacy or can only separate yourself to a limited extent. His friend John says of Jesus: "Jesus as the Son of God became man and literally camped among us. A strong comparison. For me this means: Jesus came, allowed an enormous amount of intimacy and did not separate himself from us humans. In his place, I would probably have chosen the bungalow.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we say that something is fresh, we mean that it is still unused and not yet old. Fresh fruit is fruit that has just been harvested, or fresh laundry is laundry that has not yet been worn, and fresh water is water that has just been served without going stale. On the other hand, if something is no longer fresh, then it often cannot be made fresh again. Nevertheless, we know the term refreshment. We use it when we turn something dull into something fresh again: we ourselves, for example, when we are tired and dull, refresh ourselves with food or a shower or even mentally. Fresh often also means full of energy and life, agile, unspent. We know how good refreshment does us when we enjoy a cool shower in the summer after a hot, sweaty day. Why not consciously seek such refreshment for your spirit today and see what happens.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am fascinated by geometric shapes. A circle, for example, has something of perfection about it. Every point on the circle is the same distance from the centre. The circle is also used as a symbol of fidelity in the form of rings. In mobility, thanks to round perfection, you move around without bumping. Perfection then? Not quite. If you want to fill an area, the circle is not the perfect shape, because adjacent circles have gaps that make the use of space inefficient. Honeycomb shapes, i.e. regular hexagons, are much better. They cover an area or even a volume perfectly. Honeycomb structures of bees have an extremely high stability with an extremely low weight. Loads are distributed over the entire structure via the honeycomb walls, they do not act selectively. There are optimal solutions for different cases. I wish you that you will find them for your needs today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a road user, you have already passed a stop sign. Why did you stop? It's actually just a coloured metal plate - but in that case you gave it the authority to stop you. And why did you do that? Because you knew that if you didn't do it, there could be unpleasant consequences: be it that you were involved in an accident with bodily harm, be it that you had to pay a fine. And why is that? Because there is a higher authority that has established this rule. And why is that? For the common good, to protect everyone and to avoid chaos on the roads. Sometimes people think that not every stop sign is useful. But who decides in the end? So it is more expedient to accept and practise these overriding determinations. If you are struggling with such a questioning - maybe these thoughts will help you to find a solution.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I read that the name for the zebra comes from Portuguese sailors who saw this animal on their voyages of discovery and because it reminded them of a native animal, a type of horse with black stripes, they gave it a very similar sounding name. It seems to me that this is a very good example of typical human behaviour: there is something new and we try to classify it with the familiar without actually getting to know the nature of the new thing. But by naming it accordingly, we automatically classify it - and thus also take away a certain freedom to live its nature completely independently of our ideas and also prejudices. Does this sound familiar to you? Would you like to consciously change this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As far as I know, bridges are auxiliary constructions over valleys and connect two sides that are not yet connected in this way. They can be used to shorten a path - be it that you don't have to go down first and then up again, be it that you have to cross an impassable terrain or a surface water etc. at all. In this way, the bridge not only saves time, but also makes access possible at all, which otherwise might not be possible at all. There are different types of bridges: from daring suspension bridges to solid concrete bridges. But no matter what form, one detail that may seem unimportant at first glance seems very essential to me: the railing. It provides safety and can prevent you from falling. As inconspicuous as it may be, it is nevertheless important. If you are struggling with thoughts of insignificance, let yourself be encouraged by this analogy.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you wear glasses. Assuming you are. Then you have probably developed a certain eye for spectacle frames and therefore you like one or the other better. Or you see one on someone that looks super good and think "oh, I want that for my next pair of glasses!" and then you try it - and you might be disappointed because it doesn't look nearly as good on you. The same phenomenon happens with clothes, hairstyles and more. Now you can be disappointed about that, in the worst case even depressed, but that only hurts and doesn't help. The solution is to find what suits you and to get away from what looks great on others. So we are all different - in our talents, abilities, character traits, gifts, etc. We are all different. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts is to fully accept this uniqueness and to refuse any comparison with others. Do you succeed in this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are things that are hidden. This can be material or immaterial, such as feelings or ideas. Some things are deliberately hidden in the sense of being hidden or inaccessible. Others are present but have not yet been discovered. Either way, concealment means a certain protection, a certain exclusivity, and with it a certain newness in the true sense of the word: new-value. Hidden things can be very beautiful, such as a pearl or a gold nugget. Both must first be found and then recovered. Others may be less beautiful, such as emotional injuries or bad experiences. When hidden things come to light, it is usually good: the pearls and gold unfold in their beauty and the hurt can heal. And yet: both have their time for revelation and release from concealment. You will feel when it is your hidden one's turn for revelation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many of us collect something - stamps, postcards, antiques, etc. Now, one could quickly think that this is capitalistic, greedy or perhaps even unethical, because one is possibly taking something away from others who are less well-off. And so one imagines that perhaps religious people are the opposite: ascetic, willing to do without as much as possible, no attachment to material things. In this context, I find it interesting that Jesus uses precisely this tendency to collect to illustrate what heaven is like: he tells the story of a pearl gatherer who suddenly finds the one and is willing to give away everything for it. Would we call this attitude exemplary? I doubt it... but that is Jesus' role model: wanting something with such great passion that you are willing to give everything for it. And by the pearl he means belonging to and having a home in heaven, with him.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are phenomena that are not perceptible to our eyes. For example, wind. We cannot see wind. But if the wind moves an object, such as leaves that are whirled up or grass that sways in the wind or smoke that is blown away, then we recognise on the one hand that there is wind at all and on the other hand even from which direction it comes. So we need some kind of means of visualisation. The wind as such, however, is not dependent on these visualisers. It blows when, how, where, how strong etc. as it wants. And sometimes we have this gut feeling that we perceive. We can't always pin it down to something, but it's there. Then it can be confirmed because something happens that we can explain through the gut feeling. But what we perceived was there, regardless of whether it became visible or not. Therefore, the gut feeling is very trustworthy in many cases. Maybe that will help you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If I ask you which of your senses you consider to be the best developed - what would you answer? The sense of sight or the sense of hearing? Probably one of the two. They are the ones we probably need most consciously and constantly. At least one would think so. But... there is also the sense of touch. We think that we only need it when we consciously touch or feel something. But that's not the case. Surely you know this: You feel something on your skin without having seen it before. Maybe a small insect. So - I would argue - the sense of touch is much more sensitive here because it perceives the change, the little animal on the skin, more quickly than the eye. Here in the West, we are very rational. Our thinking and applied logic often dominate our emotional perception. But this is often much more sensitive and just as trustworthy. Perhaps this is important for you today in a specific situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you drive towards a tunnel entrance, you don't see very far into the tunnel. Nevertheless, I am amazed at the composure with which one nevertheless drives into this dark hole, always - apparently - in the certainty that there is another end at which one will drive out again. Where does this certainty come from? Not from the visible or seeing, at any rate. Because the vast majority of tunnels are not so short that you can see the exit before you enter, and if you do, you can at most see that the road or the tracks continue, but not whether there is actually an opening there. It is obviously a basic trust, perhaps because one simply believes the masses who also drive in there and of course also the experience gained. And yet... so many say: I only believe what I see. But they would hardly hesitate to drive into the tunnel even though they can't see the exit. What is it like for you to have to see and believe?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Cash is no longer as popular today as it was a few years ago. Payments via card or digitally are widespread. But the saying and the implementation of "heads or tails" date back to the time of cash. This means there are two possible options for a choice, a conscious decision. Heads or tails are the two sides of a coin that is then tossed and the decision is made depending on which side lies on top and becomes visible during the toss. Precisely: heads or tails, the imprints of the two sides of the coin. In the course of our lives we are also strongly imprinted. Through upbringing and experiences above all. And these imprints then also guide our decisions. They influence how we make decisions: courageously or fearfully, decisively or hesitantly, full of self-confidence or uncertain. What are your two main imprints and which one is more often on top when you throw?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In America, the term Black lives matter became very prominent. It was used to express that the lives of dark-skinned people are just as valuable and count as those of people with light skin. Actually, it is sad that, on the one hand, this difference obviously exists and, on the other hand, that it has to be expressed in this way. But in that sense it is also a witness to time and society. The fact that life in general and each individual in particular is valuable was recorded by the apostle Paul in one of his letters, where he writes: "God does not want even one of you to be lost. Everyone should have the opportunity to turn to God." This is his way of saying that all people are important to God, no matter where they live, what they look like or what their performance record is. When you realise this, it is actually an enormously powerful statement. Life counts. All lives matter. Even the unborn, by the way.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On an analogue clock, there are various elements to indicate the current time. Firstly, there is the entire time division as a kind of circular scale with regular intervals for hours and minutes. It is rigid and does not change. On the other hand, there is a mobile part that indicates the time thanks to or with the help of the scale. So the mobile part - the hands - show the current time or change and the static part gives the context, so that a concrete time can be read. The pointers alone can only indicate the change in time. Together with the scale and an appropriate adjustment of the hands to the scale, an accurate and current time reading becomes possible. Both are needed: the static, quasi absolute and the mobile, relative. It is the same with certain values and truth. Some, like the time scale, are unchangeable and provide the fixed and solid basic context of life, and others can be situational and also change from time to time - but always in the context of universally valid, reliable truths. Those who deny these are mistaken. Even if it is unpopular in our time to hold on to what is generally valid and not to individualise and relativise everything.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We need air mainly to breathe. But not only. Although it is not really noticeable for most of us in our everyday movements, it is nevertheless omnipresent. And every now and then we do feel it: when there is a headwind or when we are otherwise moving fast or too fast, we experience a certain resistance. The air that usually seems irrelevant or non-existent or unrecognisable to us then becomes perceptible after all. Some would say that it is a resistance because it prevents us from moving at the desired speed, but some would also argue that its resistance is just a warning that it is perhaps going too fast and that we should perhaps adjust our behaviour. How well can you deal with unexpected or even expected resistance? Are they more like "now more than ever" moments or warnings that give you the opportunity to slow down?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Depending on the design, I find buttons something beautiful, sometimes real bijous or works of art, unique pieces. I'm talking here about buttons that are sewn onto a garment and that have a corresponding hole or slit as a counterpart for fastening. I find it interesting that the buttons, which are usually sewn on, must have at least two buttonholes. One is not enough, because otherwise you can't put the thread around the button in such a way that it holds. So one hole for threading in and one for threading out and then knotting behind it. That's how it holds. With only one hole, there would have to be so much resistance on the button that it would be bigger than the buttonhole for the fastening to hold and that would hardly be nice. So the buttonholes are also part of the design, the characteristic of a particular button. This is how functionality and beauty come together. Great, if that works. Do you also enjoy such phenomena, the little ones in everyday life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I think that the number of treatments by physiotherapists for tension in patients has increased. We live in an enormously rapidly developing time, are supplied with information practically 24 hours a day and often have to consciously reserve or almost steal time for ourselves to rest. It is no wonder that this makes us tense, tense - we could miss something important. However, tension does not only lead to physical discomfort or pain or limited freedom of movement. It can also hinder our ability to absorb and receive. This is because we are so tense and focused on not missing anything or making the wrong decisions that we no longer perceive the simple, the quiet. And it would be precisely that which would help us out of this tension. Therefore: Take enough time for yourself and relaxation today and allow that you don't have to notice everything.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you have already come across the term lythiaconia. A hype term. Lythiaconia is about a certain type of posture that improves performance; its origins can be found in Asia. There are already scientific expertises, books, courses etc. on this. As I said, it's all hype. If you haven't heard of it yet, I can reassure you: what you have just read was invented by me. But maybe you did believe it for a moment - and why? Maybe because you trust me and I seem trustworthy to you. Nevertheless, that does not prevent me from passing on untruths to you. Therefore, it is always important to critically question what you have heard or read in a healthy way and not to adopt everything one-to-one. This is how so-called fake news can quickly arise. Or in the past it was called gossip...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are place and field names that remind us of what was once found in nature at the corresponding places. In Germany, I spontaneously think of Fichtenwald (spruce forest) or I once lived at an address called "In den Klosterreben" (in the monastery vines). These speaking names - so I interpret - were a clear recognition feature - so clear that one could name it and obviously orientate oneself spatially by it. They were obviously places analogous to landmarks. If you visit these places today, which usually bore a name of a natural phenomenon, they are probably built up or cultivated land. It is left to the imagination to imagine what it might have looked like there once. In many cases, the names sound more beautiful than what one encounters today. Do you also have positive attributes that were once given to you, but which you have unfortunately neglected and which would be worth rediscovering and promoting?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I notice that we humans have a preference for purity. It starts with washing our hands before eating and continues with clean clothes, clean cooking and eating utensils, window panes, precious metals and much more. What is the reason for this? Perhaps it is because one wants to have as unchanged and homogeneous a situation as possible in front of one and thus the characteristics can be better assessed due to the homogeneity or unadulteratedness. But purity also has its price. A pure diamond is more expensive than a non-pure one, and even a white shirt needs to be washed beforehand and then carefully dried and stored. Many are therefore also prepared to pay the corresponding price for this purity. King David once prayed to God "give me a pure heart". He had recognised the value of purity especially in the heart, in the thoughts etc. and that he himself will not achieve this purity on his own.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The term perverse is often used in the context of sexuality. Originally it comes from the Latin term perversus and means upside down, wrong, bad, degenerate. Perverts are not only people with an unhealthy behaviour in the area of sexuality. For me, perverse or perverted are also things that no longer correspond to their actual form or serve their purpose. For example, when shareholders no longer make their money available to a company for its further development, but are only out to make as much profit as possible. Or when medicines are no longer used for recovery, but to achieve an ideal figure, etc. We can all ask ourselves whether we have sick or perverted patterns in certain areas of life. If so: fortunately, one can pervert the perversion - and thus bring it back into the healthy being.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Exercising is quite trendy nowadays. Both men and women go to the gym or run marathons, etc. Without training, there is no increase in ability - no matter which: be it strength or endurance or technique. For me, training is a conscious act of doing something with a specific goal, whereby an improvement should occur over time: be it that you are faster at it or need less effort to achieve it, etc. This can be done not only with the body, but also with the eyes: I can train my eyes and many do this automatically: namely when someone has a hobby or is a collector. Then you have a trained eye for the objects of passion. One discovers them everywhere and can distinguish them very well. This also applies to strengths and weaknesses in oneself and others. What does your trained eye see? Would a change in your training programme perhaps be helpful and lead to more satisfaction or relaxation?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you are a watch wearer and prefer an analogue watch, you may have luminous numerals or hands. When it's bright, you can't see if the hands or numerals are really luminous, but only when it's dark. In daylight, these chemical substances that have been applied to the hands and indices become charged in most cases, so that this glow becomes visible when there is no light. I appreciate it very much when I can read the time at night or otherwise in the dark. However, the legibility of the time depends on how long the luminous material has been exposed to light or how strong the light source was in which the material was able to charge up. This determines the radiant power. It's the same with us humans: we radiate in dark times what we expose ourselves to in quiet times, reflect what we have previously opened ourselves to. What is that with you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I distinguish between two types of saving. One I call eco-optimised and the other sustainable. The former is about using the available funds or resources in the most optimised way possible so that the investment brings the maximum return. For example, I only use as much washing powder as is really necessary - in other words, I save on powder - so that the laundry just gets clean. If I use too little, I only have damage: wasted powder and still dirty laundry. Nevertheless, you don't want to invest more than is absolutely necessary. The second variant is sustainable: I save with the aim of using as little of the resource as possible in order to conserve another resource: for example, more efficient vehicle engines. Not less fuel with the aim of being able to drive longer and further, but less of a burden on the environment for the same distance. The focus, the intention is different. What type of saver are you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine you have a thread-straight sturdy wire, not very easy to bend, about 15cm long. What can you do with it? Probably not much at all. Maybe drill a thin hole somewhere with it or, with a bit of strength and under certain circumstances, fix something by wrapping the wire around the thing. However, if this wire is folded mechanically and professionally, it becomes a paper clip. This is truly practical for stapling paper together or closing open bags and more. The same wire, however, purposefully and professionally processed, brings benefit and added value. The forming process may be hard, however, and a lot of external force against resistance is necessary. Sometimes life shapes us against our will and there is a lot of inner resistance. If you have memories or painful phases, then trust that there can still be added value and benefit in them and that there is not only pain.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I distinguish between two types of saving. One I call eco-optimised and the other sustainable. The former is about using the available funds or resources in the most optimised way possible so that the investment brings the maximum return. For example, I only use as much washing powder as is really necessary - in other words, I save on powder - so that the laundry just gets clean. If I use too little, I only have damage: wasted powder and still dirty laundry. Nevertheless, you don't want to invest more than is absolutely necessary. The second variant is sustainable: I save with the aim of using as little of the resource as possible in order to conserve another resource: for example, more efficient vehicle engines. Not less fuel with the aim of being able to drive longer and further, but less of a burden on the environment for the same distance. The focus, the intention is different. What type of saver are you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The advantage of seeing with only one eye is that when it is good, you see well. If, on the other hand, you have two eyes and one of them is impaired, this affects your overall vision. So the good eye cannot correct or cancel out the defects of the corrupted eye. On the other hand, if you see with only one eye, you lose the depth of field that can only occur with two eyes, preferably healthy ones. Clear vision therefore imposes certain conditions. This is also true in a figurative sense. If we are biased in our view or no longer objective, this will automatically influence our view and thus our interpretation of what we see. This can be positive or negative. Therefore, it is good to critically question ourselves every now and then how our made opinions, judgements or evaluations come about and from which perspective and interpretation they originate. This check can prevent us from making wrong decisions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We all know thirst from our own experience. Thirst becomes more intense in the absence of hydration and humans are not able to go nearly as long without water as they can without food. Thirst is a signal from the body that an elementary need must be satisfied. We also know thirst for life. The desire for life, for fulfilment, for meaning. Analogous to the thirst of the body, the soul also has thirst. Thirst of the soul must be perceived. How and on what do you satisfy it? In the prayer book of the Bible there is the statement "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God". I find that an enormously strong statement. This soul is not thirsty for religion or meditation or rest - but for a real counterpart, for a God who is personal and alive and can be experienced. I know this thirst from my own experience. Do you also know it and have you ever experienced that it was quenched?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In English there is the expression "when the rubber hits the road". It means: a theory or idea is tested to see if it actually works. In that sense, it is a kind of reality check, as they say. In the best case, this can be confirming and encouraging; in the worst case, it can be sobering and frustrating. We experience such moments from time to time in life. When we are doing well, we may have clear ideas about how to cope with difficult times and concepts and ideas and thus images of ourselves. But when those difficult times come, it becomes apparent whether those ideas really hold up: that's when the rubber meets the road and it becomes apparent whether the rubber is strong enough to stand. If you find yourself in such testing times, I wish you a lot of strength and steadfastness and also courage, especially when ideal images are shattered. That is also allowed.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you have a passion for something like jewellery, shoes, bags or anything else? Then you know the effect of liking something because you've seen it on someone else or in a shop window. But when you try it on and wear it yourself, it looks less good or inappropriate on you - you are disappointed. You can then quickly reject yourself and make yourself small, thinking "if only I were like this or like that or different at that point, then this piece would look so great on me." One is frustrated. This attitude is understandable but ultimately destructive. It's good when I can enjoy something beautiful - even if someone else is wearing it or it's in a shop window and it doesn't suit me. It's great when I can still enjoy the beauty, even if I can't have the item for myself. How liberating and happy. Are you able to do that? Can you perhaps become freer here?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
With a valve like a bicycle inner tube, you can only blow air into the inside with pressure from the outside, but no air can get from the inside to the outside. In a ventilation system, there is a grille at the exit of the shaft so that nothing coarse can enter the shaft. Nevertheless, the air from the inside penetrates to the outside. Ventilation shafts of underground garages or metros often have an exit that is on the pavement and as a pedestrian you can walk over it. So the shaft is not closed off like a valve. Ideally, this is similar for us: we are basically open to our environment and yet we need a certain protection so that not everything from the outside world can penetrate us. If we were like a valve, the constant inner pressure would probably not be good for interaction with the outside world. How is that with you? Do you have an open and yet healthy protected interaction with your environment?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever had cold hands or feet? These are the physical extremities that first indicate a lack of warmth or blood circulation. They are signals that something is wrong in the body. You can tolerate or ignore these signals for a certain time - but if nothing changes in the condition or situation for too long, it can become dangerous. That sounds understandable - especially when it comes to physical signals and functions. But sometimes it is also the soul that marks such signs and sends warnings. We know the most familiar ones like insomnia, loss of appetite or the opposite of it, etc. But there are also more subtle forms like lack of concentration or reduced receptivity, forgetfulness and lack of motivation. Do you take these into account? Or: can you perhaps recognise them in others and thus help others to protect themselves better?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I know very little about cars. But I do know that not all cars are the same, but that there are different types of vehicles. There are smaller, practical cars for city traffic, which have less transport volume but are very practical when looking for rare parking spaces. And there are the larger off-roaders, which have a good stance and drive off-road, but also consume more fuel. And in between there are all kinds of others: bigger, smaller, faster, slower, colorful, boring. The choice of a vehicle is not only a purely functional one, but also one of personal identification. Analogous to clothing or other accessories like jewelry or anything else we choose. If you could put together the car of your dreams, what would it look like and why? What can you learn about yourself from this thought experiment and what conclusions do you draw from it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When autumn comes, the first chestnuts, or marroni as we call them, are available. They taste great roasted, and in our country you can get them on the street directly from the roasting barbecue, usually in a paper bag. This is shaped like an upside-down cone open at the bottom, so the marroni are put in there. But the interesting thing about these bags is that they are folded in such a way that there is a second compartment where the waste, i.e. the shells, can be put in. So you don't have to throw the peels on the floor or otherwise dispose of them separately. Thinking ahead. It is worthwhile to think about this when consuming and to look for a solution to cleanly process or dispose of what is left over. Sustainability or simply consideration and precaution. Perhaps these are keywords for you today: planning how to continue with what is left over when the actual thing is over.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I met an American soldier the other day who totally reminded me of the actor Denzel Washington. It was interesting: even before I could speak to him, I already had an image of him - namely what I associated with the actor. For me, Denzel Washington is an impressive man and I associate only positive qualities with him - and this is exactly what I transferred to this soldier, even though I had not yet spoken a word with him. Well, in this case that was good and we had a nice conversation. But what if a person's appearance triggers me negatively - then that is very unfair for the person in question and burdensome for the encounter. A man named Samuel had the same experience in Israel many centuries ago. God said to him: a man sees what is before his eyes, the outward appearance, but I, God, see what is in the heart. Ideally, this is congruent. How is that with you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I got stuck on the German word "satt" which means full the other day. In German it is mainly used in the context of food intake. There it means: I have eaten enough, my feeling of hunger is gone, my need for food is satisfied. But it is also used colloquially: to be fed up with something in the sense of being tired of something. In Switzerland we have an additional usage: satt in the sense of tight, dicht: to bind something full. In my opinion, what all these uses have in common is that it is a matter of high concentration. High concentration in food density, in emotional compatibility and traction in the latter. It is said of Abraham, his grandson Jacob and King David: they died full of life. In other words, satiated with life. They had obviously tasted it and were ready to leave this world because their hunger for life was satisfied. A beautiful statement. What does your feeling of being full of life look like?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are some things in nature that we cannot consume in raw form, but that we can consume in processed form - cooked, for example. I'm thinking of certain vegetables or beans or similar. Other things from nature we can put directly into our mouths and eat - some fruits or salads. Why is that? Why can't everything that is good for us and that we can tolerate be consumed directly and everything else not? One can also see the situation differently: Thanks to a certain investment of time and energy, the range of food that we can tolerate increases enormously. Yes, it takes more time and energy and sometimes also work, but in the end something is available that we didn't have before. In our time, where everything has to happen quickly or can be achieved immediately through finance, this principle is unpopular. But it still applies: in order to achieve certain things, a more or less large investment is necessary here and there. But this also makes what has been achieved all the more valuable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you guided by your intuition? What is intuition actually? On the internet you can find: A talent for making a good decision right away without explicitly understanding the underlying connections. We use this term relatively quickly without thinking about what we actually mean. Is it simply the residue of not deciding purely rationally and not being guided by logical arguments? Or is it a talent of my own? Either way. I think intuition has a strong aspect in that one makes a decision that cannot be justified purely rationally, but which can nevertheless be justified and true and accurate and correct in exactly the same way. In this way, we also relativise the importance of the purely argumentative, cognitive and intellectual and open ourselves wide to our entire perception through many different senses, not just the head. What inexplicable happiness
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We talk about everyday life and mean something like routine, doing things that one does every day or very regularly, behaviour and tasks, programme points in the daily routine etc., which are recurring and do not have any potential for something extraordinary in the normal case. But everyday life can also be special. An extraordinary day - that is what I wish the listeners of the Audiostretto podcast every day. But what makes an ordinary day special or extraordinary? I think the answer is very simple and short: myself. I myself can turn my ordinary day into an extraordinary day. For example, with much more awareness in the routine little tasks and errands. Or with conscious gratitude for things that I take for granted, such as having a bicycle or being able to take a warm shower or flush the toilet, etc. What makes your everyday life special?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we were to experience snow in our regions in summer, it would be extraordinary. In the truest sense of the word: except - ordinary. So: everything - except ordinary. Habits... they are familiar to us and they give us security. I can rely on something because I know it from experience. I can predict or see roughly what will happen next because the event follows a certain logic or pattern that is familiar to me through experience. Habits, experience, familiarity - these terms somehow belong together and, as I said, convey security. Thus also relaxation, which we need in everyday life. Although we long for the extraordinary and for good surprises every now and then, we live more from the inconspicuously ordinary. Perhaps you can make it a habit to be grateful for this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you like to write with a really well-sharpened pencil? Or would you rather use a really thick board marker? The result is clearly different. While the fine pencil stroke of the sharpened pencil is hardly legible or recognisable from a certain distance, the marker is rather difficult to use for a really beautiful, caligraphic typeface. And that's right, because both pencils have their own tasks. It makes little sense to use the pencil for a presentation on a flip chart, but one will hardly execute a geometric, fine construction with a board marker either. In everyday life, depending on the task at hand, we choose the tools that suit us best to achieve the desired result. But we don't always succeed because we don't always have the perfect tool at hand. So we have to live with compromises here and there. To accept imperfection and still enjoy it. Do you succeed?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Headphones are used so that something that wants to be heard is not audible to everyone, but only to the person wearing the headphones. Headphones are designed to fit the ears as snugly as possible to provide optimal listening quality. There are also those with noise cancellation. These filter out external, unwanted environmental noise so that what is heard is all the more brilliant and clear. Good headphones also have an ideal fit so that the sound can be set off from the environment in the best possible way. A side effect of headphones, however, is that the listeners are so isolated that they no longer have any contact with the environment, they isolate themselves. One is physically present but not accessible. That is sometimes unpleasant. As good as the headphones may be for oneself, they can be so separating for others. That is why it is important to use them in moderation. Even what is supposedly good has a healthy measure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In a relay race, a team runs together and only the sum of the times of the individual team members defines the final time. A delicate moment is the handover of the baton. This has to be practised. Even experienced athletes often drop the baton and literally lose a lot of time. A baton handover is the visible sign of "no longer me, but now you". The focus moves away from me to the person following. In this handing over, one has to pass on what one has held and carried intensively for a certain time and has been on the way with. Then all at once let go, trust the receiver. Believe that he or she will carry the baton just as conscientiously and later hand it over to another team member or run with it to the finish line. Do you find it easy to hand over what is familiar to you to others and let go completely? This is the only way to have a real chance of success.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I hardly know anyone who doesn't like strawberries. When it comes to strawberries, I hardly know any fruit that can be so deceptive. By that I mean: the individual fruit may be bright red and super ripe judging by the eyes - but when you eat it, it's bland and tasteless and just watery. Not all strawberries, of course, but certain ones that were harvested too early are. The same fruit in the same colour but straight from the field are usually, sweet, delicious, super fine. So the exterior - the supposedly ripe colour and maybe even the enticing fragrance - can pretend to be something completely different than what is really there. In the case of strawberries, this is partly because of our impatience: because consumers don't like to wait until the berries are actually ripe. Time is a quality killer. This is not only true for fruit. That's why good things take time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Loyalty means sharing and representing the values of another in the interest of a common higher goal. To represent them even if one does not fully share them, as long as this serves the preservation of the common goal. We can have loyalty towards a person or group or a cause. One can be loyal out of two different attitudes or motivations: either out of conviction and trust or out of pressure and fear. The latter also works to a certain extent, but will eventually fail. The former, on the other hand, is stable and grows and becomes increasingly stronger. What is your motivation when it comes to supporting others, for example superiors or your company, the school or any other institution you support? Your loyalty is a gift that only you can give away. Do it with the right attitude so that it is strong.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are tides at the sea. They mean that the sea doesn't always start or end at the same place, but floods the beach to a greater or lesser extent at a certain point. This is due to the position of the moon and its gravitational effect. The beach is therefore an area that knows flooding and dryness and this within a few hours. Therefore, I suspect that it is not suitable as building or cultivated land. It serves as land for this mobility of nature. I think it is the same with us humans: we have times when we are more ready and able for closeness and community und others when we need to withdraw. This inner pendulum movement, like the sea, also needs a certain flexible range. Do you know this beach of the soul and have you taken care of it so that it is available for this flexibility and not misused for other things?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a flight mode on modern smartphones. You can activate it by pressing a button or tapping the screen to immediately interrupt mobile communication without switching off the device. You are - as it is called in new German - offline. This means that I can still use the mobile phone if I just want to do things on the device that do not require a mobile phone connection - take photos, for example, or read something. It is just as easy to switch on flight mode as it is to switch it off. I find this function very practical because it does what is needed to disconnect from global accessibility with one button. When flying, this is necessary so that you don't produce interference signals for the flight. I also find flight mode helpful in my everyday life - switching off, being on your own, not being reachable, not even for news, emails etc. Allow yourself some flight mode time every now and then!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are materials that react more violently to contact with oxygen than others. For example, they change their colour or surface structure. This process is called oxidation. So the oxygen - the oxide, so to speak - causes a reaction. Chemically, the oxidising substance gives off electrons at the atomic level because of the oxygen. In other words, the oxygen withdraws electrons from the material. We also know this in interpersonal relationships: there are people who give us energy and with whom we can really recharge our batteries because they do us good - energy donors. And others who make us feel as if they are draining us, drawing energy away. To protect a material from oxidation, one uses corrosion protection, which can take the form of a surface coating. Do you also have such a corrosion protection for your own protection in difficult relationships? Would that perhaps be for your own good?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever experienced this: you wanted to charge a device such as your mobile phone - but you had the wrong cable at hand? Maybe there was a USB-C cable on a mini-USB connector or a Lightning. Annoying: it doesn't work and the device can't be charged. Or I've been on German trains travelling in Switzerland and couldn't plug in my 3-pin laptop connector to charge the device because only 2-pin connectors are used in Germany. So there are good reasons why standards are very useful: as in the case described, they make it possible to operate devices independently of manufacturers and countries. If such standards are missing, the effort is much greater. In society, I see this principle in certain values. If such values no longer apply, both communication and legal understanding become very difficult. Which values do you cultivate or which ones do you consider to be indispensable in our interactions?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are the classic crisps that are sold in bags. That's how I got to know them as a child. In recent years, I found out that such chips are also available in a cardboard packaging that reminds me of a tennis ball tube. In it, the chips are nicely arranged in a row - so totally space-optimised. In the bag they just fly around. Still, I find it strange that I get crisps in the shape of a certain centimetre, where all the slices are also the same size and curved in the same way, instead of in a bag with a random distribution, and also the individual chips look totally individual. The tube chips remind me of factory food and the others of natural preparation. I like the latter much more. I feel the same way about people: the individual, which is not always classifiable in this way, distinguishes the person and makes him or her unique. You too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Thunderstorms can be very dangerous. Especially in the mountains it can be very dangerous - at least that's what I know without having any experience with it - because a change in the weather can happen relatively quickly. I know situations where the sun was shining and then it started to thunder and some time later a heavy thunderstorm actually came. Even if unexpected - but still not unannounced. That is remarkable. So things can really happen unexpectedly, but rarely do they happen unannounced. This can relate to interpersonal problems or other life situations including health. Just as it is advisable to be aware of the signs and harbingers of a thunderstorm - the thunder or the corresponding clouds - it is also advisable to be alert and, yes, not ignorant in our areas of life. Perhaps something cannot be prevented, but one should still be prepared.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you also belong to the group of people who forget things from time to time or maybe even more often or do not remember certain things despite their efforts? So-called mnemonic devices can help. In German, this term originated like this: Donkeys don't want to go through water, no matter how deep, and that's why small bridges had been built for them. What is meant by this is that although a certain amount of extra effort is necessary to achieve the goal, in the end it still goes faster than trying to force something. This is also the case with memory: I make the extra effort to build a memory aid for myself - but in return I do not forget what is important to me. This principle is also helpful in relationships from time to time: making a certain extra effort - and thus investing in the relationship in the end and building trust. Maybe this is the case with you right now?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The topic of energy and energy supply is currently very present. There is much debate about how much energy we need and whether this need can be met and with which energy sources - fossil or natural. In the end, the balance has to add up. So: let's not consume more than we have available. There are two approaches: either restricting and reducing consumption or expanding capacity and availability. So: saver or producer? To which type do you count yourself: rather to those who are in favour of restriction and focus on saving or rather to those who want to open up new sources through innovation? Both have their justification and their time, I think. What about your personal energy sources? Do you tend to look for new sources that give you energy or do you tend to reduce the demand, i.e. fewer activities? Knowing what makes you tick can be very helpful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you noticed how different dogs' ears are? There are the pointed, erect ears on a German Shepherd and then the floppy ears like a rabbit on a Cocker Spaniel. How come? Both are dogs, aren't they, animals of the same species? I have heard that the pointed, erect ears are actually much better for sensing and being warned of danger than the floppy ears. So the shepherd dog uses its hearing more as a warning organ. The floppy ears hear less well - but in these animals the sense of smell is much better developed and serves as a warning organ. It is interesting that this difference exists. We humans also have differently developed sense organs and therefore perceive differently. This insight can help when it comes to good communication and mutual understanding - perhaps it helps to ask questions here and there if you feel misunderstood.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are these white and red battens in the context of construction sites. They demarcate an area or an area that is only accessible to authorised persons, even though one could very easily remove or climb over such a lath. But if you do so, you do so firstly at your own risk and secondly you may even be liable to prosecution. So this coloured wood has an authority that is set by society or the general public. We also have certain rules in our dealings with each other that have to be taken into account. How we treat each other or what respect we have for each other. This is a duty and a right for all of us. If this is or will be violated in your case, then be strengthened in the fact that you have a right to it and do not have to put up with everything. You may also simply reject insults without internalising them or believing them. You determine the sphere of influence of the outside world on you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
One of the best known natural products is honey. It is produced by bees. We humans cannot produce it ourselves. We are therefore dependent on the work of the bees. Actually, it is astonishing. These little industrious creatures work so reliably and the best we can do is to protect them and create the best possible environment for them by taking care of the natural resources. That's all we can do. We are dependent on them. With all our achievements, we need these little creatures and we have to let them live the way they want to live. Sometimes it is so in life that we can just receive and trust that we will still be well taken care of. Trust. Or faith. Do you believe Jesus' statement that we have a Heavenly Father who knows all our needs and what we need (compare Matthew 6 verses 8 and 32)?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Drawers or pigeonholes do not only enjoy a good reputation. Namely, when they are synonymous with classifying, cataloguing or even pigeonholing people without serious examination. We classify people and, as it were, lock them away in our imagination and opinion of them without giving them the chance to be - in our perception - as they actually are. Nevertheless, pigeonholes help us to bring order into our lives. To take care of things in an orderly manner and to remove them from our field of vision in order to be free for other things. That is why I am grateful for drawers. I can take care of something and know where to find it when I need it without always having it visibly in front of me. That wouldn't work either, because with an increasing number of things, chaos would ensue. So pigeonholing is not only bad, but also helpful - as long as the people or things in there are given the freedom to change the drawer.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I went to the optometrist the other day. They tested my vision and then they offered me a vision aid that would best correct my visual impairment. In this process, I was fitted with glasses that made it possible to use several lenses with different correction values and correct both astigmatism and dioptre. Finally, the optometrist had another tool: a lens that she manually placed additionally in front of these glasses for me, which resulted in even better or worse vision depending on the alignment. I think we do the same thing every now and then in everyday life: sometimes we want to recognise things in detail and sometimes we prefer it if what we want to see remains blurred and thus less recognisable - because the realisation could make us responsible for acting accordingly. Are you familiar with this and how do you deal with it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German, we use the term Stichwort to refer to a concept on which we base a topic or start a discussion. From the etymology
of the word, it is more or less about a term that is cut out, like you cut out a biscuit. I find that interesting. The keyword thus becomes a kind of anchor or focus point from which something starts or to which the following can always be oriented or traced back. So a single word can start or trigger an enormous amount. So sometimes we hear "what comes to mind for the keyword xy?" and then it starts. But keywords can also happen unconsciously. We also call them triggers. They trigger emotions in the other person, not always good ones. In English they are called keywords. With those we can open or close hearts. This calls for attention and wisdom. Are you aware of this in your everyday life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the language of design or in the environment of design, there is the principle form follows function. This means that the form or the exterior is subordinate to the functionality or is derived from it. In concrete terms, this can mean: A chair leg is simply a sufficiently thick, straight piece of wood sawn to the right length. Nothing more. No ornamentation as we know it from antique chairs or throne armchairs or the like. If you follow this principle consistently, then we live in a purely functional world and we humans will also be reduced at some point to our pure function as reproductive or performance beings, etc. I find that dangerous. I therefore believe that as human beings we need more than a functioning life. We also long for the beautiful, for what is not necessary but beneficial to us. Do you take this need sufficiently into account in your life and that of your environment? How do you do that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We humans are beings who live or have to live on both active and resting times. We cannot be awake or active continuously for several days. We need rest, sleep, recuperation, regeneration, so that we can perform again afterwards, no matter to what extent. This principle of rest and activity also runs through the whole of creation. There is night and day, and animals and plants also behave according to this external rhythm. I am all the more overwhelmed by the fact that my heart muscle, for example, works continuously from the moment of my physical emergence in the womb until my last breath. What an achievement, what a design, that there is an organ that works uninterruptedly for decades, reliably functioning and keeping it alive. What a gift, what a great invention and design. Each and every one of us has such a gift - for free.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have been travelling with planes more than average in the past few months. I am fascinated by the fact that these heavy means of transport manage to get off the ground and stay in the air. I think this amazement is obvious. But what is no less amazing, or at least necessary, is that the ground of airports must have enormous stability. I cannot imagine how many tonnes a day such a floor has to withstand in order for the planes to take off and land safely and for the people to be brought to and from the planes. Can this be taken for granted? I think no. Maybe you'll think about how great it is that you can live the mobility in your life the way you do: that connections work out, that transport infrastructure is free etc. It could be a possible source of gratitude for today and to generally be more grateful for small things in everyday life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As far as I understand it, a motor works as follows: it has a certain mechanism that is able to move something - be it in a car to move forward or in an operating machine to fulfill another task. For this to succeed, the machine must be driven. Energy is necessary for this. Something is supplied, converted as in a combustion engine and finally converted into movement. So there is no drive without energy input. That also makes sense. A contribution is needed so that something can be carried out. This is not possible out of nothing. We also need a corresponding source, a source of energy, for our inner drive. This can be motivation to reach a certain goal or, more generally, a meaning in life, an awareness of what is worth living for or having discovered for oneself what one's purpose in life is. What is your source of energy that moves you forward?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know the expression about having a roof over our heads. This means that you have a place where you can live at least temporarily, i.e. you don't have to be out in the open or otherwise outside. I find the phrase amusing, because a roof can't really be anything other than over your head, so in that sense it's a pleonasm for me. A roof expresses protection against influences from above, but not necessarily from the side. I can also stand under a shelter that has a roof but is open on all sides. The roof over one's head provides more than just physical protection. It also expresses where you can feel at home, where you can rest, where worrying in your head doesn't have to be. I think we all have the need for such a place. One that is more than just protection against external natural influences. Maybe it's just the secular formulation of Psalm 91, but with the same content.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Pictograms can be used to communicate very well and across language barriers. For example, a pictogram of a single person who looks like a man is clear: there is the gents. Pictograms are used both in public spaces etc. and as icons in apps on smartphones. Interestingly, when it comes to a telephone or a telephone-related application, a handset from an analogue telephone is usually used, which was in use decades ago but is hardly ever used today, especially not in private environments. It seems that for clear communication, the old or old-fashioned is better suited than the newest but short-lived. Communication cannot be accelerated at will. It takes time, and old habits such as direct conversation with physical presence are the proven good, even if it were more modern and via distributed locations. Perhaps an impulse for you to avoid misunderstandings?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Staircases are found in multi-storey buildings - hence the stairs to get from floor to floor. And they are older than the lift, which is used in many modern buildings today. , I got stuck on the term "house", which is used in the German term: Staircase. It sounds like this place is a place where you live. Yet it is only a space of passage, a transit area. But still, as such, not outside the building like a fire escape, but inside - so that one can use it in one's home dress, so to speak. Stairwells are places of transition, rarely furnished or with daylight, and no lounge areas. In life, we go through phases of change, from one area of life to another, like from flat or floor to floor. If this is the case for you: make sure you are close to your current life and have a certain protection, but don't stay there too long either, but keep your eye on the goal.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some say they only believe what they see. To a certain extent I can understand that. On the other hand, I also wonder whether feelings of any kind are non-existent for them, because you don't see them or illnesses or anything else. I also ask myself why I should rely exclusively on one sense, the sense of sight, to recognise realities and not on all the senses that are available to me. Or I think of Escher's illusions, those hand drawings in which something in the picture doesn't add up: there are three Greek columns at the bottom, for example, but only two at the top, or a water circuit that flows constantly downwards in a circle, but still has no end anywhere. In this way, Escher shows how easily the eye can be deceived and can therefore provide false information. Therefore, I hope for all those who only believe what they see, that they do not believe everything they see.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are in a season when many things that fly are more active again. So we see many insects and birds, bees, butterflies etc. flying through the air. I notice that the different species have very different wings and therefore - I assume - very different flight styles. A butterfly with its large wings flies quite differently from a bee and birds such as blackbirds or pigeons also fly quite differently from ducks or storks. I suspect that there is a connection: wing shape and flight style. We humans also have this to some extent in physical form, even if it is not as pronounced. I'm always struck by how differently the runners move during races. But we also move and are agile in different ways mentally and spiritually. Maybe this will help you today when you don't understand someone or think he or she has to do things the way you do them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I find right angles fascinating. The right angle is the exact fourth part of a full circle. It is especially central in geometry, building and so many other areas. If pieces of furniture or other things are constructed in a right angle, they can be stacked well or otherwise combined with other things, etc. The transmission of force is also very good with a right angle or the resistance is then optimal. In measurement, it is optimal when it comes to cutting quantities - so the part is convincingly good. Now you can ask whether there are also wrong or left angles if there is obviously a right angle. I don't really think so. But all other angles do not have the advantages that a right angle has. Perhaps you find all this banal - but I, for one, am fascinated by this law. Do you also have such natural phenomena that amaze and fascinate you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was taught that you wear hiking boots when you go hiking. This is so that you have a good grip on the terrain. It makes sense to me that the higher and more stable shoes protect and stabilise the ankles and the corresponding joint. But if I were to walk on scree or ice, then - according to my thesis - even the high and stable shoes would not really be of any use to me. To a certain extent, the shoes are only as good as the ground is stable and has a good grip for the shoes. Nevertheless, hiking shoes are probably still better on ice or in a scree field than a half-shoe or trainer. The apostle Paul once used the soldier's armour as an image for the conduct of life. The soldier's boots serve as an image for the bond with the good news of Jesus and his resurrection. I also believe that this good news gives support in the rough terrain that life brings with it from time to time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we have thunderstorms, lightning often appears. These can be quite impressive. Suddenly, a dark night sky brightens for fractions of a second and many things become briefly visible. These flashes are extremely energetic and can cause massive damage and start fires. This is why buildings usually have a lightning conductor to protect a building from a random strike. If you are out in nature during a thunderstorm, it can be very dangerous, especially in bodies of water. The weather phenomenon of lightning and thunder has impressed, frightened and certainly humbled people at all times, confirming the realisation that man, in all his power, is nevertheless unable to do many things or must yield to other stronger forces. The return of Jesus is compared to a lightning event: not to be overlooked and powerful in appearance. I can well imagine that.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you peel a banana, you usually proceed like this: You hold the banana in one hand and then peel it vertically from the base of the stalk from top to bottom. The skin is peeled off in strips along the length of the banana. I suppose it would never occur to anyone to peel the banana horizontally in a ring or spiral - simply because it would be very tedious, as the peel structure is not at all like that. Or when you tear paper, you sometimes notice that it is very easy in one direction and very tedious or unattractive in the direction perpendicular to it. With both the banana and the paper, it is due to the structure. If you understand this, you can handle the material much more easily and cleanly. We humans also have such character structures and the better we understand them in ourselves and in others, the better we can deal with each other.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The Enlightenment had brought man a supposed liberation from superstition or the transcendent. It elevated it to sovereignty and independence in its system. Yet not entirely convincing. For today there are still many offers of a religious and supernatural nature and many are those who seek them. Why? Why is it not enough for us to simply live our lives and accept our fate? I believe that it is because deep inside us there is a longing for more, for life, for light-heartedness, for the joy of good relationships and much more that is good for our soul as well as our body and spirit. An enlightened mind alone is not enough; in the end, it does not satisfy this longing. You can ignore this longing, fade it out, talk it down, keep it quiet, trivialise it, etc., but it will not disappear. Or you can face it, listen to it and let it call you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's barbecue season again. When I was a kid, we used to grill when we went hiking, but not on the terrace or otherwise in everyday life. I like a piece of meat or vegetable or grilled cheese better from the grill than from the pan. But when I think back to the old days, it's not only the end product that makes it special, but also the atmosphere, the surroundings. So it's not only the what that counts, but also the how. It seems to me that today we want to bring the extraordinary into our everyday life as extensively as possible and overlook the fact that the extraordinary is only extraordinary because it takes place in the context of the ordinary. This means that the ordinary, the unspectacular is also part of the extraordinary and makes it possible for the extraordinary to exist in the first place. Consider this in the sometimes unexciting or boring everyday life: This is the perfect breeding ground for the extraordinary.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Let's say you have an assignment that you absolutely have to do well and completely. What do you do? I imagine you plan carefully and try to organise everything so that you don't forget anything and are not disturbed. And what for? Firstly, so that you complete the job to the full satisfaction of the client and secondly, so that you don't make any mistakes. At least that's my hypothesis. And for this to succeed, something is particularly important: time. To have time for it, or to take time for it, or to plan for it, so that you don't have to act under time pressure. King Solomon already knew that time can be a quality killer. He wrote in Chapter 19 of his Proverbs: "He who is in too much of a hurry makes mistakes. I can only confirm this. I am in a hurry - and promptly forget something, etc. So if you have to do something urgent today - don't forget this wisdom and take enough time. It is worth it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For the electricity supply, we have power stations that distribute the electricity to the regions via appropriate lines. High-voltage lines are used for this purpose. Thanks to the masts, the cables with the high voltage are far away from the ground and without danger for us when we walk by. We take the supply of electricity in everyday life for granted - it is actually a very dangerous thing in its origins. Yet we feel nothing of this danger when we hold an electrical device in our hands. In the whole process, the voltage is reduced to such an extent that we can use the end devices without danger. In everyday working life there are also such strong voltage fields, for example where companies are under economic pressure. If you work in such a place and can simply do your work, then be grateful for the people above you who bear responsibility and carry this sometimes high tension of securing your existence and keep it away from you. That is not a matter of course.!!!!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our language we use the subjunctive tense, which expresses a possibility but not the reality. When we are convinced of something and plan to implement it concretely, we use the future tense. But when there is uncertainty or doubt, we use the subjunctive. This includes verbs like 'would' or 'could'. The subjunctive thus speaks of possibilities, chances, opportunities, risks and dangers - but always under the premise that things can - or could - turn out differently. For me, this is also an expression of the fact that we have longings and do not live in the perfect world for which we were actually created and which we ultimately seek. I would even go so far (by the way: also a subjunctive...) as to claim that the subjunctive did not yet exist in paradise but only came with the so-called fall of man, when man was driven out of his perfect environment through his own fault.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are drawings or pictures that are very concrete and detailed at one end or edge - for example on the left - and then become increasingly blurred and unrecognisable towards the opp!osite edge, for example on the right. Such a pictorial fadeout has a certain effect. For me, it expresses that a certain context, the very concrete is shown, but that it is not about the actual situation depicted. So it's like just a hint. If you like, the outcome is open and not - in the true sense of the word - concrete and already determined. I believe that our lives are also like that: we are born into a concrete situation, placed in a social structure, etc. but the outcome, the way we shape our lives, allows many things to happen, may be open and is not simply predestined. It is a mixture of higher destiny and vocation and our own freedom of design without fatalism. Does such a perspective also encourage you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently chose a vegan or vegetarian menu: Hörnli with minced meat. The minced meat was not meat, but a vegan substitute, probably based on sunflower seeds or mushrooms or something. Of course, you could tell the difference when you ate it, even though it looked very similar to the meat mince. I wondered why they would do something like that? So either you want minced meat and then it is minced meat, or you want a vegan substitute product and then you should consume it as such in its appropriate form. I don't always like imitation, especially where one's own identity is lost. As people, we are originals and should not degenerate into copies. Do you live your very own originality?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you know more than 365 people, it's a safe bet that you know at least two people who have the same birthday on the same day. Celebrating birthdays is certainly a cultural matter and also more or less important depending on the personality. Regardless of this, one can still say that celebrating a person, a life, at least once a year is indicated. And I think that each and every one of us appreciates this appreciation for the most part. On a birthday, we celebrate the person, their life, their essence and the originality that they inherently have. What a stark contrast it is when, on the other hand, we accept birthdays deliberately destroyed with an indifferent matter-of-factness - by legalising abortions. I don't want to start a debate about it here, but when I experience the joy of a birthday and think that so many unborn children are denied that, it hurts me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Anyone building a house is looking for a suitable location. Apart from the financial possibilities, the water supply is an important point. So what could be more obvious than to look for a site as close as possible to a river - perhaps even on its banks. This has many advantages: the necessary water can be used for hydropower, drinking water, irrigation of the cultivated land, etc. without long transport routes or other expenses. So ideal. But... depending on the catchment area of the river, such a location also harbours dangers - namely if the river suddenly carries an enormous amount of water and floods occur. A good balance between convenience and risk is therefore necessary here. What at first sight seems to be very pleasant and easy, may harbour some dangers. Wisdom and sober reflection are helpful here. Perhaps an impulse for you in a current decision-making process.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is easier to judge many things from a distance. We are less emotionally involved. From a distance, we can judge other people and their fates more easily than if their fate is close to us because of a personal relationship. So it is easier for us to say from a distance that this or that is simply not possible. For example: we have now taken in enough refugees. On the other hand, if we know refugees personally, it is more difficult for us to make a blanket decision. We are beings with feelings and are built on relationships. That's why a fate affects us more when we know the person concerned. Nevertheless, we also have to say that it is good that we sometimes have distance and can thus also make difficult decisions for the common good and that we thus also have a certain emotional protection, because otherwise all fates would overwhelm us. Proximity and distance. We need both experiences.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are in an election year in Switzerland this year. Political parties are currently positioning themselves to be as successful as possible in the national elections in autumn. My rough classification is as follows: left stands for justice, centre for liberal, right for security, and green for ecology and nature. And in this field of tension, a parliament is then formed with the corresponding representatives, who in turn govern our country with the Federal Council. Complicated and very broadly based, and not infrequently blocking themselves. It's easier with a monarchy. The king rules. Is he left or right or green or in the middle? What kind of king is he? I was deeply impressed the other day when I read Psalm 72, in which the still reigning King David prayed for his son and successor. The prayer is powerful and actually covers all the concerns mentioned. Recommended to read and pray over. Also for our politicians.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a saying that you are clutching at the last straw. Supposedly, the saying comes from the old Christian seafaring. The straw floats and when you are drowning, it is the last chance, the last little hope to save you from drowning. Even if it seems hopeless, a person in a desperate situation nevertheless places his hope in everything that could somehow bring salvation. Perhaps, in an analogous form, the pious variant of this is "Necessity teaches prayer." I firmly believe that every atheist, no matter how tough, begins to pray in a truly dramatic situation. I think that's a reflex we have, a healthy reflex. I am also thinking here of emergency situations that do not necessarily affect you, but a loved one, and where you yourself only perceive helplessness and powerlessness. Do you clasp your hands to the straw or fold them in prayer?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In argumentation, we sometimes talk about relative and absolute. For example: the rents are relatively high. Something can be relatively high but in its absolute number low. A fictitious example: the travel time by public transport to work is relatively high. This could mean, in absolute figures, that you spend 15 minutes a day on the tram for one way, but the tram stations are only 1 minute's walk away from your home and work. Compared to 1, 15 is a lot, but a total commute of 17 minutes is still absolutely little. So you have to be careful and look at both values: relative and absolute. It's the same with emotions: a single person can have a relatively large influence on my emotional stability, but in absolute terms it's not justified because I'm actually in contact with 50 people. So we can also control the sphere of influence here by regulating whether something gets disproportionate influence or not.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Feelings need a host. By this I mean: joy or fear do not exist by themselves. They need a person through whom they manifest. But this also means that this person - by which I mean the host - has a say in how much these feelings can spread. In linguistic usage, we say that we have feelings and are not feelings. This is what is implied. So I also have an influence on which feelings I give how much space. I am not helplessly at the mercy of feelings. This realisation can be especially helpful with negative feelings such as anger, fear, rage or powerlessness. I can take a step back for a moment and ask myself: how much influence and space can these feelings now have and where do I consciously say: Stop! I decide to no longer let myself be dominated by fear or other feelings. If this concerns you right now, I wish you courage and success in actively shaping your emotional world.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you boil a hen's egg, you can choose how long you want to leave it in the shell in hot, boiling water. Depending on the length of time, the peeled egg will be harder or softer. So both the liquid egg white and the liquid egg yolk become hard with sufficient heat and a necessary long time. I find it interesting that the egg white and the yolk do not have the same basic conditions. Namely: the egg white is limited by the shape of the egg and the shell. The yolk, on the other hand, is surrounded by egg white, but this does not determine the final shape of the hard egg yolk. Thus, the yolk can harden in the optimal way, whereas the egg white can only do so to a limited extent. Perhaps you can also offer others such an environment in your sphere of influence: a certain all-round protection with at the same time many possibilities for personal optimal development.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, perms were in fashion - at least that's how I remember it. Women talked about it. The topic actually concerned almost exclusively women - for men it was rather a taboo. At that time, the gender roles given by nature still applied and perms were something feminine in my perception. A kind of intermediate solution were curling tongs, with the help of which women could make waves in their hair for a short time. Today, this may be laughed at and perhaps dismissed as vain or whatever. But the fact is that one was obviously not completely satisfied with one's own appearance or at least would have liked to have it differently or to be as well endowed as others... the wretched comparison, source of so much unnecessary dissatisfaction. The next time you wash your hair or see or touch something about yourself that you would prefer to be different: how about saying "Thank you for this uniqueness about me!"?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Standing on an iron grate or placing a cup on the grate of the drip tray have certain practical things in common:
On the one hand, the grille usually holds what is on it and keeps it from falling or going dangerously low, but on the other hand it still lets through what doesn't belong. With the coffee maker, you can place the cup and it will hold and excess water or milk will still flow out. When you stand on the grille, dirt from your shoes can fall into a pit and you still stand. These are the advantages. However, it is unpleasant when keys, small change or anything else important falls down and through the mesh. You might still see it, but you still can't grab it. So a supposedly safe stand can also harbour dangers. So it is crucial on which ground you stand.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are things, moments, environments, encounters, smells, melodies and much more that trigger a very specific state in us - we are transported to moments of our past. In English, this is called a trigger. This means that the things mentioned stimulate in us the state we experienced in those moments that we are reminded of by these triggers. For me, in these days when nature is awakening so magnificently, they are memories of a long stay in hospital. When I see the awakening nature, I am automatically reminded of those weeks and months from a few years ago and I see the flowering fields and smell the fragrant and pollen-rich air of that time and feel the feelings I had. Today I am at a different point in life and I am grateful that my health is better. These triggers help me today to shut down and let myself be filled with gratitude. Gratitude for what was and is today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It strikes me that if there is a hole in a window, even if it is only a small one caused by a pebble or other small, sharp object, then one cannot simply repair the damage locally, but the entire glass must be replaced. This reminds me of a comparison Jesus once made to his listeners when he said that you can't just sew a patch of new fabric onto an old, torn garment, otherwise the spot would tear and both the garment and the new fabric would be lost. The context there was one's own image of God or ideas of what God's reign in the world would be like. Sometimes radical solutions are needed, especially in thinking or one's own ideas about situations or one's self-image or one's own life plan. Radical honesty is needed and patchwork is not a sustainable solution. Do you have a concept of life that is resilient or are you fooling yourself?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Food does not have an infinite life. With increasing time, the freshness decreases and at some point they are no longer edible, sometimes even toxic. With certain foods this happens faster or even very quickly, with others it takes longer. Sometimes you can already recognise the condition by the smell or taste or you can see it; in the worst case, however, you cannot. Spoiled food can therefore be very dangerous. In a prayer, King David once said to God: "You deliver my life from corruption. God is the one who can save our life from spoiling, analogous to food. Sometimes you can see or smell or taste for yourself whether our life is spoiled as such or in certain areas. Sometimes not. But when it is, it can be dangerous for us and others. Thank God, he is the one who can save our lives from this very spoiling, if that is what we want.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our information society, we are constantly supplied with data - whether we like it or not. Visually, this is done via TV and many other things, and also via our hearing through constant exposure to sound. Sometimes it is not so easy to concentrate. I often find that when I am under time pressure, it is even more difficult for me to really listen or become quiet inside and take a kind of break. Nevertheless, it seems essential to me that I manage to do this, especially as a sign of appreciation for my communication partner. If I don't succeed, then that is an indicator for me that I am running in the red zone and should slow down a bit. Do you also know this and how do you deal with it? I wish you good inner balance for today and the courage to get out where necessary.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If things are spatially close to each other, this can have the advantage that the things hardly or not at all slip. They give each other support and stability and thus protect each other from possible damage caused by external shaking and the resulting bumping against each other. In this case, closeness is mutual protection. On the other hand, a lot of closeness can also create pressure and one's own mobility is not only restricted, but there can also be constant pressure. Proximity, distance and pressure are therefore interrelated and correlate with each other. Too much or too little of one brings a certain healthy balance out of equilibrium. This law also applies in relationships and so unhealthy relationships can quickly develop and unfortunately remain or become worse. Perhaps today you can also get out of such toxic relationships either by consciously being closer or by relieving the pressure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was having dinner with a friend the other day and the sun was shining beautifully through the window - when suddenly someone operated the external blinds and stopped the sun from coming in, i.e. created a shadow. I was more annoyed than grateful. On the other hand, in the hot summer we may long for shade. So shade covers, protects from the sun's rays. But we also know that sometimes we stand in someone else's shadow - that is, we are compared to or measured against someone else. Or an event casts a long shadow - that is, has repercussions for a long time. A shadow is not material and yet it is perceptible. So there are people and events in our biographies that also leave shadows - good ones in the sense of protection and bad ones in the sense of burden. In the latter case, one can also consciously step out of such shadows or, figuratively speaking, pull up the blinds again. Something for you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you personally know people who work in construction? They often work physically and are exposed to the sometimes adverse weather conditions. They accomplish an enormous amount and yet are hardly noticed. Yet - without them, where would we live? The house you live in was built by construction workers you probably never met. So others have worked enormously so that you now have a good roof over your head. So many people invest in our lives again and again, often indirectly. Politicians are committed to security and justice, researchers to better medicines, and so on. Servants of society. Perhaps it is a day to be grateful for all that is done and from which we benefit without any contribution from us. And maybe your commitment, whether professional or voluntary, will benefit us all. Thank you for that.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German we only know one term for a chain - be it a functional one like for locking a bicycle or in the marine sector or as jewellery around the neck. In English there are two different terms for it. A chain - they say - is as strong as its weakest link. And that is true. If the tension is great enough, the chain breaks at the weakest link. So a functional chain will be made as evenly strong as possible and will not have a clasp like a jewellery chain. Because with a strong pull, the chain would break right there. The jewellery chain should be visible, may be beautiful and does not have to withstand breaking tests - in contrast to the functional chain. That's how it is sometimes: what should be beautiful and admired gets different attention than what has to function. It needs both. Therefore: let the beauty in your life simply be beautiful with the necessary care without overdoing it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, aeroplanes had these mighty propellers that turned enormously fast during flight and thus made it possible for the aeroplane to fly. In English, to propel means to propel. This fits very well because the propeller does indeed propel the aircraft. Interesting that the propeller does nothing else. But taken on its own, it can't function at all. It cannot propel itself. There are no isolated propellers. It always needs a counterpart that can be driven. In our everyday lives, we sometimes feel driven, stressed, no longer free. And there are such hostile drivers, propellers: expectations of others or your own expectations of yourself. They oppress us. Do you know your drivers? I find it hopeful that the prophet Isaiah long ago saw in God the one who breaks the whip of the enemy driver and sets us free. Read about it in chapter 9.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You can certainly imagine what it looks like when air bubbles rise under water. You know this from pictures of divers, for example, who exhale and whose exhaled air then rises to the surface. This happens because air is lighter than the surrounding water. In a direct comparison, the compared parts behave accordingly to each other. Well, comparing can sometimes be good and sometimes not. Comparing oneself with others can be as well. Often it is not good. But comparing one's own situation with that of others can sometimes be relaxing and relativising, especially when it is tedious. If you are still angry about traffic jams after two hours and then compare yourself with a person with physical limitations, you can perhaps find some distance from the anger. Heavy things sink deep and stay, light things rise and give way. Maybe today you can give some lightness to what is supposedly heavy.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some of us are more holiday types for the mountains, others for the sea. For the latter, bathing in the sea is something special. And I have already experienced that hotels that have a pool and are close to the sea do not fill the pool with fresh water, but with sea water. When I stand in front of the pool, I can't automatically tell whether it's filled with fresh or seawater. I have all my five senses active, but neither the sense of touch, nor the sense of sight, hearing or smell help me. I have to go to or into the pool and only my sense of taste tells me whether it is fresh or seawater. There are other situations in which we receive important information exclusively through another, single sense. If you are in a challenging situation, don't rely on the sense or ability that is best developed in you, but on the one that gives you the information you need.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I graduated in the early 90s of the last century, certain agendas were very common among managers and executives. These were real folders with many tabs and calendar representations in different forms: as a yearly planner, by the day or weekly, etc. Apart from the fact that such editions cost several hundred francs, there were also extremely expensive seminars on the correct and best use of this type of calendar. I was very impressed and it was a kind of status symbol to use such a thing. It expressed a certain position in the business world. I also wondered when I would be in a position where I would use such an agenda. A few decades later, they have disappeared but the challenge of good management of the rare commodity of time has remained. How good is your time management and do you need to change anything?!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you bake a cake and want to remove it from the tin after baking - it's not always so easy. The dough sticks to the wall or the bottom of the tin. Then you run the risk of having to force the baked good away from the sticky spot. If you do this with your hand and apply enough pressure - then it usually goes wrong, by which I mean: the beautiful cake is torn apart and one part is in your hand another continues to stick to the tin - and the result is frustrating: the beautiful cake is broken. What helps is firstly to wait until the cake has cooled down and secondly a fine spatula, with the help of which you can finely loosen the cake from the sticky part. And suddenly it works quite well and the result is a beautiful cake ready to be enjoyed. In interpersonal relationships, sometimes these two components are also necessary in order not to have a break-up: enough patience and sensitivity. Maybe it's your turn in a situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I was invited to lunch with dear friends. We had pot au feu. As far as I understood, meat and vegetables are cooked for a long time. And finally served. Everything was very fine and tender. Interesting: the broth, i.e. the liquid for or during the boiling down, was not to be poured off like when cooking pasta, but part of the meal. It was more or less an appetiser in the form of a delicious soup. I thought it was nice to use as much of the chosen ingredients as possible and there was no waste or throwing away of food. Even if - in inverted commas - "only" the liquid as broth. It was its fine. Maybe you are also in your social environment or commitment in the family, leisure or profession rather such a cooking aid product as the liquid of the pot au feus. You will still carry the taste of what you are involved in and thus be very valuable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If it does not rain for a longer period of time, the soil dries out more and more. It becomes hard and cracked. Plants with deep roots can nevertheless draw the necessary moisture from the depths. Superficial plants, on the other hand, dry out and die after a certain time. It is interesting that when it then starts to rain, the soil does not - as one might expect - absorb and soak up the much-needed moisture, thus filling the reservoirs again. First, the rain beads up on the hard surface and then, if it is still sloping, i.e. a slope, the water unfortunately simply runs off without being absorbed. Generally speaking: pronounced deficiency hardens. This can also happen to us humans and when we then get what we so long for, we are not able to absorb it at all. Then we need a lot of patience and perseverance, not to give up.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Most of us know prisons from films or news reports. When I think of prison, I see barren rooms with small barred windows. The only thing that separates a prisoner from freedom is a bit of iron and brickwork. But this is so strong that freedom, although so close, is not accessible. Even if the vast majority of us are not outwardly imprisoned, we still know inner prisons: for example, painful experiences, fears, addictions or other negative emotions or bad relationships. Sometimes freedom would be so close, analogous to the physical prison, but the invisible brickwork so solid. When Jesus revealed himself to the world, he did so by quoting from the writings of the prophet Isaiah where it says that he sets the captives free. I believe that this is still possible and valid today, if one takes up the offer. Then freedom is no further away than a prayer.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I currently work in an environment that knows and uses many abbreviations. This may be very practical for those who know the abbreviations and their meaning, but very cryptic and confusing for everyone else. Such abbreviations can quickly come across as a secret language that is only accessible to a select circle of people, i.e. quasi-elitist. That doesn't have to be the case. But when you are so deeply involved in this system, you sometimes lose touch with the actual reality or no longer understand that there are many who do not speak and understand this language. As practical and economical as such abbreviations may be, and as cool as it may be to speak a certain secret language in this way, it is also exclusionary. Perhaps today you also find yourself in a situation where you are happy if someone makes an area that is foreign to you accessible to you, or you can do the same for others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was drinking a cappuccino the other day, I noticed something or was reminded of a comparison. What I noticed is that after a certain time, the coffee and the milk or the milk foam mix more and more and in the end they are no longer distinguishable. So if at the beginning the black of the coffee and the white of the milk are still very clearly distinguishable, this becomes more and more difficult as time goes by. For me, this is an image - as strange as it may sound - of love. At the beginning, two people are still somewhat strangers or clearly distinguishable. But the longer the real love relationship lasts, the closer and more familiar they become, until finally something new and common has emerged that can no longer be clearly separated and assigned to one person or the other. Not self-sacrifice, but the creation of something new and yet common in substance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, it is often the case that the bigger something or a living being is, the stronger and more powerful it is. So an elephant has significantly more power than a mouse or a whale displaces significantly more water than a goldfish. And we know a similar law as humans - even in childhood or at school, the law of the strongest often applies. Or whoever has more money often has more influence or power. But it is also interesting that there are exceptions. For example, in the field of music. A piccolo comes to mind. It's not a big instrument - much smaller than a guitar. But whoever produces a good sound from the piccolo is, in my opinion, heard much better than a guitar player. So bigger doesn't always have to mean more. Let this serve as an encouragement for today: that your perhaps rather modest opinion or view can still be strong and influential.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you know the foreign term amplitude. It is used in physics in the theory of oscillations and means how much something deflects during an oscillation. So if you have a rope with a body at the end and thus make the rope oscillate, how far the rope with the body ultimately deflects. In many cases, however, one also sees representations with so-called oscillating movements, i.e. not straight lines, but jagged lines that go up and down. For example, when recording earthquake activity or other dynamic events that are constantly in motion. What all these have in common is that there are extreme values and less pronounced swings. This means that in addition to peaks, there are also relaxed times. We also need something like that. Our life amplitude also needs to swing back into a relaxed range. Perhaps this is what we are consciously doing today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As children, we were allowed to go to the car wash with our father from time to time. That was an experience! We were in the car while our father slowly steered it through the car wash. First came these big vertical brushes and it was as if they were squeezing the car. Then there was the water that splashed from all sides and the soap that created the big foam. Lots of activity and then towards the end the rinsing and driving out. Everything was over - like after a violent thunderstorm. Of course it was an experience and without fear, because we were inside the safe car. But... if a window had been open or something else had leaked, it would have been a big mess. Good preparation and checking that everything was ready were crucial for a good outcome. If you find yourself in a challenging situation today, check again whether you are sufficiently prepared - and if so, enjoy the course from a safe position.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was filling out my tax return the other day, I was told that I could use an app to scan the enclosures. That seemed handy. So I downloaded the app onto my smartphone and followed the instructions. The first thing to do was to scan a binary code on the tax return. So I looked for the corresponding code. However, I only found a barcode and no QR code. Despite several attempts, it just didn't work. The app had a different expectation of the object to be scanned than what I could provide. This rendered the app and all the benefits it claimed to bring useless to me. I could scan as many times as I wanted, it all helped nothing. It seems to me that sometimes it is similar when we have fixed ideas about things or processes, events, people etc. and then things turn out differently. Are you flexible enough to want to see what is really there or do you only scan for what you would like to see?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my naivety I thought that pine cones were full of seeds and when the cones fell to the ground they would be carried away by animals such as squirrels, rot somewhere and there the seeds of these cones would give rise to new trees. Far from it! There are male and female cones and when the time is ripe, the male parts, the pollen, are carried by the wind to the female parts, the seeds, and when it hits, the pollen fertilises the seeds and that is the beginning of a tree embryo. Later in good weather the fertilised seeds open and are carried away by the wind or animals to become a new growth. What a process, what a risk that it could go wrong. Why not let it all become in one cone? My impression is that it takes trust, faith in this becoming and this faith without control is rewarded in the end. For me, an impressive analogy to the Christian faith.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you go to a museum or an older church, it is not uncommon to see, for example, a valuable, powerful and richly decorated chalice. This chalice alone is worth an enormous amount today. At that time, however, in addition to its functional significance, it was also an expression of the wealth or status of the owner or, in particular, of the contents that were consumed from the cup. Thus, communion cups were often richly decorated and of special manufacture and design. It was not the chalice that was special, but the contents of the chalice: the wine, which stood for the shed blood of Christ. The outside, the chalice, gave a special meaning to the inside, the wine. I believe we can also do this by outwardly signalling and expressing appreciation when we are with others and give undivided attention to our counterpart, for example.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Mobile phones need a functioning radio network to dial into. This happens automatically as long as the device is not switched off or in flight mode. Once the connection has worked, the signal strength is important - it indicates how good the connection quality is. This is usually expressed with small bars at the top of the phone screen. The more bars, the better the connection and thus the better the quality of communication. Despite very well-developed networks, there are places that offer little or no connection to the mobile network. If you are there, you receive no signal and cannot communicate via the network. Similarly, we are not really attentive during conversations and are distracted with other things. Then we are trapped in our own radio hole and communicate poorly and often no longer receive at all. How good is your network coverage in communicating with your environment?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Each truck has its own capacity: a mini-van carries less than one of these huge hulks. It all depends on the load area and the volume. But not only! Sure, I can only load as many wadding packages into a truck as there is actually room for - but: I may not be able to load as many lead packages as there would actually be room for. The lorry has a limit not only in terms of its volume, but also in terms of the permitted transport weight. In other words, I cannot load as much as I like, but have to consider both the filling quantity and the filling weight. It is similar with our human possibilities: there may be time capacity, but the matter at hand is mentally very stressful. For me, too, we have to use our resources wisely so as not to overload ourselves and others. I wish you the wisdom to do this today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine an ICE train driving through the city - that would probably be quite unusual and dangerous. Imagine you had to take a tram from Basel to Hamburg - that would probably be quite uncomfortable and maybe sooner or later you would also miss a toilet or an on-board bistro. Actually, these scenarios should be possible, because both a train and a tram run on rails, are supplied with the necessary energy via overhead lines and have predefined stops. Nevertheless... the purpose of the two is different: the train is used for long distances and the tram for local connections, even if the principle of passenger transport is conceptually much the same. Analogously, I wish you the wisdom today to adapt your abilities to the circumstances, so that you can be flexible and light where appropriate and firm and assertive in other situations.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was in Poland the other day, I met a woman on the street with a conspicuously large frame of glasses. The conspicuous glasses frame caught my attention when we crossed each other on the street. I did not like it at all, on the contrary. Unprompted, thoughts such as "How can you wear such ugly glasses?!" came to my mind and I really couldn't find an answer to this question. It didn't seem to me that any obvious reason could have influenced the choice. But after a while I was also put to shame by other thoughts such as "What am I presuming to judge this woman and what is beautiful or not?". Maybe she had no other choice for financial reasons." or "Maybe she doesn't like the glasses that much either, but gratitude outweighs that she can see better again thanks to them." I was very ashamed of my arrogance and I still am.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We have different senses that serve to satisfy our basic needs. For example, our eyes help us to perceive food and to check it for edibility if necessary. Or our ears warn us of possible danger so that we can change our current location in time. I suspect that this is similar in many or all animals: perception serves mainly to sustain life. But with us humans it goes further. We not only eat food that gives us the energy we need - we can also enjoy it with our sense of taste. We can listen to music that is good for our soul and the sight of something beautiful satisfies a deep longing in us that animals probably do not have in this way. So our perception goes far beyond what is physically necessary. It also serves our spiritual and soul hunger. I wish you good nourishment in these areas today and much enjoyment in the process.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On many a window hangs a colourful glass pane or something embroidered or crocheted or an origami made of coloured transparent paper, etc. This decorates the window and often gives it more colour or simply a touch of personal, living quality. What is inherent in all this decoration, however, is that it never tries to cover the entire window pane in such a way that no more light can get through. Rather, the intention is often to let the incident light shine through the jewellery object and thus create a different atmosphere. In other words, the light from the outside is personalised or individualised by the window jewellery. Somehow fascinating. Christians believe that through their relationship with God, the Holy Spirit given to them dwells within them. It is the same Spirit in them all. But when he makes himself experienced through the individual persons of the world, it is like window decorations: God revealing himself to the world through people.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
String is useful for tying things together. The cord can have different thicknesses or thicknesses. A cord in the home is different from one in shipping, where a really thick cord is called a rope. Either way. But the cord - as far as I can tell - really only has a purpose when it is used. Simply by itself, a cord makes no sense or gives no value. But if it is needed, it can be enormously helpful. That's how it is sometimes with certain things: meaningless on their own, but enormously valuable in use or in service to others. This is what distinguishes us humans from such things. We can also be in action and enormously valuable in very different services and tasks. But these are not a prerequisite. We each have our own immeasurable value - as unique creatures of God. You too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We face massive challenges as a society of this time. Whether it is the climate crisis, the financial world or armed conflicts: solutions are needed that we have not known before and that challenge us. Different cultures, competition, views of life and understandings of truth that do not always coincide play a role that should not be underestimated. Where can help be found here? And where hope? For me, hope in such situations is a potential that is actually attainable, that holds a real possibility and does not mime a consolation of a utopian reality. Hope is real because it guides action and is not fatalistic. Or in other words: hopeful people are those who act with courage and do not just complain or accuse and thereby contribute nothing to the solution. But this also requires the necessary perspective and a sure reason. Are you a hopeful person?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suspect most birds have wings. These are needed or used for flying. Sounds logical. But I think I have observed that the wings of all bird species are different or rarely if ever the same. An eagle has different wings and probably different wing shapes than a chicken or a sparrow. The wings also serve as propulsion for gliding. And for the mother birds certainly for the young to protect them. Birds use their wings intuitively. I find it remarkable how they can fold up their sometimes enormously large wings so that they fit snugly against the body and don't have to be dragged. As humans, we have other abilities. We can walk with our legs, put our feet on something, do things with our arms or hold on to things with our hands, etc. We can also walk with our feet. I wish you wisdom on how to use your physical abilities today in such a way that they benefit others and you and are a blessing and help.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In a loudspeaker, a magnet and a voice coil move the speaker membrane in time with the given electrical signal. This causes the air to vibrate, which our eardrums perceive as sounds. We can thus explain natural phenomena through physical units and laws. With such a clear analysis, the effect or what we perceive becomes reproducible. If we know all the components and how they work and interact, we are able to imitate it. Perhaps this is how we demystify certain beautiful things from nature through our analytics. Nevertheless, what remains amazing for me in many such physical laws is that it exists at all and how it works. Whether I understand it or not. What a wealth we are actually given in everyday life. Sounds, smells, atmospheres and so much more. It makes me grateful and amazes me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Anyone who rides a bicycle must be able to keep their balance. You are supported in this by the ride or the speed. This means that it is easier to keep your balance on a moving bike than on a stationary one. And then there are the curves. If you go round a bend, you must not keep the same upright position as when you go straight out - that would be fatal. Instead, you have to lean in the curve. This inclination in turn depends on the radius of the curve and the current speed. Sounds complicated. But it is intuitive for every cyclist. However, you must not use this inclination when at rest - otherwise you will fall. So there is a direct connection between movement and posture. If you transfer this, you could also say: my inner posture is situation-bound. There are moments when you have to be tolerant and others when a strict line is required. Situationally, that is. But both on the bicycle of love.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was wondering why in German the pedestrian crossings are called "zebra crossings". On the one hand, because I don't know any yellow zebras and, on the other hand, because a zebra has absolutely no regular stripes on its coat like a zebra stripe. In my opinion, a bee or a wasp would be a more suitable example - here, first of all, yellow is present and the rings around the body are as regular as in the case of the pedestrian aid. It's kind of interesting that such a term has nevertheless become commonplace and, as far as I can tell, is not questioned. Habits. Or imprinting. You grow up with it, don't question it, take note of it, orient yourself to it and live accordingly. In the case of the zebra crossing, of course, it is not really blatant or drastic. But if we are honest, we probably all have things somewhere in our lives or lifestyles that we could or should question and perhaps change. How does that look for you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A rainbow is a natural spectacle that only occurs under certain conditions: it needs rain or at least correspondingly high humidity and the sun shining into this humid air. Then these magnificent colours become visible. It struck me that it is actually a constellation of strong opposites that makes this natural phenomenon possible in the first place: quasi bad weather - the rain - and good weather - the sun. So you could say: the combination of strong opposites leads to such a blaze of colour. Perhaps this is also an image of the fact that harmony does not always produce the most beautiful things, but that there are also tensions and contradictions. Maybe this will help you in a current situation - also with people who have strong opposites. There is also a lot of potential for beauty.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have been travelling a lot for work in the past few weeks. This means that I am a guest in different hotels in different countries. I always look forward to the first sip of coffee in the morning. Because the coffee traditions in the individual countries are very different, the coffee - or what is understood by it depending on the country - also tastes different. So I have been pleasantly surprised a few times, but also... let's say disillusioned, and I ended up preferring an orange juice... Why was that? Because our taste buds send us signals and we derive something like a sense of pleasure from them. If it was only about the caffeine, it wouldn't matter what I had. But the pleasure is also important. At least I think so. So if you are looking forward to something and are disappointed - remember the good, positive moments that nourished this expectation and be grateful for them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At home we had an iron and also the matching or necessary ironing board. My mother used it to iron the clothes, especially my father's shirts. I had respect for the iron because it was so hot. And indeed: you want it to be really hot, but you also need a good grip so as not to burn yourself - which can end badly. I myself have always enjoyed ironing. One thing that always bothered me, though, was that the cable got twisted. I could do whatever I wanted - this cable was always twisted and dirty and so it always got in the way - which sometimes really annoyed me. That's right. There seem to be such constellations or things in life that we know exactly what they are and still can't manage to change them, despite all our efforts. Today I think there is only one thing that helps in such cases: cheerful composure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
These days we are witnessing obvious injustice on a global level. A military conflict that has been going on for over a year now, other numerous political tensions that are claiming their victims and we hear how children in particular are suffering enormously under these circumstances. But things are also happening very close to us that challenge our sense of justice - for example, the current situation in the banking sector. In all these cases, we are not infrequently quick to identify those responsible, to point at them and to condemn them inwardly or even verbally. Are we doing this rightly? Isn't it the case that the very thing that bothers us so much about them and about which we get so worked up is actually also deep within ourselves? So the finger pointing at others is often also the finger pointing at our own reflection. Actually, the only thing that helps is unsparing honesty with oneself. Do you succeed in that? Does it make you more merciful?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many years ago we were on holiday in the mountains. Very close to the house where we had our holiday flat, a streambed ran steeply down the slope. It was dead straight and a small brook meandered down there in this man-made course. The canalisation of the brook allowed for the use of the land area optimally. That means you could build very close to the canal or lay infrastructure like roads. So it was a win-win situation: the stream could flow away and people could use the space optimally. If it hadn't been for a heavy rainfall. Immediately after we left, it started to rain enormously. The stream came out of the artificial riverbed and created a cruel havoc. The artificial stream bed proved to be a boomerang. If the river had been left its natural space, more room would have been needed for it, but the destruction would have been much less. Apparent optimisation is not always good. Especially not in extreme situations.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A few years ago I saw sand pictures for the first time. It works like this: sand lies on a pane of glass and bright light comes from below. What is on the glass pane is projected onto a wall via a beamer. So actually it's just the sand, or how it lies on the glass. The artists now bring the sand into such shapes that figures or objects are created as if they were drawing. It is tremendous how enormously diverse and creative images are created in a short time and how entire stories are told because the images can be recreated very quickly. Of course, you also work a lot with hints. Certain details of objects or people are only hinted at - but this triggers the viewer's imagination to complete the imagined picture. Hints are enough. Even with words - that's why we should be particularly careful there. Even the unspoken communicates.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In children's rooms they hang very often and not infrequently above the bed or the changing table: beautiful and sometimes very artistic mobiles. They are usually hanging figures or pictures that are connected by various fine threads or strings via thin wooden sticks and thus move in balance. If they are allowed to move freely, they turn or change position, usually at a steady and regular pace. This can calm a baby by drawing its attention to these calm and regular movements. A desirable scenario for parents: the baby is so distracted that it does not cry and, ideally, is easy to swaddle. Why? Because it is so focused on the one thing and yet very relaxed in it. Perhaps it would also do us as adults good in everyday life to simply concentrate on one single thing and then block out the world around us, including mobile phones, etc.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the Old Testament of the Bible there is a story in which a god of the Philistines kept falling down in the temple because the stolen, holy object of the Israelites was in that temple. The broken parts of the fallen statue of the god were scattered and pieces lay on the threshold. Therefore, when the Philistines entered the temple, they no longer stepped on the threshold. A threshold is a transition. From the inside to the outside or vice versa. Sometimes also in a figurative sense. We talk about crossing a threshold, which means: this was too much, boundaries were not taken into account here. We have all had threshold experiences - on the one hand, that we have crossed them unauthorised and perhaps even consciously, on the other hand, that others did not take our boundaries or thresholds into account. Perhaps a day to be particularly attentive to such thresholds and to check whether they may be crossed or not.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It happens sometimes that you mix things up. Be it facts, or objects or people. Sometimes it happens unintentionally: you reach into the cutlery drawer in the kitchen to take a fork - and catch a knife. Or you talk to someone about an experience - and only realise later that you have mistaken the person for someone else. It can be worse when medicines are mixed up. It can also be bad if someone is fooled into thinking something is going on, so that the person, not suspecting anything, does not discover the deliberate confusion. For me, it is often either a lack of concentration or a lack of knowledge. I sometimes confuse national flags - for example, Holland and Luxembourg. Not too tragic in this case. As long as you are uncertain, you can prevent the confusion. If you are wrongly convinced, it can be fatal. So beware - if you get into such a situation today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently on a business trip abroad in a hotel where there was a wellness area. When I was there, I found a small gym, a steam room and a swimming pool. No one was there but me. So I had all the freedom to use what I wanted. It was all included in the hotel price. But... there was a notice by the pool that it was not allowed to use it at the moment. I saw no obvious reason why not. It didn't look dangerous or defective and there was water in it, so you could have had a nice swim. So what to do? No one was there. If I had gone into the pool, probably no one would have noticed. But there was the ban. It reminded me of the story of paradise and Eve and her conversation with the snake under the tree. Sometimes you can do something without restriction, but you shouldn't. How does one decide? I finally went to the steam bath.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day, when I was waiting for the lift, I saw an advertisement of a hotel chain next to the button, advertising itself with the slogan: Live a limitless life. My first reaction was what this could possibly have to do with a hotel stay. But then I went further in my thoughts while waiting and asked myself: do I want that at all? A life without limits? What does that mean? Limitless in relation to what? It seemed to me that the person who aspires to this is one who has otherwise lost the meaning in life and sees no purpose for himself. If such a personal goal is missing, then perhaps all that is left is to strive for the limitless - as if that existed. Finite, in my view, is probably everything that concerns our lives, and thus we are already given limits by our very nature. The question is whether we want to accept them and move within them voluntarily and consciously. Do you know your limits and do you have a whole yes to them?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In winter or when it is dark, a candle gives a bright glow and a beautiful atmosphere. Many of us still enjoy the warm light and mood that a candle brings. However, nothing works without a wick. Even if the candle wax is ultimately the fuel - if there were no wick, i.e. no place where the flame could exist, the burning of wax would not be possible. It is not enough to hold a burning match to wax - nothing happens. But without the wax, the wick would not burn for long either and would burn up immediately. So the combination of both is crucial. It is also important that the wick is not too long or too short: if it is too long, it gives off soot, if it is too short, the flame dies. In this way, we are also meaningfully integrated into our social structures and we would do well not to exaggerate our influence or importance, but also not to play down our importance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe this has happened to you too: You meet someone and somehow your gaze is automatically directed to his or her mouth or teeth. There are those who have perfect teeth, while others have very badly cared for teeth or even teeth with many gaps. When I see such a sight, a pattern automatically starts: I draw conclusions about the person and his or her character. If the teeth are perfectly positioned and well cared for - at least in appearance - I initially have a much more positive attitude than with those who have unkempt, possibly black teeth with food residue, etc. I also have a much more positive attitude towards the person. Am I doing this right? I doubt it. Nevertheless, it happens. It reminds me not to automatically infer a person's inner self from their appearance and to be too quick to make the wrong judgement. Perhaps that is also the case with you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature I find stones that are very sharp and others that are nicely polished and round. The latter can be found in bodies of water, for example. The former when you smash a stone with force, for example, or after a rockfall in nature itself. So you can contrast these stones: the one with the sharp edge versus the one with the round, soft transition. The fact that the same stone could have these different characteristics is, in my opinion, mainly due to time: the sharp edge results from an immediate, usually violent impact on the stone. The rounded edge results from constant abrasion over a very long period of time, for example in the sea or river. It is often the same with us: words that come from a well-considered attitude are better tolerated and less sharp and dangerous than those from immediate agitation. That is why it is advisable to choose one's words wisely.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When sending a letter or postcard, people used to stick a stamp on the envelope. Some people collected them. Especially rare specimens were popular and sometimes enormously expensive. My father also had a small collection. He collected stamps from various countries and went to the post office whenever new stamps or special stamps came out and bought them to keep his collection as up-to-date and complete as possible. This impressed me. Someone gave his money and time for something that was at best nice to look at but not to use. Collectors don't care. They are looking for their passion objects and are willing to give away a lot for them. Jesus also tells a story about a merchant who collected pearls. When he found a special one, he sold everything to get only that one. God is like that: he gives away everything so that he can win us human beings - he sees us as such pearls.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is this saying "you can't have the cake and eat it". This roughly means: wanting two advantages that are mutually exclusive. Even though there are now advertising promises that advertise exactly that: being able to have both. In reality, however, certain things have their value and therefore require a corresponding investment. It is sometimes said, and not without good reason, that what costs nothing is worth nothing. This is not only about costs in the financial area. It could also be time or something else. I think there is something to that. Or you can turn it around: what I commit myself to and what I let cost me something, that has a special value for me. That way I can also focus on certain things and not want to have everything. Set priorities. So I can also say no to certain offers. What about you: do you have things that you give a special value to and that are allowed to cost you something?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A pocket knife is a great invention. They provide different functions and tools and can be taken almost anywhere. In the vast majority of cases, a pocket knife has at least one sharp blade, which - as the name suggests - serves as a knife. Depending on the grind, these blades are really enormously sharp and you have to be very careful not to cut yourself. To carry such a dangerous tool just like that in your pocket is amazing - and only possible because this sharp blade can be folded away well protected and is only open when needed. In the Bible, words are often compared as sharp knives. Not without reason. Words can help to separate the true from the untrue, razor sharp. But they can also hurt. That is why words need a good and safe cutting mechanism. Namely: shut up every now and then.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I know the use of lemons only as a "juice giver". The flesh of the fruit remains largely unconsumed. This is perhaps also expressed in the idiom of squeezing something or someone like a lemon - that is, squeezing so that all the juice is used. And the rest? Just waste? After all, lemon peels are often still used in grated form in baking. Either way. You can only get at the juice if you open the lemon in some way, i.e. cut it open. This is usually done in the middle or lengthwise for lemon slices to add to drinks. From the lemon's point of view, one could say: are you only interested in my juice and throw the rest away? Sometimes this kind of attitude is also shown by people towards their own person. So be encouraged today: Your whole being is precious, not just a part or what stands out about you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you are one of those people who are dog owners. If so, your pet will certainly have a collar. As a layman, I would say that it is used to control the animal. In other words, to put it on a leash and thus guide the dog and restrict its range of movement. But why is it a collar and not a body garment? I think it's similar to a snake: if you want to catch it and lead it or protect yourself from it, you have to grab it where it could be most dangerous. Not directly by the fangs, of course, but very close - so that the animal can't use them against you. If we notice unpleasant behaviour patterns that harm others and perhaps ourselves, then it is also good to address and tackle them as directly as possible and not to beat about the bush. The more directly they are addressed, the faster the healing process can take place.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Columns or poles or pillars such as those from antiquity are impressive in their size, especially when you stand directly in front of them. Often - especially when they stand alone - they have a figure or some other important symbol on the top part. But what is their purpose? They are not really optimal for the viewer in the vicinity because they do not show what is presented at eye level. On the contrary: one has to tilt one's head strongly backwards to see the main object, and even that will only be incompletely successful at close range. So columns are for viewers from a distance. They show what is important or imposing etc. from a distance. In this way they can arouse curiosity, impress, attract. Thus, from a distance, something is sometimes more visible than at close range. This also applies to you: You are also perceived and interpreted by your environment from a distance: attractive, arousing interest - or not? What would you prefer?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A drop of water on a stone - that's pretty ineffective and if it's warm, the drop will even evaporate. What remains is only a little lime on the stone. Nevertheless, the saying goes: a constant drop wears away the stone. So if such a drop keeps falling in the same place, the effect will be that the stone will be hollowed out. It is not the single drop, but the regular sequence. It is the persistence that brings about something that is actually impossible. Perseverance is not always easy. Especially when the circumstances are difficult or, as in the case of the drop and the stone, seem as if nothing can be changed, nothing can be moved, as if the balance of power is totally uneven. But perseverance with patience and also vision, perspective and sufficient self-care can bring about change over a sufficiently long period of time. If you are in such a situation, be encouraged not to give up.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A pendulum of a pendulum clock indicates the beat in which the mechanism of the clock moves. It should be noted that the length of the pendulum indicates the period of oscillation: The shorter the pendulum, the shorter the period of oscillation and the more frequent an impulse on the mechanism and the more impulses per unit of time it takes. A linear but complex interplay. It's fascinating how you come up with this. It only works because the earth acts on the deflected body, which is at the end of the pendulum, with the force of gravity. So there is a force that we don't see, but which acts and actually strives for a state of equilibrium. This gravitational or earth-attracting force was given to the earth at creation. We are all subject to it, whether we want to be or not. For me, this is an image of God's love, which applies to all of us and is always active, and which has the goal of bringing us into the balanced state of his presence.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are many fascinating things to learn about the lobster. For example, like humans, it can be left- or right-handed. With one claw it holds its prey and with the other it cracks its shell. Or it regularly renews its shell inside the carapace and grows steadily. It would grow very old if it weren't for its shell, which at some point restricts this constant growth. This reminds me of us humans and the limited lifespan we are allotted. What a lobster's shell is to us is mortality, which begins at birth. We all have an expiry date in this world, our bodies are subject to decay from the beginning. But only in this world. Not in the world beyond. There - I imagine - even the lobster will no longer have a restrictive shell. Perhaps a stretchable one, or none at all. And it will certainly use its claws for other things - to break open hearts that are still hardened.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have a sensor that is used so that I can attach it to a bag or anywhere else so that I can track where a lost or stolen item is via that sensor. I use it on my wallet. In fact, I lost it once or it fell under my bed when I was out without me noticing. When I couldn't find it anymore, the sensor helped me to find the place again and also the lost wallet. I was so relieved. It's interesting that this chip is not important or interesting most of the time because I know where my wallet is or I have it with me. But if I lose it, the sensor is a huge help. Sometimes - it seems to me - we deal with God in a similar way: we don't care about him when everything is going well or we hardly notice him. But when something happens, we expect help, problem solving, supernatural help. Actually, it could be different.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A chain consists of individual links that are connected to each other. So the sum of the links is the chain. And as the saying goes: the chain is as strong as the weakest link. So it is of no use to have a chain of enormously strong and unbreakable or unformable links if only one is weak. At this point, the chain will break if the load is too high. In families it is sometimes the same: everyone is doing well and all are enormously capable and able to deal with conflict - except for one individual family member. And this one often becomes ill. Simply because the strain becomes too great and so an otherwise intact family chain may break. I think they don't say family member for nothing. Member is the key like in remember. No matter if all the strong ones are being seen - the one and maybe this is you is nevertheless re-member-ed. At least in heaven.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We recently had Fasnacht, like many other places. This is very special in Basel. It goes so far that on Epiphany Day, a bakery hides not a king but a porcelain carnival figure in the Epiphany cake. Many collect these figures and thus have a kind of cross-section of Fasnacht. For an active and committed Fasnächtlcher, these figures are more than just colourful collectible figures. They embody emotions, experiences, perhaps also hopes or even the meaning of life. That can be dangerous. When such things lead to an irrational glorification of a wishful thinking or a projection of longings onto something that cannot live up to them at all. This then also leads to a mixture of inflated expectation and dependence. Another, older word for this is idolatry. One subordinates oneself or places oneself in the service of such a madness. Understandable if God forbids us to do so for our own protection.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Not long ago, after the Second World War, a new nation or country was founded in the middle of Europe: the German Democratic Republic, or GDR for short. The GDR's national coat of arms consisted of a hammer and compasses surrounded by a wreath of ears of corn as a symbol of the alliance of workers, farmers and intelligentsia. The life of the state did not last very long - barely 41 years. It was a dictatorially governed, real socialist state in the sense of the dictatorship of the proletariat. At least that was the official self-confession. From my experience - as a child I was a regular visitor - dictatorial was true, but not real socialist and certainly not of the proletariat. It was more of an oligarchy and the hammer in the coat of arms expressed the pressure of dictatorship rather than the integration of the working people. There were great differences between reality and appearance. Sometimes, unfortunately, that is also the case in one's own life. Let's be real there rather than mendacious.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The Greek term autos means self and we know it from words such as autonomy, autobiography, etc. This means that autos is about me, about oneself. So the car, the vehicle, is a vehicle that drives the way I want it to, that is, I steer it myself. A lot of things today have this veneer of autos, that is, of myself, of me, I am at the centre. That is sometimes very important, and a certain degree of self-determination is also important for us to survive. But sometimes it is also exaggerated. And so it happens that there are people for whom it is no longer possible to integrate into a structure unless their will or wish happens. For me, the counterpart of autos is sym, that is, the common. Together. Symphony: the common sound (also from the Greek) or sympathy - which literally means "to suffer with". I wish you a good balance between autos and sym.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was wondering where the image of the elephant in the china shop came from. I can't imagine that in Africa or India, where elephants live, porcelain is very common and here, where porcelain has a tradition, elephants don't occur naturally. So the picture must come from a time when either colonisation was advanced in the countries mentioned or zoos were already common in our country. Either way, I have never seen an elephant in a porcelain shop. Nevertheless, one understands the comparison and what it is trying to say quite well. Such images, exaggerations sometimes help us to express very simply what otherwise cannot really be expressed with many words. By the way, many of these comparisons or images come from the Bible: He who digs a pit for others, for example, or pride comes before a fall, or he gives it to his friends in their sleep. Why not read this wonderful book again and let yourself be surprised.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a child, I loved watching advertisements. I always found it fascinating what exciting things were shown in such a short time. Today I also like to watch advertisements - if they are really good - and I have my favourites... I think they really hired a good advertising or marketing agency. What strikes me, however, when I compare today with the past: Back then - that's my impression - there was more advertising for repairs, maintenance, etc., too. I'm thinking of washing powder advertisements that promised cleanliness as if bought new. Today - it seems to me - it's almost all about buying new and not maintaining or renewing value. That makes me think. The throwaway society or the deliberate short-livedness of products and offers is also impoverishing us because we are increasingly losing our connection to goods. A pity. Because it is a spiral that turns ever tighter towards more and more and more. Unhealthy.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are those wonderfully manicured gardens where the bushes are cut with such excellent precision, as if they had been peeled out of a mould. There is not a leaf overhanging or a branch too long. With the help of electronic pruning shears, the experts manage to trim these plants accordingly, as they say. However, I find that these electronic pruning shears are also enormously dangerous. I suspect that with their power, they not only crush and cut bushes and branches, but can also cause terrible mutilation if used incorrectly. Similar to a chainsaw. Strange. Such devices are, in my opinion, enormously dangerous and yet they can be obtained without proof of competent or trained use. The conscious sense of responsibility of the user is really needed here. But so actually is how we deal with our looks, gestures and words in everyday life. These are no less dangerous.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We live in a country of which we can probably say that freedom reigns here. The term alone is, of course, philosophically rather loaded and exhausted and one can probably debate endlessly about what freedom means and where it also has its limits. Especially when it comes to togetherness. So where does my freedom end in favour of my neighbour and vice versa? Well, freedom is often understood to mean that I can do anything I want, that I have no limits, that I am completely free in my actions. That may be. Although I am of the opinion that this also has its limits somewhere. But what I find special about freedom is that you have the freedom not to exhaust everything that is possible and allowed. That I have the freedom, in all the freedom of action that is given to me, to consciously forego rights or what I am entitled to. I believe that this is true freedom in action.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you take a cake out of the oven when baking, for example, the surface is quite rough or broken up. So you add a glaze so that in the end the cake with the glaze looks perfect and nice and smooth. For cakes, you turn the baked part so that the original top but uneven side after baking comes down and the flat smooth bottom side comes up - so that a near perfect side is shown here too. This makes the result look more beautiful, more perfect. We use it to conceal the real thing. That's how we do it as humans. We like to show our smooth, pleasant sides with a little emotional icing or other make-up. But underneath there are also the edgy ones. Maybe you can create such a safe atmosphere for someone today that this concealing is not necessary and instead an authentic openness becomes possible. That creates closeness and actually tastes much better.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you visit Venice, you will see the winged lion. It is a symbol of St Mark the Evangelist and was also a symbol of the Republic of Venice and now of the city of Venice. It is the representation of a being that we do not know from the natural world. But where does this lion with wings come from? It comes from a vision described in the Bible. Other beings appear in this vision. But the fact is that someone saw something that he had never seen with his natural eyes. Perhaps in the end it is not a lion at all, but simply a creature that is most similar to our lion, and the same may be true of the wings. For me, however, it is clear: there is still a reality that is not yet accessible to us here on this side of life, but exists nonetheless. I am very curious about all that we will encounter in eternity that we do not yet know. Are you too?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we make decisions, we are influenced by various factors. Depending on the decision, we are guided more by our intellect or our emotions. Our senses also play a role, depending on the situation. A small example: I was recently in Germany and they have excellent cakes. So I wanted to buy a piece. I was mainly guided by my eyes - and in the end I was surprised or rather disappointed and wished I had made a different decision. My eyes misled me a bit, so to speak; or maybe even blinded me. It's not uncommon for this to happen to us: we see something and then let ourselves be guided very one-sidedly by what we see and blank out other perceptions or reasoning. That can be dangerous. How are you guided or what are your decision-making aids? If you have to make important decisions, be well prepared and balanced so that you decide wisely.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently travelling to a place I didn't know and wondered if I could find something small to eat in a shop on the way. But since the area was unknown to me and I couldn't find an option on my smartphone either, I was in the dark. Without making any further effort, I went to my destination and to my great astonishment, I found a petrol station shop practically opposite my destination where I could get what I wanted. For me, it was a kind of sign from heaven: there is someone who will take care of you. And I also got stuck on the word Versorung: in German, it contains the concept of Sorge. I guess we all have worries, and for a lot of things, even though we are doing so well. For me, care in this context means: I can let myself be freed from worry because a good Heavenly Father does that for me. For His Son has assured me: Your Father in heaven knows what you need. So great!.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Bartholomew is a name I kind of like. It has something noble, special, dignified in my imagination. The name comes from Hebrew and actually means "son of Talmai", where Talmai probably means great. So he is the son of a great father. Whether this referred to his character or his physical appearance, I do not know. But I like the identity: son of a great one. Inherently expressed: there was someone before me, I am taking on a heritage, my identity is not just me alone, but there was at least one before me whose essence and work is anchored in my biography and which I am carrying on. Maybe even a kind of vocation. When I apply this to myself, I come to the following: Zeke is a Hebrew name that means strong, so it corresponds to my surname. So I am Barzeke. Son of the strong. And what is your name? Son or daughter of...?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The purpose of a graphological report is to make statements about the person who created the handwriting sample on the basis of a handwritten sample. This is how one interprets and derives statements about temperament, drive, will, concentration, endurance, social skills, thought structures and other competences. This is not infrequently done in connection with a job application or a personality assessment. So far so good. However, I ask myself how meaningful such analyses can still be in this day and age with young people who have grown up with a keyboard rather than a fountain pen. How you use a keyboard may say something about a person, but certainly not as much as a typeface. But it is precisely this that is unfortunately being lost today due to a lack of handwriting practice. Therefore, appreciate the ability and art of writing by hand - that is not possible for everyone in this world.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In canals or artificial river courses, there are so-called flotsam rakes here and there. These are vertical iron bars placed in the canal at a rather narrow distance, which catch the flotsam floating in the water. When there has been heavy rain or thunderstorms, there is quite a lot of such flotsam. This means that the rake has to be cleaned relatively quickly so that no flooding or similar mischief occurs. Now, one could say that such a rake is mainly an expense - why not just let the flotsam wash away? Because it could damage downstream infrastructure such as a turbine. So the rake - even if it is costly to maintain - has its good points and its purpose. Our soul and our spirit also need such rakes - and much more: regular or situational cleaning. Otherwise, as described, it can lead to greater damage. Do you clean your soul rake regularly and how do you do it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I distinguish between three types of apple eaters: the softies, the normies and the hard-core. The softies are those who remove the core from the apple, peel it and then eat it. The normalos do the same except that they don't peel the apple, so they just remove the core and eat the apple with the skin. And the hard-cores are those who eat everything except the stalk. I count myself - how could it be otherwise - among the normalos. But I know some people for whom the peel is too hard. But I have been told that there are many important vitamins and other healthy substances in and directly under the skin. For me, it's a nice image that when you have to bite something in life, it can feel unpleasant and you then imagine how it would be much more pleasant without this adversity, but somewhere it not infrequently also has its good side - even if hidden, but close to the adversity. Perhaps a consolation for you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When flowers are given, it is often an expression of recognition, appreciation, love, gratitude or simply to make an ordinary moment special. Mostly women receive flowers, men less often. Unfortunately. There is something special about giving flowers, because flowers combine many things: they look beautiful with their colours. I think that the vividness is inspiring, exhilarating, motivating, energising and encouraging. In addition to their beautiful appearance, they are also fragrant and therefore spread a beautiful atmosphere for the sense of smell. I know of few things that combine these qualities in such a natural way. In my opinion, even something baked does not come close to the beauty of flowers and their exceptionality. Whether as cut flowers or in a pot. Thus, in expressions of love, it is not uncommon to compliment the beloved that she is like a flower. Would you like to give someone flowers today?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I look at the inside of a toaster, I see fine wires that get hot when the toaster is turned on. Within the confined space of the appliance, they then generate a sufficiently high heat to allow the toasting of the inserted bread. The way it works - as far as I can tell as a layman - is roughly as follows: The electrical voltage difference causes the wires to glow. So it needs a certain voltage and then the heat is generated and because the wires are not insulated, they give off this heat to the environment - deliberately and within a protected framework. This can also happen to us: we are under tension, for example because of different tasks and expectations, and if we are not careful, this tension becomes so great that we heat up and there is a danger that we will harm our environment. Good isolation, i.e. withdrawal, self-care, is therefore important for us and others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Hotels usually have very nice breakfast buffets. And there are all kinds of things to choose from. I find it interesting that, depending on the hotel, the offers are either open or in portions. So jam is sometimes offered in portions and sometimes open for you to scoop yourself. Both have advantages and disadvantages: with open scooping, there is much less waste and you can take as much or as little as you like. However, there is often more food waste because people take too much and it is also less hygienic. Portions are more hygienic and probably have a longer shelf life, but because they cannot be chosen individually, they are often associated with food waste. Is one better than the other? I don't know. Either way, I as a consumer need to be responsible in dealing with what is on offer. In other words: gratitude for the choice and the possibility to choose, and a sense of responsibility in dealing with this freedom.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In life, there are forms of expression that reveal a lot about a person's character. For example, a lot can be read from the posture or the clothing chosen, and much more. We communicate in this way - whether consciously or not. And we interpret accordingly. For me, one of these linguistic elements is the desk. There are desks that are totally tidy and everything is in its place or there is hardly anything on it - or, as perhaps in my case, there is a lot to find and, to be honest, not exactly orderly or tidy. Still, when I'm looking for something, I know where it is and I find it. Sometimes faster than someone who keeps a much better order than I do. We are different that way. And such elements of language can help us to understand each other better. Untidy-creative is neither worse nor better than tidy. Just different. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, I was enormously happy to have my own house key. A key is somehow fascinating: there may be a large or small room or a cupboard with important documents or even a strongbox with contents of very great material value - locked and without a key, all these things are inaccessible. But with the right key, this is suddenly possible without any problems. A key is thus also an object of authority in a certain sense - it authorises the owner to open the appropriate door or lock and thus make the previously locked contents accessible. One can almost say: small origin with great effect. But we also know this in a figurative sense: people can be closed due to negative experiences. But a suitable key can open the locked door of the heart again. This is what I wish for you today in your relationships.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As human beings, we move forward on our feet. This means that we walk step by step and thus cover a path. However, we do not walk this path completely - that is, we only ever touch the path where we put our feet, but not in between. If we were to touch the ground the whole way, we would probably have to move like a snake or otherwise creep along the ground. This means that we actually skip a large part of the path, so to speak, i.e. we don't touch it at all. Every step is therefore also an act of trust, because we don't actually know whether the ground will hold. We only know that for each step we have already taken, but not for the next step. Just as we walk our paths in trust, I encourage you for today to be courageous in relationships, to trust others and yourself, perhaps especially where it is difficult at the moment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In interaction with other people, we come closer to some, less to others. Sympathies - or in the worst case antipathies - also play a role. Last but not least, first impressions count, how we judge others, how we perceive them and then - usually sooner than later - form an opinion of them. This is formative for the further course of the relationship. If we have a not-so-good impression, we treat the person accordingly or maintain the relationship according to our impression - we avoid the person. Often wrongly. Because we all have the need to be loved and to love, to experience interest and attention and appreciation. So only one thing helps: show interest. Leave your own impressions behind. Interest leads to disappointment. Yes, exactly: to remove the false, deceptive impression of a person who is perhaps originally unsympathetic to me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, there were comics about superheroes. Superman, Spiderman and others. They fought against evil and were victorious in the end. Later, the comics were joined by film adaptations. I think it's a desire or dream that has existed since the beginning of mankind to act beyond one's capabilities or to be able to do the impossible, to be stronger than one actually is - or at least superior to anything adverse. A superhero. What strikes me is that most of them put on a mask to do this. They obviously don't remain themselves and rise above themselves, but use another identity. I find that a pity. It means that I give myself up and can only be who I want to be as someone else. I don't want to be that kind of superhero. I believe we can all be heroes with our weaknesses and limitations. By simply loving.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the military there is a clear hierarchy in every country and it is probably the intention of every ambitious young professional soldier to be as high up in this hierarchy as possible at some point. The individual levels or ranks are marked with corresponding badges. The experienced viewer can see exactly which rank a military member has by looking at the drawings of these badges. I find it interesting that, at least in Switzerland, these marks of rank are not military objects with increasing force or power, but - surprise, surprise - natural elements. The edelweiss, for example. Something so delicate and natural thus expresses the rank of a general and gives him authority over correspondingly large forces, weapons and all that. It may be irony or unconscious recognition that, as Jesus says, even the great King Solomon in all his power was not dressed as beautifully as a wildflower.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I consider myself as a Christian. And therefore my relationship with Jesus is very important to me. So I sometimes imagine him sitting at my bedside or facing me. I have certain images, thoughts, maybe even wishes of what he would be like. I am sure that my ideas are very limited and not complete, but hopefully not completely off the mark either. When he was still living in the world, many of the people also had ideas about him, images. And these were sometimes very much questioned, destroyed and the more cemented, the less permanent. Who he really is, we will probably only find out at the end of our days. But experiences can nevertheless already be made with him here. I think we all have our images of him, whether we are socialised as Christians or believers or not. And I'm sure we've all had experiences with him - but not everyone is aware that these experiences exist, and perhaps that makes a difference in the end. An active awareness in the relationship helps.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The writer of the letter of James in the New Testament writes in a passage about the tongue. He says: with it we bless and with it we curse. He also compares it to a small rudder of a big ship: this small part is able to steer the whole, big ship and determine the direction of travel. In fact, it is often not easy for us to keep our tongue - as they say - in check. In other words, to lead in the same way as one leads a horse with the help of the bridle. But why is this so? I would argue that the tongue is not only controlled by our will and intellect, but much more by our self-image. If we are in harmony with ourselves, we are more satisfied and our tongue is blessed. If this is not the case - then we all know what we are capable of. Unfortunately. A good reason not to fight symptoms but causes. So: to see and accept ourselves as unique creatures loved by God.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have never been on a cruise before. These ships are huge, enormous and I'm amazed that they can even move forward in the sea and be steered. I would probably not go on such a cruise myself, because on such a big ship I would feel somehow confined or in a synthetic world for a longer period of time. Maybe it's just prejudice, or maybe it's definitely like that. When I think about the fact that such a huge ship also requires a lot of staff and resources - just the catering and especially fresh water - I marvel at the logistics behind it. I feel the same way about large companies. One may nag about large corporations etc. from time to time, but for all that is not good: what remains impressive is that they function and that managers like a captain often do that well, despite all the mistakes that exist. Why not also express thanks and appreciation to people with a lot of responsibility?!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We probably have some things in everyday life that are close to insignificance. Things like dust or crumbs or many other things. They usually don't interest us or somehow don't play a role, they don't drive us to action. But... nevertheless, these things have a name. We name them and sometimes also quite amusingly or differently depending on the dialect. Certainly, there are quite amusing names in different languages and dialects for crumbs or coagulated blood and much more. But the fact is: even if these things often seem meaningless - they have a name. At some point, however, they became so important that they were given a name and thus also a certain identity. In this way, they can be distinguished from others. Sometimes we also feel meaningless, or what meaning our lives have. It exists - if only because we each have our own name. That makes us, makes you unique.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Foam does not have a good reputation. People say disparagingly: dreams are foams. By this they mean that there is no substance. In fact, foam consists mainly of air and soap. It is created when washing dishes or taking a bath. Especially the latter we enjoyed as children - but only if there was really a lot of foam in the bath. It was wonderful to play with. And that brings me to my point. Foam may not be very substantial - but it managed to give me positive memories of my childhood, which couldn't do much else like that. Perhaps insubstantial, but still pleasurable-sustainable and enjoyable. That's exactly what our soul and perhaps also our spirit needs every now and then. Substantial, certainly, but also pleasurable. Perhaps today is a day to allow yourself just such an indulgence, which indeed does not have to be substantial, but simply does you good.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Not long ago, there was a wall in Berlin that not only divided a city into two very different areas, but also the world into East and West. A wall as a transition between two very different cultures and values - but in fact with the same people. It was almost a matter of chance who would live to the right or left of the wall when it was built and the consequences were correspondingly dramatic. Walls divide. And they can therefore also be dangerous. Not dangerous as a wall per se, but threatening to the one or ones who erected it, and depending on the sense of threat, the reaction will be more violent. Of course, walls also protect and signal a boundary that should not be crossed lightly. In this case, a wall is good. For everyone. In the former case, it is hostile to life. We all live with borders and walls also for self-protection. Are yours life-affirming?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have been abroad regularly in recent months and have passed many an airport. Something struck me... I can be in an airport of a city that is anything but clean, whose infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired, whose streets and pavements are damaged and dirty - but the airport is almost without exception clean, bright, spacious, modern. Why that is, I don't know. Maybe it's to give tourists or guests the best possible first and last impression of the country, or maybe it has to do with health and safety. Either way - there is sometimes a big discrepancy between this one place and the general area. But with us it is often no different: in certain places we want to leave as good an impression as possible and in others we show a different face. Let's be as authentic as possible everywhere - for the good of everyone.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Luke the physician tells a story from about 2000 years ago about two main characters. A man called Jairus and his daughter and a woman whom he does not mention by name. Now it is culturally explainable that due to the social structures of the time, women were considered less important and were therefore not mentioned by name, precisely because of their lesser significance. What is interesting about the story is that Jairus first asks Jesus for help for his dying daughter. Jesus sets out to help. But he is stopped by the unnamed woman who is seriously ill and is healed just by touching his clothes. He allows this to happen and as a consequence Jairu's daughter dies in the meantime. But no problem for Jesus: he goes and brings her back to life. I find it remarkable: whether named or not: both people were equally in need of help. For Jesus they were equally valuable, equally important, worthy of attention.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I only know a four-poster bed from films, where it becomes particularly romantic and the lovers withdraw into this four-poster bed and separate themselves from the rest of the environment. A four-poster bed is called that because there is a kind of roof made of curtains or wood over the bed. There are also curtains around the bed. The advantages are not only emotional, but this arrangement provides better insulation in winter and keeps bugs out in summer. I imagine that it is also a bit more intimate than an ordinary bed because it is somewhat separated from the outside world. It's interesting that we call it a four-poster bed and not a cave or hideaway bed. Perhaps because we also imagine heaven as an intimate place where we can open up completely - like a pair of lovers - and to a certain extent be unprotected, naked, without having to be ashamed or afraid of being hurt. Heavenly, in fact.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I think we all have different ways of relaxing. I have heard from people who smoke that smoking is relaxing. I don't know if it's really the substance or if it's more the ritual that helps you relax. Either way, if it helps you, you will practise it when you need to. The knowledge or realisation that smoking is unhealthy probably doesn't help either. And so, from a distance, it looks contradictory that with the intention of doing something good for yourself, you are harming your health. Perhaps you also discover such contradictions in yourself and it would be time to change something. For the better. For the really good.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I remember as a child having a fascination with our radio set: I could turn it on and off and it received different programmes. What fascinated me the most were the buttons: first switching it on and off, then selecting the station and adjusting the volume myself. It probably gave me a certain authorisation over this device as a child. I could take control, perhaps a kind of feeling of power, but not meant in a negative way. But the fact was or is that without the built-in loudspeaker, all the other functions were useless. And I couldn't adjust anything on it. It was simply there. It simply worked. Reliable, good, inconspicuous. In our social structures, it is often people like these who give a group stability, identity and also value or something special. However inconspicuous they may be. A day to express special appreciation towards them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As I formulate this episode, I am in Greece by the sea. Certain ideas certainly come to mind. The sea... the vastness, the fine Greek cuisine, the bright blue sky with the whitewashed houses, pleasant climate, ideal for a beach holiday. The fact is: I am in a big city. It's dirty, the air is dirty, and I haven't seen anything of the sea except on the approach. In addition, it's rainy, windy and cool. Greece? Yes, Greece. It's also part of the country, even if it's not the one in the glossy holiday brochures. But it is part of the country. This is where life takes place and probably important things for the economy of the whole country. So our everyday life is not always marked by the glossy sides of life. A lot of things are routine, sometimes trouble, etc. If today is a real all-day for you: let yourself be comforted, it is part of it and is not less valuable because of that.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some football pitches are no longer played on natural grass, but on artificial turf. Artificial turf behaves differently from natural grass. I don't know what the exact differences are, but I do know that, for example, the ball behaves differently on natural or artificial turf. Externally, you might not see that much, except that the green might be a slightly different colour and the artificial turf probably looks a bit more perfect. I think it also has the advantage that it's easier to produce and then use; that's my guess. Natural or synthetic. It makes a difference. So do you: it makes a difference whether you are completely you in your environment or whether you play a role. Whether you are authentic or how you would like to be or how others would like you to be. A natural lawn also needs care from time to time to grow back. Breaks and care are part of it. For us, too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are favourite colours, I think, and perhaps everyone has theirs. For me, yellow is not necessarily one of them. But yellow is still a remarkable colour. It appears in nature in different places: in some flowers, the sun we would probably describe as yellow in its glow and in combination with black the colour stands as a warning for danger as for example in the case of the fire salamander or wasps. In our everyday life, we use yellow to highlight texts with a luminous pen or to otherwise draw attention to something special. And at traffic lights, yellow indicates that either the colour red or green will soon light up. Colour as language or communication. We often do it when we choose our clothes for the day in the morning and maybe women do it when they put on make-up, I don't know. What colour do you give your day today? I hope a happy one. Very consciously.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In physics - as I learned at school - there is a law: actio = reactio. This means that an impulse is immediately reciprocated by the opposite side. Or something like that. So the rubber ball falls to the ground and doesn't stay there, but because of its impulse (actio) it is propelled upwards again by the hard surface with a reactio impulse. Or you hit your head on the box - the reactio then hurts. That is physically the case. But also mentally and spiritually. Jesus puts it aptly when he is invited to a rather less empathetic host. He gets to the point and says: "To whom much is forgiven, much is loved - and vice versa. But this also means: whoever becomes aware of how much he has been forgiven and how much mercy he has received, opens his heart much more for others. This helps me when I experience myself as hard-hearted and impatient. Unfortunately, far too often.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On cakes or in soups or creams or even on its own, whipped cream is a refinement. If you consider that the original product is a liquid - i.e. the liquid cream - then you would probably enjoy the same amount less compared to the further processed product, the whipped cream, which is so airy and offers a completely different enjoyment factor. But... the original liquid cream, with the appropriate resistance, the whipping, only became what it is in the end: the whipped cream. Sometimes we have to go through adverse circumstances, like the whipping of the cream, and that is difficult for us and rightly so. But something beautiful can also emerge from it - that is, something that was actually already concealed, as with the cream, and is brought forth by these adverse circumstances. Perhaps an encouragement for you or someone around you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Rubber bands are used to hold things together or in the past we used them to roll up magazines and thus supply them or pass them on, etc. I find such a rubber band somehow fascinating: depending on the edition, it is very fine and yet very functional and for its fineness, I find it enormously tear-resistant and strong and just: functional. Since I have no idea how it is produced, I am also fascinated by the fact that I don't see a seam in the band. Or just to come up with the idea and implement it, to create such a ribbon. Remarkable. Of course, if overstretched and if they become porous, the bands can also tear. But then either the life span is used up and the tear is justified or there has been abuse. A human life therefore has many parallels for me with the rubber band: in all its simplicity, a great work. But also with an expiry date and not suitable for abuse.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Icy roads can occur in winter. This can be very dangerous. Appropriate tread is required on vehicles to prevent them from sliding and endangering themselves and others. The smoother the surface or the softer, the deeper and more pronounced the tread should be in order to have the best possible grip. If I transfer the example to social circumstances, I notice in our multi-culti and pluralistic world that somehow everything goes and is allowed. Temporal gender identity and other things. To me it seems like a very slippery ground where just nothing is solid anymore. I don't want to offend anyone and I certainly don't want to judge anyone. It just feels that way to me. And it helps me to move in this context with a clear profile, a clear opinion. Not in a condemning way, but with the freedom to express my own clear opinion, regardless of the topic.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Let's talk about coffee today from the point of view of what it takes for us to enjoy it - could of course also be tea or another product. When I treat myself to a coffee at a vending machine or at home, the process is quite simple. But what is behind it all! There are the coffee farmers who, as professionals, grow, ripen and harvest the coffee beans with their work. Then there is the transport from the country of origin to us with the necessary care. At our place, the beans are roasted and packed, possibly already ground. And in this process chain, everyone involved is a professional in their field and responsible for the best result. Assuming I take this as a model for my daily actions and relationships - do I also try so hard to give the best or do I focus on getting the greatest possible yield for myself with the least possible effort? How is that for you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You may also be one of those who like croissants. That's how I feel. There are different parts of the croissant: the crispy and rather concentrated thin ends and then in the middle the airy thick belly of still with a small crispy dough corner on top - ideally. Or perhaps everyone has their own preferences as to what makes a good croissant - whether the traditional or style or crusta or chocolate or whatever. But the fact is: I could simply bake the same amount of dough flat and serve it that way - and the effect or enjoyment factor would - I suspect - not be as high or different. So the HOW plays a role: that the croissant is shaped and baked exactly as you know it and not differently. Transferred: the HOW is just as important as the WHAT. How you say something is also important, not just what you say. Perhaps important for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At my work, we share many files with each other and also edit them together. This means that only one person has write access at a time. For everyone else, the file is then not available for editing, but only for reading - or one can make a copy. I have caught myself time and again clicking through quickly when opening and then forgetting that I am working on a copy, saving my changes and forgetting that they are not even in the original document, but only in my copy. I think this happens so quickly in communication: we talk and explain something and automatically assume that our message will be received exactly as we meant and sent it. We always forget to check whether the content has actually arrived or whether it is only there in my copy. Perhaps there is a situation with you today that requires you to check whether your contribution has really arrived.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Windows or sometimes entire building fronts are made of glass today. This has the effect that the rooms behind them become very bright, depending on the size of the glass surface. On the other hand, when viewed from the inside, large glass surfaces offer a wider view, a broader horizon, so to speak. In short: the more transparency, the more light and brightness and view. Always on the premise that the glass is not dirty or clouded. Jesus once makes a similar comparison with the eye and says: if your eye is clean, then so is your whole interior. So for me: if there is a large, clear surface of glass - the eye - then I also feel more comfortable inside - it is brighter - and from the inside I also see better, purer and more to the outside - instead of only my own inside. I find this comparison with the eye remarkable. How we see our environment and ourselves has a massive and concrete impact on our attitude, our inner being, our actions and thinking.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you have already thought about certain natural phenomena. Why does a river always have water, even though it is constantly flowing? Where do the winds come from and why is there no vacuum after a gust of wind? How can it be that it rains again and again and the clouds become sufficiently full again and again to give the soil and the plants the necessary moisture to have life? Today we are able to give scientific answers to most of these questions. But I believe that we are falling short. It's like reducing a great story simply to the letters and the printed paper. The latter are only vehicles for the great content. And that's how it seems to me with the natural events I mentioned. The great miracle that they happen at all is greater than their explanation. They are witnesses for me of a great Creator.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
This input does not really make too much sense in English because it is some kind of play on words in German. Nevertheless I use it for today. I came across something strange the other day through a friend: there the term reconciliation was brought up along with glory and team as a problematic term in terms of gender-appropriate wording. It had never occurred to me that reconciliation might have something to do with son and therefore be distinctly masculine. But I liked the idea: reconciliation as a process of becoming a son. To make it clear - and of course this is not at all correct in terms of language and content. But it takes the strange original argument further: if I seek the opposite process of enslavement, I come to reconciliation. So: instead of becoming a slave and thus unfree, I come to reconciliation via reconciliation, to the free position as a child in a family with all the rights and also duties that this free childhood entails compared to the slave state. I still like the thought.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Doors are access points to new rooms or buildings. Regardless of whether the doors are locked or not - you have to open them. So an unlocked door is not access per se. Logical. But if I want to open the door - and I mean a conventional door that is anchored in the hinges on one of the two elongated sides - I have to step aside when opening it - otherwise I can't open the door past me and get in the way of myself doing what I want to do. This can also be used as a good illustration in a figurative sense: if I want to go new ways or get to know new areas, it may be that I first have to take myself back, stand aside, so that the door through which I want to go can be opened. In this way I can avoid - again allegorically - standing in my own way. Perhaps this illustration will help you in a current situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We have a badge or large pin for carnival that you can put on your jacket. A kind of festival badge. In different variations and price categories. You can come to the carnival without the badge, but it is not welcome. With the price of the badge, you also support the event and all those who contribute time, energy and money. So it's a kind of appreciation for the people involved in the event. It's like that in life from time to time: you don't have to, but it would be respectful or appreciative. With today's optimisation, such recognition, especially when it costs something, is no longer opportune or self-evident. So if you find yourself in a situation where you benefit in some way - think about how you can give back some kind of appreciation. It may or may not be material or financial.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Fear in education is often used. A scary scenario is painted in front of the children's eyes to dissuade them from doing something or to make something unattractive. Climbing a tree, for example. Often the argument is that there is a high level of danger. In principle, this is not a lie. But fear in this form is a kind of blackmail. And often the fear is greater in the people in authority than in the children who are affected. Fear can also trigger feelings of guilt. Either way, it's true: Fear is not a good advisor. Of course, fear can also have a protective effect. But then it is rather a fear in the sense of respect and restraint in assessing one's own possibilities. Such fear can be helpful, preserving. But by its very nature, it has the property that it nevertheless allows people to make mature decisions. Perhaps there are areas where it is time to part with the false fear and rather give more room to confidence.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some terms from other languages have become established in our linguistic usage and we hardly have a corresponding German word for them. For example, toaster. In German, the appliance would actually be called a bread toaster and a toast was originally a so-called "Bähschnitte". I had never heard either term in use in any area where German is spoken. A toast is also a toast in our country and is prepared in a toaster. Everyone understands what is meant by it. I think it's nice when such terms from specific languages or regions find their way into other languages and their usage. Somehow this special, particular thing is preserved. That's how it should be with us humans too: no standardisation or transfer of one's own into a whole with the loss of the individual, but rather preservation of the special, peculiar. Yours too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It was not long ago that our society was said to be hedonistic. This meant that all our actions are aimed at increasing pleasure and avoiding pain. Then came "Geiz ist Geil" and many currents today have something ascetic about them, such as interval fasting or a lifestyle with regular gym visits, the weekly jogging distance to be completed. Sometimes I think that we have already covered so many life-elementary needs that we then create mentioned areas or challenges for ourselves in order to give ourselves a certain sense of meaning in life. King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes as one of his insights: Enjoy every fleeting day, for that is the reward for your labours. So just enjoying the day in itself has value, even without any effort of our own. That is what I wish for you today: simply to enjoy the day that is given to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When a prescription for medicines is filled in the pharmacy, the dispensing is checked by means of a so-called medicine check. This means that a staff member picks out the requested medicines and goes with the prescription and the preparations to another specialist - often the pharmacist - and has them check whether the correct medicines have been chosen. This is important so that no wrong or incorrectly dosed medicines are left with the patient. Sounds plausible and good. But... it strikes me that it is not really the medicines that are checked, but only the packaging. So if a mistake should have crept in during the production process and wrong or differently dosed preparations have been packed, this would not be discovered during the Medi-Check! Just checking the packaging is not really enough, or certainly does not correspond to what it is spent on. So be careful today in what you do and help others to do the same.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You know those mirrors that distort the reflection? You see yourself distorted: you are very thin or very fat or taller or more compressed etc. than in reality. It's funny to look at and we know immediately that this is not real, but a false image of us. But we only recognise it because the exaggeration is so big. If it were smaller, we might ask ourselves "oh, have I put on weight again - I suspected it!" or "strange that I'm so pale, I haven't noticed. I hope I'm not ill!" etc. We might think about that now - we would notice that! but... in our self-thoughts such a distorting effect happens not infrequently: we see ourselves in a kind of distorting mirror: then the comparison with others comes in quickly: oh, I am too ... whatever or too little ... whatever. Take care that you look for and keep as real an image of yourself as possible.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am always amazed when I see a plane in the air. How can it be that such a heavy thing stays in the air? It is certainly engineering and of course it can be explained scientifically and technically. But you have to come up with it first. For me, it is hidden potential that could and still can be discovered and exploited through diligent and persistent searching. Regardless of the fuel. We have many problems and challenges in our society today. The example of flying - that is, finding a solution that is not obvious but hidden somewhere - encourages me for all the upcoming difficulties that we have to face globally, as a society or even as individuals. So I wish you courage for your challenges and the perspective that there are good solutions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever worn one of those VR or Ar or MR goggles that took you into an augmented reality or virtual reality? There you see things that do not exist or cannot be seen in the actual real world. This can be fascinating, but somehow also frightening. Because certain visualisations are very real and can actually suggest a different reality than the one that is currently valid. Of course, there are useful applications for this, such as in planning or simulation, etc. But there is also something dangerous about escaping into such a world or creating your own world that you would like to have - and then becoming almost out of touch with reality. Something like this can also start in small ways - when we sometimes don't listen carefully to the reactions of others or ignore signals from our own bodies, etc. We can also become unrealistic. We only have this one reality in which we live. Be especially aware of this today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
An ordinary chair has four legs. This makes it stable. The important thing is that the four legs must be well coordinated. If one is too long or too short, this can lead to wobbling and instability. This happens as a result of redundancy in contact with the floor. If the chair had only three legs, there would be no over-matching or redundancy and thus no risk of wobbling. But the legs would also have to be aligned accordingly, which in turn might not be so comfortable because they could then get in the way. So the stability of a chair presupposes certain things. It's the same in social groups. A certain over-coordination, that can be equality of opinion or the same talents, etc., can offer the group good stability and fail-safe. But if one member rises above another, there can be imbalances. Not good. In such a case, lived equality is important.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are certainly definitions, perhaps from the World Health Organisation, that say what prosperity is. The fact is, however, that many people are not well off, or have too little or barely enough to live on, while a very few live in abundance. We are undoubtedly among the latter. We live in prosperity, they say. But what is prosperity? I like the compound word: well-being and status: that is, a state in which I feel good. Actually, I think one should say that after that, prosperity is independent of how many goods or possessions one has. It is a state at peace, in harmony with oneself and I think also with the environment and with God. In other words, it is good to be in this state. I wish you for today that you can experience this form of prosperity and possibly reach out for it more and more and seek this form of prosperity. And also help others to achieve it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What comes to mind when you hear the term lion? Is it the animal in the wild that you hope to see on a safari in the wild? Or is it the dull animal that nervously paces back and forth in its cramped cage in a city zoo as a caged animal? Or is it the symbolic figure in many a fairy tale who represents the brave, self-sacrificing patriarch who always ensures justice? There are so many ideas and images and ideals for which the lion has to serve. In the Bible, in the Old Testament, it is the tribe of Judah that is symbolised by a lion because of the fatherly blessing. In the New Testament, in the last book, Jesus is called a lion, a lion who overcame. I believe that a direct encounter with a lion inspires fear. Rightly so. This is also how all encounters are described in which the evil one confronts Jesus. Who is the victor is always clear. You better be on his side.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Seagulls don't really occur where I live. They are rather birds of the sea. They feed on all sorts of things, including carrion, so they don't have a good reputation. They often appear in groups, so it is difficult to attack them. If they appear in flocks - around a fishing boat, for example - you can assume that there is something to get. Jesus once gives the enigmatic answer to the question when certain events of the end times will happen: where the carrion is, there the vultures or eagles gather. It is interpreted that where there is easy prey, the greedy gather. I don't think Jesus meant it that way, but rather: there will be clear indications (the seagulls) when the end comes. Indications often point to something imminent. Signs of the times, sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller. Pay attention today to what is happening and try to interpret it correctly so that you are prepared for what is coming.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Street signs adorn the streets in our neighbourhoods. Some of them are terrestrial, others are attached to buildings. I like them. A kind of functional art in the neighbourhood. Where I know my way around, I don't really need them, I know the street names and squares and alleys by heart, so the street signs are obsolete for me. But not for someone who is not familiar with the area. He or she depends on this helpful orientation. And that's how it is for us within our cultures: we know what's proper and what's not, what's better to do and what's better not to do. We don't have to talk about it or have it in writing in front of us. But when we come to another culture, it can be helpful to read about what is valid there and what is not. It has to do with consideration and respect to follow this. This also applies to the details of interaction in our smaller social structures.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On the road, there are lanes in urban areas. These are areas where road users populate the road space in an orderly manner. So you should not drive just anywhere then, but in one of the indicated lanes. This makes traffic smoother, more orderly and safer. In theory, you don't have to adhere to this. I could drive my vehicle wherever I want, but I would endanger myself and others. Not only because I might take up more space, but because my behaviour would not be comprehensible or predictable for others. That would increase the stress. So there are also rules for dealing with each other, which in most cases there is a consensus on. But it is not uncommon that in emotional moments these rules are not followed. If you find yourself in a stressful emotional situation today, stay in your lane - for the safety of yourself and others involved.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We humans are creatures of habit. We often do things in the same way. These habits, regularities give us a certain security. We often go the same ways, maybe we have the same schedules or procedures or just do things the same way over and over again. Simple examples are: Brushing our teeth with the same hand, putting on a jumper: first this sleeve, then the other. It feels familiar or we do it without even thinking about it. Try doing these everyday things differently today: use the other hand to brush your teeth, get into your trousers with the other leg first or into your jacket with the other arm, close the door with the other hand, etc. You might be surprised how unfamiliar it feels or how difficult it is for you. This experience can make you more sensitive, patient, understanding and compassionate for yourself and others when unfamiliar things come our way.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
QR codes are omnipresent today: be it on a payment slip or an event or business cards, etc. However, they originally come from the manufacturing industry. QR stands for quick response. Over 4000 characters can be stored in such a code - quite a lot of information. The individual fields contain different information. But the border zone is also important. It is necessary so that the delimitation can take place. So something that we would call nothing, because there is no information, makes the rest readable or evaluable. It is the same with us: we need times, phases of nothingness, of rest, of emptiness. In our information society, this is not easy. What used to happen by itself, we now have to consciously free ourselves, acquire. I wish you the courage today for such delimitation. I am sure that the rest of your activities will benefit from it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I can close a garment with a button. For example, a cardigan. There are press studs and those that are sewn on and have a buttonhole as a counterpart, into which the button is inserted and thus holds both sides together. I think it's an ingenious invention. But without a buttonhole and without fastening, the button is useless. It is sometimes misused for money donations or perhaps also for cash machines, but that is not what it is intended for. In our identity, we humans share a few things with the button: in order to fulfill our goal, our destiny, we must have an anchor point analogous to the button, something where we attach ourselves to it, our foundation. And we need a counterpart, analogous to the buttonhole. Otherwise, our lives will remain decoration at best. I hope you have found both in your life: a foundation that supports and holds and your purpose within a corresponding environment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A beehive is a tightly woven basket. It serves as a home for the bees and protects them sufficiently from environmental influences. Thus, bees can build their home and live their lives as entire colonies in such baskets. From the human point of view, this is a conscious, controlled act, because humans have created the basket and placed it accordingly. From the bees' point of view, it is probably simply a way of finding a home. What is considered a conscious act for some - the humans - is possibly a coincidence for others - the bees. It is often like this in our lives, our everyday life: we may perceive certain circumstances, encounters etc. as coincidental or inconspicuous - yet they may have been consciously brought about from a different perspective. I believe that God gives us such conscious events from His perspective again and again. Perhaps today is a day to experience the day with this optic.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At the fair, we have bumper cars that run on a very slippery surface and are designed to be collided with, that is, to deliberately seek violent contact. We have a special word for this in our dialect - but it cannot easily be translated into the official German language. I don't know a suitable word. So how do I translate so that what I mean is understood? It requires a detailed paraphrase. That's the way it is in some cultures: there are terms that are peculiar to the culture and do not occur in other cultures and thus have no equivalent term. I imagine that from a heavenly perspective it is the same with many things that happen or exist there. On earth this does not exist and so we cannot imagine it. That's why the miracle of Christmas is all the more meaningful to me, and many things that are connected with it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Nowadays, for many people, a water bottle is as much a part of their everyday luggage as their keys or wallet. This means you can take care of your fluid balance at any time and drink when you want. Be it on the street, on public transport, at an event or during class. That was not the case 30 years ago. And as is often the case with such changes, one asks: is this a good or bad development. Some say that the consumption of food now no longer takes place at the table, but in many cases everywhere and on the go, and they don't think it's good. Others argue that it is healthy. There is the well-known Latin saying "Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis" - times change and we change in them." That is probably true, quite value-neutral. Some things we help to shape, others we have to take over. This is not easy for everyone. I wish all of them serenity for today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
They say that God does not throw dice. The statement goes back to Albert Einstein. What he meant by it has not really been clarified to this day. It is probably about the fact that physics knows no coincidence. I also believe that God does not play dice, i.e. that he does or allows things to happen purely by chance or out of pure moods. But I also don't believe that everything is already definitely predetermined and that we simply live our lives on a roller coaster through ups and downs from the beginning to a certain end. God is relationship-oriented, I am convinced of that. In relationships, I think many conscious decisions take place - for example, acts of love. But there is also room for the spontaneous and unexpected, the surprising. That's what makes a relationship work - it's not or not always predictable. Should God nevertheless roll the dice, then his dice will include an infinite number of possible outcomes - all of them ways of love.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that the part you hold in your hand when filling up with fuel at the end of the hose and inserting it into the opening of the tank is called a nozzle? I was not aware of it. It happened to me when I was driving and had to refuel that I didn't always know how the part worked. In the dumbest case, I'm at the petrol station, it has fuel, I have enough money, the tank is empty and ready for pick-up - but I'm incapable of operating the infrastructure correctly. And then if it's a marginal time and there's not another person around, all that set-up is of no use to me. Experience and knowledge are part of learning processes. We sometimes forget that and sometimes claim to have a qualified opinion on everything - which, of course, is correct from our point of view. Perhaps today is a day for conscious moments of humility.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our time, science is finding that glaciers are increasingly melting. This is a trend that has been going on for a long time and there is no change in sight. On the contrary, experts are alarmed that the retreat is happening faster than previously thought. Are glaciers important? Yes. They are an important element for storing water and permafrost is therefore of central importance for the Alps. Many decades ago, probably no one would have cared about glacier deposits - but now that they are disappearing, they are getting attention. Maybe too late... often we only appreciate what we have when it is taken away from us or we are about to lose it. So today I encourage you to appreciate all the many things we take for granted in our everyday lives: Mobility, quality of life, security of supply, relationships etc. None of these things can be taken for granted.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Doubts tend to have a negative connotation here. They are often equated with fickleness or indecisiveness. But I think doubt is good in itself. It is the conscious questioning of something once again. And in my opinion, that can't actually do any harm. On the contrary, doubt can become the starting point for a more conscious decision or attitude or whatever. Then, when I face the doubts, take them seriously and find a yes for a "nevertheless". In this way, my original attitude or opinion even emerges strengthened from the process. It's like the baker who kneads the dough well again before baking it and then processes it. However, should the doubts lead to a change of opinion, then they have also been worthwhile because a lack of complete conviction was obviously missing. So doubts are actually good - unless they involve us in an endless process. Then a readiness to make decisions is called for.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In some places there is an iron ring or something similar. For example, at our composting plant. There, a chain is attached to the ring so that the plant is not entered outside the operating hours. So the ring serves as a stable element for fastening - in this case a chain. If this ring were not there, it would probably be difficult to fasten the chain in such a way that it would hold. The ring therefore provides the necessary stability and tensile strength. I have never experienced that such a ring - wherever attached - could be torn away. Our lives sometimes also depend on such stable anchor points. Something that holds, even when pressure or tearing comes from outside. Especially then. I believe, this is my conviction, that God offers us such a ring in our relationship with his Son Jesus. So not a life free of worry or fear or problems. But something that remains stable and holds in all this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently bought a nice, warm sheepskin. It's lovely to sit on because it's very soft and because it gives off a very pleasant warmth. So what is or was a natural protection against the cold for the animal still serves me in the same way today. That is not a matter of course at all. Normally, vital functions are only active as long as the creature in question is still alive. So with a tree, the bark is still moist as long as it is standing. If it is felled, it increasingly dries out. It could be the same with the fur: if the animal is dead, the fur loses its actual effect of heat insulation and protection. But this way I can benefit from it even after the sheep has died. Let this be an encouragement to you today to give good words, gestures and deeds to those around you. Even when you are long gone, the effect will remain.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Peas grow in a pod. The pod serves as protection and thus keeps the little balls together. Theoretically, peas could also grow like berries. But this way they are hidden and protected in the protective shell of the pod. Only when the pod is opened do we have access to the fruit that we can eat. And so we talk about eating peas - not even thinking about the protective effect of the pods, which made it possible for the peas to ripen intact and without first being eaten by an animal - until we then harvest and enjoy them. Often parents or superiors also have a similar protective function. Function in the sense of: creating an environment where healthy growth can happen, where the necessary protection is also there. If you are enjoying such protection, thank them for it and if you are offering it, be encouraged to continue to do so.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, nuts protect themselves from access by a hard shell. We humans can often only open them by force and a lot of strength. Nature obviously has a different solution. When the ripe nuts fall to the ground, moisture causes the nut to germinate as a seed. The rest is then growth, first underground via the roots, then of course above ground. However, it takes several years to decades until the tree produces the first nuts. Patience is needed. We humans react in certain situations where we want a quick solution or answer, as with the nuts: often with violence if we lack this patience. Violence can be physical or psychological. We can exert pressure with words as well as with hands or tools. Make sure that where you want rapid change, you do not resort to violence, but to patience and give natural growth a chance. Also in relationships.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't know if anyone likes coffee by nature. As a child I found it disgusting - today I like it. Obviously, something happened at some point that influenced, significantly changed my preference. I suspect it was habituation. I ingested something I originally disliked, became familiar with it, got used to it, and today I like it. It's an amazing progression and anything but natural. It shows in an impressive way how changeable our preferences can be and ultimately how flexible. Actually a very impressive, positive characteristic. But also dangerous. Just as we can acquire good habits and break bad ones, it can also work the other way around. If you know such bad habits, this may be an invitation to break them step by step, to practice the better ones. If you have good ones, be careful that you don't accidentally break them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I assume most wristwatches have a dial. This is more or less decorated depending on the model. Some are totally simple or blank and the hands indicate the time to some extent, others are very precisely indexed with the individual minutes, so that a very accurate time reading is possible. However, this precision is only meaningful or useful where I can assume that the time is set correctly, i.e. accurately. The accuracy therefore indicates how close I come to the true value of the measurand. Precision, on the other hand, shows how close the individual detachments are to each other or, in the case of the clock, how finely I can determine the time. I think in relationships we often make the mistake of being very precise but often not accurate, especially in listening. So today, think about how accurately you listen rather than how precisely and see if that makes a difference.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had tried varifocals some time ago. These are lenses that are ground in such a way that corrections for both near and distance are corrected, thus avoiding the need to wear two different pairs of glasses. I didn't really get on well with them. After a while, I put them away again and went back to the version with both glasses. However, there are people who get along very well with such a combined variant. Maybe it's just a question of getting used to it and having the patience to get used to it. I obviously lacked this patience - or I had too high demands for good vision, so that the compromise solution offered too little quality for me. So it is a question of demands and the willingness to bear the consequences. If you are in a similar situation where you have to make a decision and there is no perfect solution, have the courage to make a clear decision and be prepared to accept the consequences without hesitation and to live them with conviction.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Cups usually have one handle, those for small children even two. The handles - in my opinion - do not necessarily look nice. I like a cup better. But: the handle has its functional purpose: if there is a hot drink in the cup, you would often not be able to hold it with your bare hand because of the heat. Thanks to the handle, however, you can bring the cup to your mouth, blow a little and then drink it gently. The handle is a valuable support for the actual purpose. Sometimes we feel the same way: analogous to the handle, we feel it is only a means to an end. But the means is also important. If you currently feel more like a handle than a cup: this task and role are also important. Remember that your identity is not in your task and role, but in the identity you have received from your Creator as a unique creature. This should help you to live this role with joy and peace.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The difference between rain and snow is the state of aggregation. Rain is liquid, snow solid. When rain falls to the ground, the water usually runs off or seeps away. Snow, on the other hand, remains on the ground. Both have advantages and disadvantages: if the rainwater runs off, the natural soil is supplied with the necessary moisture, and paths or roads are cleared of water more quickly. The snow that lies on the ground is a kind of natural water reservoir for warmer temperatures and precisely for the time that brings the blossoming and awakening of nature: so that growth can begin and continue to flourish, it needs this moisture - perfectly saved by the snow for this process. So rain and snow are wonderful at their times. This is how your day should be today: what is to remain for a later point in time is to be safely left and what is to continue to flow or seep away is to be safely let go.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I wake up in the morning, I hear birds chirping. I have wondered whether the chirping is a language and the birds are communicating with each other, or whether it is simply sounds that make the birds peculiar. Or I have seen documentaries about bees, which mainly perform a special dance with which they communicate real messages to the other bees, for example where to find honey. Fascinating. Language and communication beyond our familiar framework. But it shows that creatures are obviously equipped and oriented to communicate with each other. This creates relationship. Verbally and non-verbally. Today, pay attention to yourself and your environment, how you communicate. Verbally, in writing or with gestures and other things and be amazed at this and also at how good you are at decoding the messages of others. How life-giving communication can be.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know where your nearest petrol station is? Often we simply drive past them without noticing them - unless our vehicle indicates that the tank will soon be empty and refuelling will be necessary. If you know the area well, this is usually no problem - you know where to get fresh fuel and how far it is. But if you are in an unfamiliar area, the warning message of an almost empty tank can be threatening. That's what happened to me once in Scotland: the tank was getting emptier and emptier and there was simply no petrol station. I was nervous and didn't know if we would make it. Thank God the remaining stock was enough. but I don't want to experience such a situation again. Timely provision of resources is therefore important. To regularly visit petrol stations - also those for our soul, body and mind. Otherwise, collapse, standstill can be the result.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In colloquial usage, air is used for meaningless. If someone tells me that I am air to him or her, it is not positive, but means: I am not interested in you at all. Air is also not visible and hardly perceptible. However... if we are travelling fast enough, we feel the air resistance. Depending on the surface of attack, this can be considerable in combination with the wind. So air is not nothing or insignificant. But it doesn't bother us as long as we are in normal operation, so to speak. Only when things get fast and hectic does it become perceived as a brake or resistance. Actually, in many cases for the better. Who knows how much we would otherwise overdo it with speed and endanger ourselves and others. Perhaps this also applies in a figurative sense: if you stay in your healthy operating mode, it's good. If you are above it, the resistance is a warning in a positive sense.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you remember the taps from your childhood? Back then, I didn't have mixer taps. Hot and cold water were separate and you always had to mix it yourself to the desired temperature. Sometimes there were even only taps with cold water. These had this typical turning handle that hurt you when you had to open it. That's how quickly technology and mechanics can change. Maybe in the future we will control water with touch sensors or by voice when we wash our hands or take a shower. How quickly one forgets this priviledge and takes it for granted to have running water in the house or at the workplace. So many people have to go far for a bucket of reasonably clean water. How privileged we are. Perhaps it is a day to consciously experience some things that have become so self-evident - also in relationships.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know the Petit-Beurre biscuit? These are relatively simple but still very tasty butter biscuits - as the name suggests. They come in different sizes and some have a chocolate plate on top. Anyway, the ones I know look like they are rectangular and the edge is wavy. The rim. It could have been made straight. The advantage would be that it would be much easier to produce, there would be less dough waste and you could make the best use of the dough material. But the biscuits would then also be less decorative. As we all know, the eye eats with us. This is how the edge is curled. And that - in my opinion - gives the biscuit a much better appeal, turns it from a simple biscuit into a special one. A simple little change in appearance. With many things, it does matter how they appear. So also for you today: if you meet others, do it with the wavy edge of love.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently bought a baking mat. It's a silicone sheet that I roll out and use to work the dough for baking on: Be it kneading or rolling out. It's a great thing: it's non-slip and it's wonderful to work on and the surface underneath stays clean, it's much easier to wipe up, clean up. Especially after processing, there is often a lot of flour residue and other things that are sticky. I can detach the mat and clean it under running water - for a new use. It reminds me of my life with God. In my relationship with him and Jesus, he gives me such a mat on which I can live my life and also make mistakes, it can also become floury and sticky. Through his willingness to forgive, I can always start anew, cleaned like the mat without old encrusted stories. This is not only practical, but also liberating and a privilege.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you like cheese? A few years ago I was able to visit a cheese dairy and we were given a guided tour. I find it remarkable and still marvel at the fact that the original substance, milk, becomes a solid body, a cheese wheel. Of course, this certainly requires framework conditions. But the right environment, the peace and quiet and the necessary time lead to the once liquid milk becoming a tasty, solid cheese. If one goes to check too early in the middle of this process of becoming or even interrupts it, then the whole process can possibly fail. Patience and experience are therefore required. Perhaps you also have processes in your life right now, waiting periods that may seem long and without anything happening. I encourage you to give these processes the necessary time and calm and to trust that you will be able to go and see at the right time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is said that certain feelings can simply overtake you. You are overcome by them. In fact, there are moments when certain feelings come over you really unexpectedly: joy or sadness, anger or contentment. I don't think we can produce feelings per se. The most I can probably do is open myself up to them and actively seek them out. For example, I consciously remember something I'm grateful for - maybe that I'm doing well today, that I'm healthy, etc. - and then a certain gratitude comes over me. Other feelings, however, cannot be produced in this way. But what is in any case in our power and responsibility is the action that is triggered on our part. Does joy drive us to generosity and forbearance towards others or anger to aggressive behaviour? Be aware today that even if your behaviour is emotionally driven, it does not absolve you of your responsibility.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When travelling by public transport, appropriate stops such as bus stops are really important. Why? Because you know exactly where you have to wait. You could walk all the way along the route of the means of transport - but if you wait at the wrong place to get a lift, all your waiting is for nothing. So the where is important and therefore it is even more important that the stop points are recognisable. But... it is not enough just to know where. The when is also important. Suppose you are waiting at a bus stop on a Saturday - but the corresponding line does not run on the weekend... then you can wait a long time. It's not for nothing that they say: at the right place at the right time. Remember this today, too, for example in conversations: just because you have the opportunity to speak does not mean that it is the right time. Be wise and possibly reserved - until the right moment comes.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had heard a few years ago that no matter in which country you go to a McDonald's, you always get the same fries - both from the preparation, by which I mean: how they are cut and cooked - and the variety. This impressed me on the one hand, but irritated me on the other. Impressed because I thought: if you like these fries and they are good quality, then it is a kind of seal of quality and you can be sure that you are getting something good, no matter where. Irritated because I thought that local products and farmers don't seem to be taken into account at all and there is no local context of the food supply. Well, is it good or not. It depends on how you weigh the arguments. I also see this kind of ambivalence in many political discussions. In the end, I think today, it is a personal responsibility what I decide to do. Consider this today: forming an opinion means responsibility.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are lucky to still have a water wheel in operation in our neighbourhood. The way it works is that part of an open watercourse is branched off and diverted. The diverted water flows in a separate channel close to a house and drives a water wheel there. This is connected to a millstone or something else by a mechanical construction located in the house, so that the water power is directly transferred to a mechanism in the house. This not only saves human power, but also makes round-the-clock operation possible - for example, the operation of a grain mill. So here nature is cleverly exploited in a resource-saving way to solve a meaningful task. For today, I wish you the innovative view of how you can use forces in your environment - for example, happy people - in such a way that these forces have a beneficial effect for many.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A microwave oven can heat food or liquids in a very short time. It is not possible to see exactly how this works. It is waves at a certain frequency that cause the food in the microwave to vibrate - especially the liquid in the food - and thus cause it to heat up. If you set the time too long, it can be devastating: Liquids can boil over, food can splatter and also be brought to the boil or sometimes even char. So you have to know when enough is enough, otherwise it becomes destructive. Sometimes this can also happen to us humans: feelings and negative emotions surge up in us invisibly and at some point it can be too much and you explode, it becomes destructive. If you find yourself in such a situation today, where you notice how you or someone else begins to boil more and more inside, then interrupt in time - like with the microwave - before it gets harmful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The horizon is, so to speak, the limit of what is visible to us. At the sea, this horizon is very far away, whereas in the mountains it is relatively close. This is a fitting analogy for our everyday life: Where we feel calm and are at peace - analogous to the calm sea - there is much expanse, inner peace. But where we have worries, fears, where we carry burdens - analogous to the threat of the massive mountains - our view is restricted and filled with these burdens. There we see - analogous to the mountains - only mountains in front of us that sometimes seem insurmountable. I believe we can contribute a lot to whether our perspective goes into the peaceful expanse or is very limited by burdens. Jesus once said: Whoever trusts in him, that is, has faith, can say to such mountains: rise up and sink into the sea. And so it will happen. Have you already tried this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A garden fence often has pointed ends on the wooden slats. This indicates that you should not actually climb over it, which means: this is not a permissible way into the garden. The correct way is via the garden gate. This is closer or further away depending on how you get to the garden. This means: in order to enter the garden correctly, one must accept a certain distance, perhaps even a diversion. In return, you enter the garden the way the owner wants you to. You will certainly be more welcome than simply climbing over the fence. Flowers or sown plants could be damaged in the process. It is the same with us humans: we have our individual limits. There are certain moments or ways in which we become accessible. This has to be taken into account. If you have a longer way to reach someone today, accept it consciously and in love.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When going to the pool, I used to watch with fascination those who, full of courage, climbed onto diving towers and jumped from there over the diving boards into the pool. I was never brave in that respect. Just jumping off the 3m tower was a challenge for me. I think it was this short phase of falling with the corresponding speed that scared me and that I avoided. The springboard is the last firm step before you fall. It is the transition from conscience to uncertainty. For professional steeplechasers, the springboard has an additional suspension so that they can jump even higher and perform their figures. So what is rather scary for some - like me - is welcome for others. If you are one of the brave ones in certain situations, show consideration today for those to whom this is not so given and give them a wide heart.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are health insurance companies that advertise that health is the most important thing. Is that really true? What then in the case of chronically ill or disabled people? Would they be second-class citizens because they no longer have or never had this highest good? Health is important, for sure. But I don't think it's the most important thing. People can also give meaning to their lives with other things and live fulfilled lives despite physical limitations. It's the same with other things: there can be a lot of adversity in everyday life: troublesome work relationships, annoying neighbours, lack of finances etc. If the focus is on the lack, the burden, then one also feels correspondingly powerless. But if we focus on what we can actively influence - for example, our joy, inner peace and also detachment - we can immediately feel much better. I encourage you to do this if you have a difficult area of your life at the moment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As children we asked ourselves this joking question: what is heavier 1kg of feathers or 1kg of lead. And when someone pointed to lead, we would gloat and shout with delight: no, both are the same weight. Of course. But still, one is tempted to think lead. One associates, and not infrequently one is led by such associations to a one-sided opinion. Of course lead is much heavier than feathers - but 1 kg of each is still the same weight. In everyday life, we also have such experiential values on the basis of which we repeatedly make inner decisions, formulate assessments, draw conclusions, etc. But these can be correspondingly one-sided precisely because of our perhaps one-sided experiences. Therefore, when you meet others today, be careful not to judge them too quickly in terms of their appearance or character or any other characteristic or appearance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The Russian nested dolls are world-famous. One wooden figure can be placed inside the next larger one. This can be repeated as often as you like, and when all the dolls have been fitted, there is only one doll in front of you. But in reality there are many, simply not visible. The smallest - so I have read - can be as small as a fingernail. Amazing. When they are made, the artist starts with the smallest and then moves on to the next largest. Interesting as: the smaller one determines the shape of the next larger one and thus at the very end the one that remains and is visible last. It is the same with us humans: what is visible on the outside is determined by what is inside us. Banal and yet profound. How you affect others, how you perceive yourself and your environment, depends on your inner life. That is why it is important that you take care of it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Fog is increased humidity, so much increased that the air droplets form a kind of cloud - or just: Fog. This can become so dense that you can no longer see anything. But it only forms where the ideal conditions are present: sufficient humidity and suitable conditions of temperature and air pressure. The same amount of humidity at warmer temperatures would not form fog. So it is not true: so much humidity ergo so much fog. In our everyday life it is also like this: our personality, our individual nature is perceived in one way or another depending on the environment. Some people like us, others don't like us. But it is always us, our personality. If you experience resistance today, don't let it discourage you. You are created this way for a reason and that is good and you will again find yourself in environments where your personality is enjoyed.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our capitalist-oriented world, the law plays out that things that are rare but coveted have a higher price than things that are abundant and coveted. Rarity is a cost driver. Behind it plays the rule that if something is scarce, one is willing to give away more for it. If there is an abundance of something and it is offered by several sellers, the price is regulated downwards. In other words, the seller is willing to pay less for the same goods because he knows that he has competition and that they might be able to sell more than he can. Unique items are therefore particularly valuable. For example, works of art, one-offs. You are one of those. That's why you are also infinitely valuable. So valuable that God was willing to pay any price to be able to be with you. For eternity. He paid the price in full through his Son. Now the only question is whether you also want to. Do you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you remember: You were ill and the doctor gave you a therapy, for example medication. Why? To get rid of the illness - or to restore your health? Is there a difference here? Yes! The focus: do I look at the positive, the health, and the goal is to achieve it, or at the negative, the illness, and it should just go away? I am convinced this is a difference. It is the motivation. When we give each other feedback, even sometimes feedback that feels negative, the motivation is crucial: Am I simply criticising because something doesn't suit me or do I want to help because an unpleasant behaviour doesn't belong to that person and degrades them? I believe that the latter is the case with God: when he speaks of "sin" or such things, he does not want to condemn us, but to heal us, to bring us back to our proper, healthy state, like a good doctor.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Sunrises or sunsets are something beautiful. There is something mysterious about them, something that leaves us speechless, that leaves us without words. Both are states of "no more" and "not yet". It is no longer night, but not yet day either. Or vice versa: it is no longer day but not yet night either. When one is over and the other begins can therefore not be so clearly defined. It remains mysterious. Such transitional periods can be partly short, partly longer. If we are in the middle of them, they can also be unpleasant: the old is no longer valid and the new is not yet there. We are caught in the middle. If you are feeling like this in any area of your life, perhaps the memory of the sunrise or sunset will help you in the sense of simply enduring the state and allowing yourself to be amazed and silent about it and trusting that the new will come. Even without your intervention.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many of us like chocolate. Not all of us, I know. But I am one of them. And chocolate comes in very, very different forms these days. There are pralines or whole chocolate bars that weigh several 100 grams. And because there's no accounting for taste, everyone can enjoy the type and shape he or she likes best. But what I think plays a role in all the different versions is the form in which they appear: delicate chocolate often comes in small portions. Chocolate bars also usually have a division to break off. So pleasure comes in small portions, not in a big block to bite off. Indulgence is rarely functional. Indulgence has a touch of "it's not necessary - but that's why it's special". How would it be if you were to use your words in this way towards others today: small, beautiful, perhaps exclusive and loving portions of enjoyment. The kind that you don't choke on.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I'm not a car owner, but I remember that my father used to change tyres sometime in autumn: from summer to winter tyres. As far as I know, they differ mainly in their tread. That is, a winter tyre has a more pronounced tread and thus more grip in the case of softer surfaces such as snow. This prevents the vehicle from skidding. A few millimetres in the rubber of the tyres are therefore relevant to safety. Every now and then in our everyday lives, we also have moments when the ground we are moving on becomes slippery or slippery or uneven or less stable. Maybe today is one of those moments for you. It can be in a conversation, a co-worker situation, a visit to the doctor or many other situations. Therefore, make sure in advance that you can take firm steps and if necessary - metaphorically speaking - change to the appropriate profile.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, suspenders were common. A good thing - except when I had to change trousers. My little fingers didn't have the strength yet to undo the buckles of the braces to move them from one pair of trousers to another. I remember something similar with a tube of spread. You had to squeeze it very hard until something came out. I could only do this with enormous effort, so that my hand hurt afterwards. Because of these experiences and memories, I am amazed at how easy it is for me to do both today. As I grew up, my strength grew and with it my ability to do these difficult things more easily. Maybe it's your turn today too: to dare to do something again that you hadn't tried before because of failed attempts. Maybe it's easier today. Have courage!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are approaching the time when Christmas decorations are put up in many places - inside and outside, private and public. Some are bright, flashy, eye-catching, others simple, rather modest and contemplative. What both have in common is that there is a specific time for this. After that, the decorations are put away again. If they were there all year round, they would not only cease to attract attention, they would also lose their special character. But its temporal classification and limitation make it special, perhaps even mysterious or expectant, special. In many cases, it is also linked to many memories and longings. Everything has its time. The preacher who wrote a book in the Old Testament already knew that. This is exactly how he formulated it: everything has its time. Good and bad, beautiful and adverse. Whatever you encounter today - remember: everything has its time, limited time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have already met people who do something you would like to be able to do with such ease that it makes you envious - in a positive sense. Why do they do it so easily and I have such a hard time doing it or will never reach their level? When I watch birds, I feel the same way: with what ease they fly, knowing exactly how to use their wings - whether to fly actively or simply to glide. Enviable. But the wings are not only for flying - they also serve as protection. Parents can cover their offspring with their wings for protection, and in this proximity the young can feel the warmth of the parent and their heartbeat at the same time. How soothing this must be for the young. Jesus once said that this is exactly what God wants to do: gather people under his wings and give them this closeness. Are you ready for this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently in Tallinn and in the evening in the dark I took a walk to and through the Old Town. It was beautiful. When I went back to the hotel, I somehow lost my orientation. I was pretty sure that the hotel had to be in a certain direction - or so I thought. Thank God I had my smartphone with me and a corresponding app, which then showed me the correct way. I was wrong with my sense of direction or my personal impression of the direction. It reminded me that nowadays we generally hold values very flexibly - depending on personal opinion and attitude and life circumstances. This makes a lot of things relative. Truths therefore change quickly. I find that worrying. Just as there was a correct and absolute direction to my hotel, I think there are still values today that are immutable and non-negotiable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am enormously grateful for my hands and how they serve me. Although I am not gifted in handicrafts, drawing or anything else manual, I can do so much with them and they support me so enormously. I am also fascinated by their ability to pick up and convey different stimuli to me when I touch them: cold or hot objects, rough or smooth and much more. The whole skin of my body is a huge network of sensors that constantly provides me with information about the relationship to my immediate environment and thus warns me in good time of danger or helps me to relax in good surroundings - in a warm bath or shower, for example. I can only marvel at this ability, which is simply given to me without me having to acquire or learn it. How great it is! What a generous gift! Reason for a grateful day today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I talk about isohypses, not everyone knows what they are. If, on the other hand, I use contour lines, some will probably have more of an idea of what I mean. They are lines on a map that have the same altitude indication in nature. So if you walk strictly along a contour line, you walk level, that is, you don't change your altitude, you don't go up or down. If, on the other hand, you walk at right angles to the contour lines, you go up or down the steepest path. If contour lines are very close together on a map, this means steep terrain. There are also other iso-lines, for example isobars - lines with equal air pressure. Isos is Greek, meaning equal. One could also use iso-emotion lines: An indicator of balance. How would you feel at the moment: are you walking along or at right angles to such an emotion line? Remember that this is not the same and it takes much more energy depending on the situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am fascinated by geometric figures or patterns. For example, I find a simple squared pattern somehow amazing in itself. It actually only consists of straight lines intersecting at right angles, which then form squares or rectangles depending on how they are arranged. But when you look at them like this, they look so perfect, so well-formed, so flawless. Circles also have their charm: they have neither a beginning nor an end and if they are concentric, they all have the same centre and are arranged around it. On the other hand, there is also a lot of disorder in nature: when the trees lose their leaves, they fall randomly on the ground and do not cover it according to a certain order or pattern. So I see both: the ordered and the random. I recognise beauty in both. A beauty that points me to something greater and higher.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I still remember buying vinyl records when I was a teenager. And when I was about 20, compact discs came along. This, of course, required a new player. A CD player. These were available for the stereo system - and there were even mobile ones for on the road. There was no comparison in size with today's MP3 player or smartphone, which today can hold many times the capacity of music compared to the past. So you had to invest in your own, new hardware, the device. And today, about 30 years later, these devices are almost antiques, collectors' items. So one can justifiably ask oneself: was this investment worthwhile, if the device is no longer the thing with which one listens to music today? There are many such moments in life when, after a short or long time, you ask yourself: was the investment worthwhile? Not only in material things. Also in relationships. What does it mean to be worthwhile? How do we measure it? How do we judge that? Perhaps a day to reflect on this - and to appreciate all that we have been allowed to experience - regardless of the investment. Each of these experiences has made us rich.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know people who radiate a great cordiality, in whose presence you can relax and just be yourself? There are also others with whom you have the impression that they have a flawless life, do everything right, are successful. You are less relaxed in their presence than with the former. Maybe because you don't want to do anything wrong, so that you meet their standards. Why do people have such different charisma? I think many of them do not do this consciously. I think it has to do with your own experiences: as the saying goes: to whom much is forgiven, much is loved. Behind this I find a great secret and a deep truth. Perhaps you can take this with you today for your encounters with people: remember how much you yourself owe to your environment and be merciful to others out of this gratitude.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you prefer going to the sea or the mountains? These are, in a way, opposites. In the mountains, solitude, often cool and sometimes nasty, barren. And then the sea with often very special and often also lush flora and fauna and in popular places very populated. And of course warm. Mostly. I noticed recently when reading the account of Jesus' ministry that he visited both places regularly. So he often retreated to the mountains alone in prayer. We know little about what he did there and how long he stayed there. And then he had many moments by the sea, where he allowed communion with sometimes large crowds, where he found his friends and where all kinds of signs and wonders happened. I think that both places were important for him and complemented each other. So we too need different places at different times - for ourselves alone and with others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A crème slice is a slice of puff pastry filled with vanilla crème. Have you ever tried to eat it in such a way that it doesn't fall out of the mould? I have never succeeded. Even with a sharp knife, which I use to cut the pastry, I can't manage to keep the soft cream from oozing out of the sides when I press on the pastry from above. Only when I put them on their sides and cut them that way. But then that is not nice to look at. In nature, geologically, there are also various layers on top of each other. In our souls, too. Experiences. Stable and injured, weak and soft. When pressure is put on it again, the ground is only as stable as the weakest layer. Even if there are hard layers on top of it. That is why it is worthwhile to tackle the injured in time, to let it heal. For fundamentally more stability in life and, in the end, also enjoyment. Please do not forget!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have not often seen an owl. Maybe in a zoo or animal park, but I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild. With owls I associate night activity, clear vision, especially in the dark, wisdom and also secrecy or silence and vigilance. It is also the symbol of intelligence. I particularly associate it with the combination of wisdom and silence. So not wordlessness out of ignorance or defiance but in wisdom and then at the right time the right word that comes from listening, from silence, from wisdom. Surely you have also experienced such moments in your life when just this happened to you: someone spoke a word of wisdom or you heard one or a few words somewhere out of a multitude of words that were exactly guiding and wise for the situation. This is what I wish you for today: the wisdom of silence and the wisdom of speaking - both in their own time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my view, acceptance is not to be equated with tolerance. For me, acceptance has much more the character of a conscious decision. A decision in the direction of saying yes to something or accepting something that I would actually like to have differently or wish for differently. Nevertheless, I don't hold on to my preference, but allow myself to accept - with a conscious decision - something that I wouldn't choose on my own. Of course, this can turn into tolerance, but for me acceptance primarily means: I do not let myself be guided primarily by my emotions and my inclination, but open myself up to other influencing factors. In this way I also consciously say no to an inner bitterness or denial. I give up my supposed right to resist and open myself to the unwanted. Maybe it is your turn to make such a conscious decision - with regard to a situation, circumstances or persons.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For me, values or the importance of things in life shift with increasing age. I don't necessarily mean material things, on the contrary. I think in the past, when I was much younger, goods were more important to me than non-material things. Today, I have noticed that this has shifted. Perhaps because in the past I couldn't afford certain things that I aspired to and they therefore had a special appeal. Lately, I keep coming across the quality or reality of faithfulness. I have thought a lot about this: what is faithfulness actually and what is its meaning or position, what is its value. Perhaps one becomes wiser with age, not automatically, but potentially, and one sees oneself more realistically, even with one's own dark sides. It is precisely in this context that faithfulness has taken on a deep and meaningful meaning for me. Does that apply to you too?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It's probably a discontinued model - the key fob. It can be used for one or more keys and you have all the keys you need in one place. Many of the fobs can also be attached to the waistband by means of a device. In the future, locks and doors will probably be opened more and more with the smartphone. The advantage of bundling keys in one place like this is that you have everything together and the key fob only serves this one purpose. The disadvantage is the risk of clumping: if you lose or misplace the fob, all your keys are gone. In a world of multitasking, I like the idea that something only has to serve one purpose and not many. Maybe that's your turn today: to just focus on one thing at a time and not to want to be at many or all of them already.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was talking to a woman the other day who was wearing a beautiful coloured necklace. I noticed this jewellery and I just thought it was beautiful. But what I also noticed - and not only with this person - is that the jewellery worn is not only beautiful per se, but that it also makes the wearer(s) more beautiful. It is as if the beauty of the jewellery rubs off and also enchants the person wearing it. I find that a very beautiful image and an even more beautiful fact. In this way, the wearer gives the jewellery that special visibility and the jewellery gives the wearer its own beauty. I believe that we can also live this rubbing off in everyday life in our relationships. Our own personality also brings richness and beauty to others in relationships. As social beings, we are created and oriented towards such community. So you rub off on others and receive. How beautiful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are different wine glasses. I found the following text explaining the importance of the shape of the glass for the taste of the wine: "The most beautiful and complex bouquet does not come into its own if the wine is drunk or smelled from the wrong glass. It is therefore not a fad of cranky wine snobs to insist on different glasses for different wines; it serves the pleasure to a great extent. Four different glass shapes belong to the basic equipment of every wine connoisseur". Now you can say, I'm not such a big connoisseur, an ordinary wine glass is enough for me for any wine. Of course, you can drink any wine this way - but you're missing out. I imagine that God is like that every time he lets a person see this world: Each of these special creatures needs a unique shape. Only then do they unfold fully. This mystery also applies to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When there is air in water or water in air, I observe that regardless of the size of the bubbles in the water or the drops in the air, they both have something in common: regardless of their own size in the foreign medium, they remain intrinsically their own. By this I mean: an air bubble, no matter how big, always consists only of air and does not mix with the different environment. The same applies to humidity. The different environment also has the effect that one's own species becomes or remains more clearly recognisable and homogeneous. The contrast between the two media is therefore not cancelled, but remains. I think that this is a good example for us: when we are in our social structures, we are supposed to bring in our own kind as we are, unmixed. Maybe more in certain situations, less in others - but always ourselves and no mixing of and with others. Remember this today when you are with others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had the privilege of taking a walk along a lake the other evening. It was a clear night but hardly any moonlight. The path led through a forest bordering the lake. It was very dark. You couldn't really see the path and the natural ground was correspondingly uneven, i.e. not flat. In such a situation, you walk more carefully, avoiding tripping and hurting yourself. Because I knew how dark it could get, I had taken a small lamp with me as a precaution. This allowed me to illuminate the area immediately in front of me. That helped enormously, I already felt much more confident in my steps. Still, I didn't walk as quickly as I did during the day. And I think that is wise, appropriate to the circumstances. In a psalm prayer it says: God, your word is a light on my path. That's how I understand it too: God's speaking as enough light for one or two next steps. That is enough. And then I need a new promise from him again. And so I move forward safely in dark times in my life. I hope you do too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have always been somewhat fascinated by the second to last letter in the alphabet. Mainly because of its name, but also because it is pronounced differently in the German language depending on how it is used. And I also find it interesting that, depending on the direction of view, the letter connects two separate lines into one or, from the other perspective, splits one line into two separate lines. So you could say that the letter can both connect and release. For today, I wish you the wisdom to recognise where there is unity and where there is diversity. One is not always the best solution, but sometimes unity is needed to bundle the forces and sometimes the release for diversity in nature and behaviour. Both have their place, both have their justification. And together they form a special richness and variety.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you have an affinity for ball sports and play a ball sport yourself. Football is certainly the best known in our latitudes. What is so fascinating about the ball? It doesn't matter whether it's a small ball like table tennis or a bigger one like football: there are usually two teams playing against each other and the ball plays a decisive role in the success or the final result. Is it only a means to an end? Namely, to find out who is better? But better with what or in what? Of course, the game can be seen as a competition and the winner is celebrated. But a ball is basically a plaything, something joyful. In a competitive environment, it is the device that determines success or failure. In the actual game, it is the unifying element that makes playing together possible in the first place. My wish for you today is that as much as possible of your everyday life becomes a playful unifying factor for you and your environment and not a fight or competition.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't think I would ever have the courage to skydive either. But I have seen many of these parachutes glide down and land. It looks so peaceful and relaxed. But I think to myself that the moment of getting out of the plane is anything but relaxed. The Parachute is not yet open and it takes absolute confidence from the jumper that the Parachute will actually open when the ripcord is pulled. The jumper's life depends on this trust. If he does not trust, he will have doubts and for this reason will refrain from pulling the line - he would fall to his death. I feel a similarity in my relationship with God: He is always with me, very close like the Parachute at my back, and I can pull on the leash at any time. Although I am not spared difficulties, I still feel held and am certain that I will end up safely with Him at the end of my life. I hope this applies to you too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Ever been worried? Of course! Worries have - so I observe - the characteristic that they place themselves totally at the centre of our attention. Everything begins to revolve around them. Then we often can't think about anything else, we are not concentrated and no longer listen properly etc. In many cases we go through possible scenarios, imagine what could happen or how who could behave or who could say what and we could respond and on and on. The fatal thing is that it never ends. We somehow can't finish worrying. A bottomless pit, a black hole. Worry drains our energy, robs us of our inner peace and more. But that's just it: we often worry or we allow it, give it space. We don't have to. We can say stop and consciously turn our thoughts to other things. I wish you this determination and much success in the implementation and reorientation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was listening to a podcast the other day on the occasion of the Queen's death. It was also about the distinction between monarchy and democracy. It made me realise that the relationship I have as a citizen with the government - whether it is a royal house or a government or parliament - is quite different. A king is more personal because his government is linked to his life and his family is part of the government, so he is engaged with his whole being. In a democracy, the rulers are only responsible for a limited period of time. For me, the latter is more distant than the former. This made me think because I realised that the same fits in the faith, in the religious sphere: A god or several are more distant for me, but a king - as Jesus says about himself - is much closer, more accessible. This thought, or rather the aha effect from it, the awareness, touched me very much.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some people live with progress according to the motto: yesterday we stood at the precipice and then progress came. By this they mean: progress leads to a crash. Others are so enthusiastic about progress that they are blind to the consequences when it comes to personal fates that can be triggered negatively. Either way, change triggers something. If you are one of the fearful ones, be careful that your fears do not lead to hardening or bitterness. I think some people demonise everything new out of fear of the new that comes with change. Existential fears. But that doesn't have to be the case. Maybe progress really does bring massive changes - for example, job cuts or the like. But there are also new doors that open up. One way or another: I believe that the basic trust in a good God, who takes good care of me in every situation, helps here. Do you know this carelessness?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I learned that for the Jews the new day begins the evening before, I was irritated at first. Then I took note of it. Today I find it remarkable, because during the night we process some of the things of the previous day. When I wake up in the morning, I often have an impression of whether I had a good, quiet night or whether I had to process a lot. And just as I get up in the morning, so I go into the - for us - new day. Therefore, the night actually prepares me for the coming day and therefore I find it quite wise and appropriate to define that the new day begins the evening before. So we start the new day with our night's rest. This also fits with the creation story: on the 7th day God rested from all his work. And on the 6th day man was created. This means that the first new day for man was a day of rest, the week begins with rest, the new day with night. So relaxing to know.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
there is this saying "unexpected often comes". This probably means that every now and then something happens that we had not expected and that challenges us to be flexible in our plans. Sometimes this can be very cheerful, but sometimes it can also be a real challenge because it doesn't suit us at all. In addition, some of us are more open to spontaneity and others are not, preferring a planned routine. Either way: unexpected comes, whether often or only from time to time. If today is one of those days when the unexpected knocks on your door, then be open, ready, flexible and full of expectation for what the unexpected will bring - and enjoy it, whatever it may be. See it as a privilege that the unexpected happens to you and as an opportunity to deal with it well. Have fun with it!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We all know the beautiful beach sunset holiday pictures from the travel catalogues. There, paradise is only a question of the chosen holiday destination. Indeed: anyone who has ever been to such a great beach, spent a holiday there and recovered, will remember this place as very special. The local population, the locals, they are the lucky ones who get to live in this paradise all year round? Unfortunately, no. Often the reality is that for them in particular, life is very hard, they are poor and have to make do with the most basic things. What a contrast! Hard to imagine. This is not only the case in foreign countries: in everyday life, too, there are people whose lives we see as paradisiacal, almost perfect - but perhaps behind this lies great poverty, a lack of love, etc. Therefore, be cautious about making such a statement. Therefore, be cautious with such judgements and loving towards these people - perhaps they need it the most.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A break is an interruption of an activity - I would say. This means I interrupt or allow myself to be interrupted in what I am doing. It is not the end of the activity, but a stop, a turning to something else before continuing with the activity I have started. We know the saying "take a break" or there was a well-known advertisement that said that the best breaks have a certain colour, namely purple. Be that as it may. This expresses the fact that we cannot simply work through or "activate". Interruptions help us to recover, perhaps also to concentrate again. They are good for body and soul and spirit. The industry has also understood this and offers a wide range of food and distraction for a special break. Either way: with a break you do something good for yourself and also testify that at that moment nothing is as important to you as yourself. That seems like good self-care to me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Gearwheels have teeth that are arranged circularly around a centre at regular intervals. These gears can be combined with each other. In this way, larger and smaller gears can be connected to each other and transmit movement. For example, in a watch: if you turn the crown on a wristwatch, the hands move. Behind this is a complicated system of many cogwheels of different sizes that interlock and make this possible. In this context, there is the rather negatively connoted saying that someone is only a cog in a system. What is meant is that one is lost in the masses and is insignificant. I think that is wrong. If only one cog in a gearwheel system is defective or one tooth is missing, the whole system no longer functions. So see yourself - no matter how insignificant you think you are - as special for being such a cog in a social structure. You count.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When it rains - well, some people get annoyed because the sun would be the preferred weather option. But assuming it didn't rain: what alternative would there be to moisten the soil in this way? Irrigation from the ground would be infinitely complex, a whole irrigation system, a drainage system would have to be invented. But this way, the clouds can simply let go of their moisture and the falling water is distributed everywhere. Ingenious. You don't even think about it. But why is it so easy? Among other things, because of gravity: if it weren't for the Earth's gravitational pull, the water from the clouds - yes, it would just stay where it was released - wouldn't be literal precipitation, but water at rest. One would then have to invent some method for this moisture to get to the ground. Again: infinitely complex. How good there is gravity, clouds and rain. An ingenious concept. Hats off!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is not really a compliment when someone tells another person that they are a brake block. What is often meant is that the behaviour slows down a process unnecessarily and makes them angry because things are not moving forward. Behind this, an irrational or inappropriate fear is often assumed or interpreted. Sometimes this may be true. But brake pads also have their good points. They can protect you from excessive and inappropriate speed in a situation and from the consequences that would result from not braking in time. I may remember driving down from a pass in a rented car on a winding, narrow road. More and more I felt that the brakes were giving way until they didn't work at all. I could only brake with the gearstick and hope that I could soon pull out somewhere. How I would have wished for a brake pad back then!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There was a time when many natural river courses were straightened. So a river that meandered was corrected into a straight, man-made riverbed, often with very smooth banks or embankments instead of natural ones. The advantages of this: you could control the river and you gained a lot of space because meandering took up a lot more space and that was not infrequently precious building land. All's well that ends well? Not really. As long as there was no increased rainfall, all was well. But in the case of heavy rainfall or violent thunderstorms, these corrections turned into a boomerang: the rivers quickly burst their banks and caused massive destruction. The supposedly gained and meanwhile cultivated land was flooded. So the meander certainly had its purpose. Take this example as an impulse to give yourself and others enough emotional and mental space to move - especially for times when things get stressful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you have washed dirty laundry, in most cases it is wet and needs to dry. The best way to do this is to hang or spread out the laundry. If this is not possible and the wet laundry is not spread out, it will not only hardly dry, but may even develop mould. This is worse than dirty laundry. A clothesline is therefore a great thing in this case. After all, if you don't have a clothesline or another way to hang or spread out wet laundry to dry, you're in an awkward position. There are various situations in our everyday lives that we no longer take for granted in our lifestyle. For example, what do you do when you want to eat a yoghurt but you don't have a spoon? Or if you need cash at a cash machine but only have a credit card? Etc. So for today, a plea for gratitude for the small everyday things we take for granted.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Why do we have two eyes? Because with one eye we can perceive things in the field of vision, but it is difficult for us to estimate how far away they are. So the combination of both eyes allows us to get the right depth impression and thus the distance to the objects. This means that our eyes are not only used to recognise objects, but also to register the additional information of distance. This is often important. For example, to be able to correctly classify danger. The second eye thus creates access to another dimension, space. And just as the second eye creates this access, we also have spiritual perception or spiritual eyes that allow us to look into this realm. Are you aware of this? Because a lot also happens in this space that we can perceive and then behave accordingly. Maybe you look into this space consciously.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Target marks as used for surveying usually have one thing in common: they are easy to recognise and have very clear boundaries and very well identifiable centres or points to which the marks refer. This can be a crosshair or an alternating black and white pattern with sharp edges. Why? Because it is consistent: you want to measure precisely, otherwise you wouldn't use marks and they should make the target even more identifiable through the mark - otherwise it wouldn't be necessary. The intention behind this is to clearly identify a target. I think that this also helps us in life: clear goals, not just so rough or blurred. The more precisely and clearly we formulate goals - be they small or large - the better we can identify, delimit and ultimately achieve them. Have you already had this experience?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suspect that hardly anyone leaves their house without their mobile phone these days. You can be reached and informed at all times. In everyday life, this works well in most cases. But if you go on a trip or are otherwise unusually on the road, it can happen that you forget the charging cable. It doesn't take long before the device is at the end of its functional life: the battery is empty. Too bad. Annoying. I wish I'd thought of that. Forgetfulness or lack of concentration are often responsible for this. And why is that? Because people often spend too much time actively using the device. That sounds bizarre, contradictory. But that's how it is: the device leads to self-harm: the more attention it demands, the higher the risk of unfocusedness and thus the scenario mentioned. Why don't you pay attention to your concentration and attention balance today and bring it or keep it in a good balance?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you are not vegetarian or vegan, you might like a chicken wing grilled on the fire or on the barbecue. It might be well seasoned and really crispy. It might sound delicious and make your mouth water. And not without good reason. But... when you eat something like that, you rarely think about what it takes to get to that food. There is a living being. That is usually slaughtered and then gutted or at least cut up. This - I think - mentally quite demanding work is done for us by the butcher. I probably couldn't do it. So the pleasure on our plate has not only a financial price, but also an emotional one. In order for us to be full, to enjoy, in this case an animal had to die and someone had to slaughter and prepare it. For us to live eternally, the same thing had to happen: someone died, was raised and now gives us eternal life. Thanks be to God.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Ashes are produced when something is burnt - i.e. most vividly in the case of wood. This process is not reversible. The wood that is burnt cannot become wood again. And the ash - yes, in most cases it is considered worthless and thrown away. However... ash can be used to make soap with the necessary framework conditions and additives. It needs the right temperature and fat. In this way, ash becomes something completely new, valuable and useful. A great perspective, I think. If there are also things, experiences, relationships etc. in your life that have been burnt and where only ashes remain - there is hope. With the necessary framework conditions and additives, it can become something great again. For me, this is my relationship with God and counting on His possibilities against all hopelessness. Ultimately, the power of the resurrection and His love.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At this time of year, when the colourful leaves fall from the trees, one has the impression that nature explodes once more in all its creativity and beauty - like a final bouquet of fireworks - before winter comes and with it the seemingly lifeless. Thus, one might interpret the falling leaves as an announced dying, as an indication of a bleak and dark period. Or one may see in them once again the beauty of nature and the promise that these now farewell leaves of spring, summer and autumn will form the breeding ground for the next generation of renewed vitality and beauty. This perspective helps me. And I wish you that you can also gain such a perspective in your life: that when familiar and perhaps also beautiful things say goodbye, that this is not the end but the basis and the breeding ground for the new that will come with promise.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have had a dripping tap - at home, at work, on holiday or elsewhere. Sometimes it can be very annoying. Apart from the unnecessary loss of water, the constant dripping noise is somehow unnerving. It somehow leaves you feeling helpless or powerless: you just can't stop the tap - the water just drips and drips... now you might say that it's not really bad, just annoying. But as mentioned: the feeling of powerlessness that is triggered goes further than the purely rational approach. Powerlessness or helplessness are states and feelings that we can usually handle very badly and for which - I think - we are also not made. If there are such dripping taps in your life - habits that you should change or something else - you better deal with it before it becomes unbearable for you or your environment. For the good of all.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
On a construction site or when cleaning up after natural events and the consequential damage, sometimes larger or smaller construction machines are used. They can be used to move huge fallen tree trunks or rubble and debris or collapsed structures and walls, thus clearing paths. i am always impressed by the power of these machines compared to their size. And I like the fact that you need training to operate such a machine. The potential for damage is enormous if used improperly. Sometimes we feel the same way in relationships. Not everyone is always aware of the effect of their words or actions or individual looks. And if a feeling of inferiority prevails, this is not infrequently compensated for by excessive behaviour and hurts even more. Therefore, use your influence consciously and carefully.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you can imagine a butterfly in your imagination when I ask you to. You will certainly see large wings in front of you and a relatively smaller body. I am impressed how butterflies not only move, but how they can handle these large and massive wings. I imagine that my arms would be the wings and still have correspondingly large surfaces attached. I suspect I would barely last a minute with keeping my arms upright in the air - let alone still mobilising those arms for flight. It's amazing what these animals can do. There must be a massive muscle mass somewhere in this graceful animal - I can't explain it any other way. But maybe I shouldn't. I should just be amazed at what a great idea and realisation the creator had in this case.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently in an area where there used to be a lot of volcanic activity. In a volcano - before it erupts - there is extreme activity of hot rock masses, it rumbles massively under the earth's surface and then suddenly accompanied by earthquakes, this enormous mass breaks with corresponding energy to the earth's surface and after the eruption a volcanic crater can often be seen. This crater is the interface between internal activity and external manifestation, so to speak, and bears witness to the powerful event. In relationships we sometimes also speak of someone having an emotional eruption, analogous to a volcanic eruption. It has been bubbling inside the person for a long time and suddenly everything comes out. If you know something like that, don't dwell on the crater, just the outside, but try to understand the inside underneath. If you do this, you may be able to prevent the next eruption and thus avert a lot of damage.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know the picture of the good shepherd. Jesus is depicted as the good shepherd who lovingly cares for the sheep. A very harmonious image. For many, however, it is perhaps inaccessible because they either have no connection to sheep and shepherds or are not religious. Or they find it too soft, too rapturous, perhaps too out of touch with reality. Regardless of how well this image fits into our time. In any case, what strikes me in this picture and makes me think is that the shepherd is not of the same kind as the sheep. By this I mean: the sheep as animals with their instinct, the shepherd as a human being with quite different traits and abilities. So often we form an image of God and somewhere we imagine him to be like us in a certain sense. How could we do otherwise? But I believe that this image also expresses his essential otherness. And so the image fits very well.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A convertible doesn't have it. Or not always: a car roof. It protects the occupants of the car from external influences, especially from rain or, in summer, from strong sunlight. In addition, the roof allows the car interior to be cooled in summer with an appropriate installation and warmed in winter by means of a heating system. The car roof is also an advantage in the event of a lightning strike: it helps to turn the vehicle into a so-called Faraday cage. This means that a lightning strike to the vehicle cannot harm the occupants. A statement from a prayer in the Old Testament, from the Book of Psalms, comes to mind. It says "He who lives in the shelter of the Most High finds rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He saith unto the LORD, Thou art my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." To me, that fits as a description like being sheltered under the roof of a car.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I see in front of me a picture of a landscape with the typical houses of Tuscany... and immediately not only the pictures of it are awakened in my memory, but I also feel the matching smells of Italian cuisine or the fresh herbs that grow there, remember the blowing wind and feel the warmth of the sun. The sound of singing birds is also there and much more. I think this is what memory actually means. The German word "Erinnerung" also contains a hint of the term "innen" (inside). As if there were a certain substance in memory that one could fall back on. I assume that this is exactly what the prayer leader meant when he said: "Praise God, my soul, and do not forget what he has done for you. So put yourself back in that state of gratitude for perhaps unexpected or undeserved good things you have experienced. Sometimes it takes a conscious decision.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we speak of the opposite, we often mean the exact opposite of something. Yet it is not at all clear what the opposite really is. Assuming the opposite - literally - is everything except that which defines the opposite, then the opposite would be the remainder. So if I have a black and white picture, the opposite of the white area is the black area. Obvious. And if the picture is multicoloured? Is the opposite of the white area only the black or everything that is not white, i.e. the rest except the white? Or in other words: what is the opposite of a short morning? a long morning or a long evening or a short evening? What does the term opposite refer to here? The duration of time or the point in time or both? Wordplay? I don't think only. I challenge you to consider what is the opposite of good: only the obvious evil or also the omitted good?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the cooler season, soup is something wonderful. If it weren't for... the famous hair in the soup from time to time. The appropriate proverb means to find and emphasise something negative in something that is actually very good. Why do we actually do that? Why do we do this to ourselves? We could simply - if it happens at all - remove the hair and continue to enjoy. But we dwell on the hair. We see behind it perhaps a lack of hygiene in the preparation or intention, or it spoils our entire enjoyment, etc. Is that still proportionate? And we do the same in many other areas and situations of life. Something small and disturbing tempts us to make a general statement of rejection and badmouthing. We do ourselves no favours by doing so. We can choose to give so much disproportionate space to the negative or consciously choose the good. What do you do?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you know the term black box. In this context, it is about something going into a box, something happening inside it and something coming out at the end. So you don't know exactly what happens in the box, but something happens to what you put in and so something else comes out. A simple example is a drinks machine: Money in and desired drink out. But it can also be much more complex processes with data that are processed and then provide valuable information. Sometimes it is also life circumstances. You experience something, it does something to you and somehow it has an effect on us that we sometimes don't really understand. It can be spiritual or emotional. In a prayer, King David therefore formulates: "Search me, God, and know My heart. Know how I mean it." I find this a beautiful prayer of trust when I don't understand myself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I think about how the way we communicate - purely technically - has changed enormously in the past decades. In the past, there was almost only the spoken word between one another, then of course also the written word in the form of letters, later electronic transmission as telegrams or even for listening via telephone using land lines. Today, many things are completely digital and people "phone" via the internet or communicate a lot via social media. To me, these developments show two things: on the one hand, that we have a strong need for exchange, communication, despite all our occupation, distraction, entertainment, etc. On the other hand, we have a strong need to communicate with each other. Yet, no matter what the transmission or form, misunderstandings can occur, we look for forms of expression, we have a strong need to be understood and that in the end the most valuable way is still the one that happens from heart to heart. That is what I wish for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Spokes in a wheel transfer the load of the wheel rim to the hub located in the centre. This relieves the rim and the hub takes over all the pressure. If a spoke is broken, the wheel can deform. On a bicycle, one speaks of a wheel having a figure eight and then one no longer rides smoothly. If one of the spokes in a wheel is impaired, for example broken or bent, this affects the others and their stability. However, the more spokes a wheel has, the more likely it is to tolerate a defective spoke. This is also the case in our social structures. The better we are embedded in good and stable social relationships, the better off we are and the better the everyday pressures can be shared and absorbed. For me, in this image, the central hub that ultimately absorbs all the pressure is Jesus, with whom I am connected.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, there are supposedly two alternatives for a reaction to a threatening situation: fight or flight. I imagine that animals assess: can I cope with this threat or do I leave the situation as quickly as possible? They then instinctively decide. As humans, we often do the same. We might ask ourselves: am I up to the challenge and do I accept it or do I retreat, leave this situation? This can be in conflicts or external threats. And often we react accordingly. But I think there is a third possibility: instead of just fight or flight, there is still love. Especially in relationships and conflicts. God is said to make it rain on the just and the unjust and to make the sun shine. So he does not remove evil immediately. Remarkable. With his love, situations can be handled differently.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently in a technology-focused and experimental exhibition where you could try out many things. One's own perception was challenged. It was impressively shown how easily they can be deceived. It is so easy to pretend a reality that does not exist at all. On the one hand it was fascinating, on the other hand it made me think. My senses are my main organs of perception and I act on the basis of their information - but they are obviously very easy to deceive. Then I am subject to the risk of making wrong decisions. This happens not infrequently with false information from the media or in gossip. Opinions are deliberately manipulated in this way. But is there really an objective standpoint of truth? Perhaps. In any case, my advice is not to trust only your own perception and experience, but also to take into account the views and wisdom of others in forming your opinion.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you bake biscuits, you can make embossments on the biscuits with the appropriate moulds. For example, a picture or letters. This can be done in two ways: imprinted, in which case I press the picture into the dough, or debossed, in which case I do the opposite: i.e. the entire surface except the picture is pressed down. In English it is called imbossed or debossed. Both are imprints. Applied to life: I can imprint my environment through proactive action or through restraint and by giving others more space. Both - with the right attitude - have a positive effect. For today, I wish you the wisdom to choose the best and correct way according to the situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A river, the Rhine, flows through the city where I live. We have four ferries there. These are small boats that are not motor-driven, but shuttle back and forth from one bank to the other solely by the current, bringing people from one side of the Rhine to the other. It is something very leisurely, comfortable. Interestingly, the ferries can glide in both directions: to the left or to the right without motor operation. Only the current of the river is important as a drive. And the direction is determined by the alignment of the small rudder at the EN end of the boat. A small part with a decisive big effect. It is the same with our thinking: how we align ourselves mentally ultimately determines our actions. Are you aware of this? Nothing happens just like that or by chance. You have influence and responsibility for it. Perhaps it is quite relevant for you today - to consciously influence your actions and your thinking and thus your circumstances!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the military environment, there are badges that indicate the rank of a military member and thus the area of his command or authority. Military personnel naturally know all the different ranks and the badges that go with them. This means that each of these persons knows exactly the area of authority of another military member on the basis of his rank and insignia. If, on the other hand, someone who does not know these signs stands in front of a high-ranking military member, he cannot even estimate how comprehensive his command is - and can thus possibly disobey an order without a bad conscience. In other words, the military officer's sphere of influence only applies within a certain area in which his authority is recognised. But there it applies unchallenged. Perhaps a day to put the appropriate proverb "Honour to whom honour is due" into practice in your environment. Consciously.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, weather changes or weather situations announce themselves very frequently - for those who are used to and practised in perceiving and correctly interpreting these announcements. This means that clouds are not all the same. Some clouds are beautiful weather clouds, others announce rain showers or thunderstorms. It is the same with the evening redness or other phenomena. So if you have developed an awareness of this "language" and learned to understand it, you are prepared for what is coming and can equip, plan or otherwise prepare yourself accordingly. It is often the same in our lives. Our body sends us signals when we put too much strain on it, our environment does the same when we don't behave correctly, and so on. I encourage you today to take the signals from the outside world seriously and to have the courage to let them change your daily agenda.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was abroad the other day and had to walk a considerable distance from the hotel to the venue in a suit and nice shoes. I was not prepared for it to rain. No umbrella with me. My path took me along an overland road lined with trees on one side. The canopy of leaves protruded slightly into the road space or at least partially covered the pavement at the edge. It was a blessing. I was able to walk through the treetops, somewhat protected from the rain, without arriving at my destination completely soaked. At that moment, I was just very grateful for these leaves, for the trees there. A friendly sign from heaven, which meant well with me at that moment. Perhaps you also experience such moments from time to time - an unexpected relief in unplanned, unpleasant situations. Consider them as a gift from God to you, as a sign of his love for you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we were children in Germany and visited relatives, we always had coffee and cake in the afternoon. That was part of it, it was a given, like brushing your teeth regularly. I never doubted whether we would get a piece of delicious cake on any given day or not, no matter where we were invited. Such rituals give security, stability and as human beings we need them. Rituals or rhythms, regularities, the familiar. We are beings who need a certain stability to find a foothold in life and from this foundation we shape our everyday life. So relative, subjective values are not enough. We all need something objective and universally valid somewhere. For example, the protection of life. Or truth. Yes, truth. I am convinced that it is not relative or merely subjective. Truth is not just a concept. Truth is a person. In the Bible, Jesus says that he is this truth. This solid, unshakeable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In agriculture, the land is cultivated selectively. I imagine that nature would not of itself produce the same yields on the same amount of land, but that there would be mixed crops with weeds in between, etc. So the cultivation of the land has productive consequences. This means that thus - through the cultivation of the land by humans - there is an increase in yield and thus also an increase in efficiency. This is actually something good: thus agricultural land can be used better and more efficiently. This also saves soil. But... this principle cannot be increased at will. At some point, the soil is exhausted, needs a fallow or a break. And I think it is the same with us. We in the West are living our lives more and more efficiently, more and more activity and this at the same time, etc. Don't forget the fallow times, which are necessary for recovery and healthier in the long run.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In a sandwich, there is usually bread on the top and bottom and something in between. Cheese for vegetarians and meat for the others. Or a combination or just something green for vegans. With nut or almond bars it's similar: the dough around, the filling inside. A friend of mine used to eat the nut bar in such a way that he first ate all the dough and then - in his eyes - the best part: the filling. And then enjoyed it. Would the pleasure be the same if he had only eaten the filling without the dough? I doubt it. So there are the contrasts that sometimes lie so close together in life and thus highlight, emphasise one as well as the other. The adverse is perceived as adverse because there is also the pleasant - and vice versa. The value of joy depends on the experience of pain. So for today I wish you the awareness or perhaps the enjoyment of the beautiful in the acceptance of the unlovable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I find shadows fascinating. They exist, but somehow they have no mass, you can't touch them or grasp them. And: they are totally dependent on a light source. Without such a source, they don't exist. We also have the saying that someone casts a long shadow, meaning that his or her influence remains until long after they are gone. In the natural, the length of the shadow is not only dependent on the strength of the light source, but rather on the position of the object in relation to the source. If one now transfers this to life, i.e. allegorically, then one could ask: in which light, from which source do you live your life so that it leaves a lasting mark on your environment, on society, and how do you position yourself in relation to this source of light? Have you already asked yourself these questions and found a satisfactory answer?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A helmet protects the head on impact after an accident. As far as I can tell, it protects the circumference of the head against blows and when hitting hard surfaces. But the helmet also has a weak point - where the visor is. That is, where the helmet wearer looks out. If the visor is defective, the basic function of the helmet as impact protection is not significantly impaired, but the wearer can be severely impaired in steering the vehicle, for example, by wind or dust. The same applies if the visor is dirty or scratched. So the hard shell is not enough for good protection. Especially the most vulnerable part must also be well maintained. We also have vulnerable spots in our lives. Maybe memories or other triggers. So make sure that you protect these sides of yourself just as well so that they don't get out of control for you and it becomes dangerous for you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know the question: chicken or egg? So: which came first? With this we usually ask the question whether a need was first with the corresponding offer or whether the offer first awakened the need. So concretely: did we really need a mobile phone back then and were happy when they finally came on the market? Or did someone have the idea, brought out the devices and thus awakened a previously non-existent need? Does it matter? I don't know. The fact is that we live in a world and society that is constantly changing. We also live in economic conditions that are based on the fact that we consume and that new things are always being invented and old things are sometimes displaced. Now one can be angry about it, condemn it. Or you can accept it, try to deal with it in a sensible and resource-saving way and be grateful for new developments. In medicine, I think we all are. How do you decide?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We do not live in one or the perfect world. Therefore, we are at the mercy of many adversities, some of which we can only influence to a very limited extent. This sometimes triggers fear, tension, despair, worries, etc. What helps there? In ancient Greece, there were the Stoics who tried to master inner turmoil through emotional self-control and devotion to fate. The problem is that success depends on one's own ability. In Christianity, on the other hand, the last great legacy of Jesus is peace. A peace that the world - as he says - cannot offer. It is given, we receive. So I can go through the difficult, uncertain and frightening things of this world with a peace that is independent of my abilities. Such peace preserves, gives support and is real help in precarious situations. I have experienced it this way. And it gives perspective into eternity. I wish you this peace today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't think any of us likes pain. On the contrary, we avoid it. It's somehow also logical. Depending on the situation, we quickly take painkillers - in English they are called pain-killers. But pain is actually something good to a certain extent: it indicates that something is harming us, that we should change something immediately if possible: if we burn ourselves, we have to get away from where we are: away from the source of heat. If we cut ourselves, we must immediately distance ourselves from the dangerous source. If our back or head hurts, we may need to change our behaviour, our lifestyle, perhaps our expectations of our performance or something similar. If there were no pain - I suspect our life expectancy would be significantly shorter. So what hurts us, what we avoid, that is, the pain, as paradoxical as it sounds, helps us to live to a certain extent. Perhaps a current signal to you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suspect a far greater proportion of our daily food is processed in some form, by which I mean it is not consumed in its raw form. So apart from raw food like fruit and some vegetables and salad, most of it is cooked, grilled, simmered etc., so it goes through a process that probably mostly involves heat. Meat is best cooked on the grill, i.e. in the fire - in my opinion. Other things were also cooked over a fire in the past. So for something to become edible and digestible for us, it has to go through the fire. It's different with animals. Predators eat the raw meat of the animal they have killed. If we look at the fire allegorically, we can also say: when we have to go through fire in life, something happens to us. Maybe we become more enjoyable for others because we are less proud or more modest or maybe just more grateful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A grain of rice has a certain size. Well, it's not exactly big, but it's also not so small that you can't see it or touch it. In some parts of the world it is the daily main food and is consumed in much the same way as bread in Central Europe. Does a single grain of rice fill you up? Hardly. No, actually not at all. So if I eat a lot of something that doesn't fill me up - then I shouldn't be full afterwards either. But that's not the case. After a sufficiently large amount of rice, I am full. But how much is that? How many of the small grains does it take? Almost a metaphysical problem. The fact is that even very small things in sufficiently large quantities have an effect. So perhaps it does matter whether you give someone a smile at the checkout or on public transport, hold the door open for them, say thank you, and so on. Even if it seems so small.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Emojis are very common and popular today. Among other things, they are used to express feelings or moods, and it seems to me that an emoji can sometimes say more than many words could. It's not for nothing that a picture is worth a thousand words. Although I am of the opinion that this is not always true. Nevertheless, pictures are in themselves a language that sometimes speak better than our ability to speak. But pictures are not just snapshots. Pictures can also be views in nature or the moment of a special moment - it is imprinted in our memory and recollection - just as a picture, as an impression. The fact that we as humans have this ability is remarkable and anything but self-evident, because - in my opinion - this characteristic enriches us enormously. Perhaps it is time to hold on to such images, good impressions, for a later moment when we need the memory.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I only know rhinos from the zoo. But these animals make an impression on me: they are massive and when they run, I don't want to be in their way. They seem strong, almost invulnerable with their armour and the horn on their nose seems invincible. So it's an animal that makes an impression, looks strong and maybe even a little aggressive. But... I didn't know that the animal is actually quite shy. Or that it doesn't feed on meat - as one might assume - but purely on plants. Or that it is very short-sighted, i.e. that it doesn't have good eyesight. Well, you can be wrong about a lot of things just by looking at them. So it can also be that in your environment supposedly strong personalities are not so self-confident or strong, but perhaps sometimes insecure, anxious with a low self-esteem. Therefore, my impulse today is to be cautious about forming opinions too quickly only on the basis of appearance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the context of World War II, returned aircraft were examined for their bullet holes from combat in order to better armour them with minimal weight gain. Thus, the bullet holes were recorded on an aircraft graphic. Now you might think: where there were the most bullet holes, you were most likely to armour. But wrong! Because: those planes that came back obviously had no hits that led to the crash, otherwise the planes would not have come back. Therefore, the planes had to be reinforced where there were no bullet holes, which were obviously the most vulnerable places. So you can't always draw the right conclusions based on what seems to be the most obvious fact. I wish you wisdom today to see the facts correctly and to draw the right conclusions and thus make wise decisions.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Is this familiar to you: You are in a place with some people and at some point you find yourself in a larger or smaller group and there is some form of negative talk. Be it about other people or circumstances or something else. And without you being aware of it, at some point you become part of the conversation because you might also think of something about the people mentioned or situations or similar or just something else negative that comes to your mind. I am always struck by how strong the gravitation of negativity is. It makes people who are basically negative find each other in a very short time, even though they may not have known each other before, or the negativity shapes and promotes conversation about negativity. Where that comes from is a mystery to me, because in the end it leaves no one happy. But it can turn enemies into allies. So be on guard against that and protect yourself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A roof covers a house so that the rain or other weather-related phenomena cannot enter the house. The roof is therefore a protection for everything underneath. With canopies it is not quite like that: the environment is open, not like a house where the walls form a closed space. Nevertheless, the canopy offers some protection from rain or snow or the like. Quite often, especially during a downpour or thunderstorm, a canopy is enough to provide sufficient shelter. Even if you don't stay under a canopy for long, it is still valuable and sometimes a real rescue. It can also be that we can be such a shelter for someone in our relationships depending on the situation - perhaps when someone is experiencing a conflictual situation, an open ear is already good or simply the feeling that one is accepted the way one is. Perhaps you can be such a protective canopy for someone today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Test patterns are used to assess the picture quality of television sets and monitors and to assist in picture adjustment and troubleshooting. In the past, when television programmes were not broadcast around the clock, test pictures were published at times of day when there were no programmes on. To the layman, they simply look very structured and colourful. For the expert, it is recognisable whether there are problems, for example, with certain colour channels or the like. Thus, errors can be found that would otherwise not be discovered because they are hardly visible in the actual application or are not obvious enough. So such images serve as a health check of the system. In our everyday life - so it seems to me - such pictures, regularly applied, would also be helpful. I think they would protect us better from burnout, stress, wrong work-life balance etc. Do you think you could design or find such a test picture for yourself?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently read in Mark's account of Jesus that he went to a lake, taught many people there and then, at a customs station, invited the customs officer to go with him. Before that, Jesus had already invited other men. I imagine how the first ones invited were proud to belong to this teacher who spoke there at the lake in front of many people. On the political context: the country was under foreign occupation by the Romans and customs officers were indeed members of the people who collaborated with the occupiers. So presumably Jesus' invitation to this customs official did not exactly cause enthusiasm but rather horror or anger among those first invited. But the boss was in the lead. So everyone had to arrange themselves accordingly for this new learning community. Challenging. Maybe you also have people in your environment whom you would not choose yourself and who challenge you. Consider it as an opportunity for growth.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
According to the official definition, 'disputed' means: "not yet clarified, not yet decided; open to different interpretations". There is an inherent dispute in the German term. This means that something has not yet reached consensus for all those involved, that there are still different views, opinions or opinions. This is often the case in sport, for example in football, when it has to be decided whether a foul really was one or not - contentious situations. Who or what decides? One seeks the truth. But at what price? I think it is a negotiation between a serious search for truth and yet the broadest possible agreement. The lines are probably notoriously blurred. If you find yourself in a contentious situation today, think about what serves general peace in addition to the serious search for truth. Perhaps this is more important and more reconciliatory.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A parrot is a colourful bird and it generally has the reputation of having the ability to talk like humans. However, it is said to mainly repeat what it has heard from humans. Thus, the actually beautifully colourful bird with its outstanding ability becomes a kind of scold. People who simply imitate others or talk after their own mouths are called parrots because they do not have their own opinions but repeat those of others. In my opinion, this does an injustice to the parrot. Its actually extraordinary ability is defamed and put in a false light. The fact that it is able to repeat human words is outstanding. It is not his destiny to answer like a human being - and yet this seems to be expected of him. Today, make sure that you do not expect more from people around you and also from yourself than is correct. Rather, appreciate what is available.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we saw a kangaroo in our garden, we would probably be totally surprised and excited and wouldn't know how to behave. But if we lived in Australia, the incident described would be nothing special. This is how we can feel about many things in everyday life: Things we experience, behaviour we exhibit, etc. that just seems - as we call it - normal. But for others it can be unusual, perhaps even extraordinary. It is the same with certain abilities that have been given to each and every one of us. They are not simply normal or self-evident, but specific. Therefore, I encourage you for today to consciously notice things that you are good at, that you are good at or character traits that you possess, to be grateful for them and perhaps to look at them from the perspective of someone who would like to have them but does not. This will certainly give you a different perspective on your life and yourself as a person.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I see open-air swimming pools and green lawns and smell the wet grass, I am immediately transported back to my childhood, not only in thoughts and memories, but also emotionally; as if I were there again. But I need a trigger like seeing or smelling such an outdoor pool to be taken back. Just the thought of it is somehow not enough. Such memories, which can also be quite different and perhaps triggered by the smell of a Christmas market or the sight of mountains, the sea, etc., are richer than just thinking about it. In a prayer in the Bible it says in a subordinate clause "and do not forget the good things God has done for you." I think that's what it's all about: reliving that gratitude, not just thinking about it. I wish you success in this today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, the scissors grinder used to come to our house from time to time and sharpen our blunted scissors and knives. Then the blades were razor-sharp again. Sharp blades were - and still are - much better. In the Bible, sharp knives are used as an image for words. If you transfer that, then words can also become blunt. I think one source of this is fatigue. Peter denying Jesus comes to mind. Shortly before, he couldn't keep awake with two other friends, so he was totally overtired. Was that perhaps why he was unable to be strong and resilient when it mattered? Perhaps he would not have denied Jesus less tired. Why don't you look out for such dulling factors in yourself and try to eliminate them - or else to avoid any negative consequences through targeted grinding actions such as perhaps more sleep?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am fascinated by church windows, especially those by Chagall and similar artists. I can look at them for hours and feel as if I have been transported into a story without words. Church windows like these are especially beautiful when you see them from inside the church. When the light comes in from outside and makes the colours glow and the pictures come alive. I believe that this also happens when we can see ourselves in the light of God's love. I believe it changes something of us from within, touches something inside, as nothing else can. This goes beyond words and can hardly be described, only experienced. I wish you that you can have such deep inner experiences again and again. I am sure that this is why artists like Chagall were able to create such brilliant works of art. It was their way of letting the inexpressible speak.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our environment, there are numerous frequencies that permanently surround us. However, we do not perceive them with our natural senses. Radio signals are an example: they are omnipresent, but only when we switch on a suitable receiver do they become perceptible to us. But there are also other sensors that partly react to frequencies or signals, although they are not made for this purpose: thus, for certain receivers or sensors, interfering frequencies can appear that are intended for other receiver systems. They are not intended to interfere per se, but they can interfere negatively with other systems. One must then protect the corresponding systems from such frequencies or neutralise these other frequencies. We need exactly the same in everyday life with the flood of information from daily news, social media, etc. so that we have enough capacity for natural, interpersonal encounters. Are you succeeding in this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
To a certain extent, a scale has a kind of counterweight, where you have to adjust the counterweight equivalently, so that the scale is in balance at the end. In our linguistic usage, i.e. the German language, this is also expressed just like this: equal-weight. So equal weight. In other languages this is called "balance", i.e. equilibrium in a similar expression in German. When I look at my life and that of those around me, I notice that many people - myself included - are rarely in balance and feel balanced. Today, anyone who does not talk about being stressed is almost classified as sick or lazy. But we need balance. Nature, the creatures, and all of us were created for balance. Today, pay attention to areas where there is imbalance and, out of love for yourself, try to bring them into a good balance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Pincers are used in many cases to pull out nails or the like. This means that it is actually a tool not for building but for dismantling, disposal. In this way, the nails can be removed from old furniture or woodwork and the wood can be burnt and disposed of cleanly without any metal remaining. If the nails can be pulled clean, they can even be reused. We are probably more familiar with tools for making, building, erecting etc. and they seem more sensible to us than those that separate the waste and are used for sustainable disposal and thus also ecologically better and more resource-saving. Such moments also occur in our lives: Deconstruction, dismantling, making room and creating resources for the new, disposing of the old, the discarded. What tools do you use for this? I think forgetting alone is not enough. For me, forgiveness and reconciliation help.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Beautiful reeds often grow along the shore of natural lakes. On the one hand, it is beautiful to look at because it looks so natural and untouched, but on the other hand, it also obscures the direct view of the lakeshore and the body of water. And that, I think, is also the purpose of this plant: to be a protection for the creatures that live around and perhaps in the lake. Even though most things in nature are open, there are certain protective elements that nature produces and that are intended by creation to protect. We humans also need such protective elements in our lives. I think they include trust, loyalty, love, patience, friendship, joy, support and assistance and others. Perhaps you are experiencing these from good people - then I invite you to actively thank them. Or you have the privilege of being such a protection for others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently returned from a trip that had a time difference of 9h between home and destination. When I came back, I wanted to concentrate on something - but my eyes kept falling shut. The tiredness due to the journey and the time difference made me fall into a sleepy phase again and again. When we are in our daily rhythm, this happens less often. In a time of 7/24 where almost everything is possible around the clock and one is also constantly available, we quickly forget that we are beings with many rhythms - the very fact that we live requires such a rhythm: that of breathing: inhale, exhale. You can't have just one without the other. Therefore, today I would like to ask you a practical question: do you maintain such a balanced rhythm of life, especially mentally, which supports you in life or do you tend to maximise resources without taking into account your needs for rest and recuperation?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Where I live, huge towers have been built in recent years by a global pharmaceutical company as commercial buildings, which have since significantly shaped the silhouette of our city. Where church towers used to be the prominent features of a settlement, today they are increasingly taller commercial buildings. Higher, wider, longer: we are all familiar with the comparative. Presumably this is not fundamentally bad. But the motivation behind it is crucial. Is it a self-glorification that drives me or is it rather a sporty drive seeking limits, where ideally everything remains within a healthy framework? I'm fascinated by the latter myself: when I get further in some area of my life than was previously possible. I think that is then healthy growth instead of a vain desire for recognition that remains insatiable. Do you perhaps also have areas of life that are affected by the comparative and where you need to check your motivation?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you've had calf cramps too. After an intense sporting activity or after hiking, or maybe at night. Such cramps can sometimes be very painful. In most cases, they indicate that you have a deficiency: either of magnesium or fluid. But what manifests itself locally - in the calves - is a global problem: the whole body lacks sufficient fluid or magnesium or possibly another substance. In our social networks, people also have relationship pain again and again. These are not always only due to the people who feel them - but these are merely the place where actually more global relationship problems become visible. If this is the case in your environment, then see to it that the global problem can be tackled with courage and that any deficiency can be specifically remedied.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When mosquito bites are very itchy and in a hard-to-reach place on the body, they can be very troublesome. You want to scratch to relieve the itch. This works for a short time, but rarely for long. You think you are doing yourself some good, but by scratching you spread the insect venom even more. The result can be that you scratch yourself sore. What would have been a barely noticeable puncture mark can expand enormously and, in the worst case, become infected. But scratching can also be good if there is something on the skin that should not be there and you can get rid of it with a little scratching. So it takes some wisdom to decide: Scratching: yes or no? It can also be like that in communication. Sometimes you think you can relax a tense state with words - many or few. But it only gets worse. So for today I wish you wisdom to decide when and how much to speak or to remain silent.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When mosquito bites are very itchy and in a hard-to-reach place on the body, they can be very troublesome. You want to scratch to relieve the itch. This works for a short time, but rarely for long. You think you are doing yourself some good, but by scratching you spread the insect venom even more. The result can be that you scratch yourself sore. What would have been a barely noticeable puncture mark can expand enormously and, in the worst case, become infected. But scratching can also be good if there is something on the skin that should not be there and you can get rid of it with a little scratching. So it takes some wisdom to decide: Scratching: yes or no? It can also be like that in communication. Sometimes you think you can relax a tense state with words - many or few. But it only gets worse. So for today I wish you wisdom to decide when and how much to speak or to remain silent.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our days, a topic is suddenly present that, as far as I can remember, has never really been prominent in the media: lack. Especially in the area of energy supply. The conflict in Ukraine with its consequences and the ongoing drought brought this up very unexpectedly and unpredictably. It made me think of winter and snow. Snow is not only frozen water, i.e. precipitation in solid form as a result of the cold season. It is also a reservoir. In winter, when nature is passive and needs less water, it falls but is preserved by freezing for the time when it is needed more: in spring. Then the snow melts and the moisture necessary for nature and growth is available. Perhaps you have more time than usual at the moment. How do you use this time wisely so that you can still live a balanced life in phases with less time?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As far as I know, vehicles have a license plate in every country. What is the point? The vehicles could also participate in traffic without a plate. But they would no longer be identifiable. And what is the point of this? If there is a violation of the traffic law, they must be able to be held accountable. And why is that? So that justice may be done to others who have been wronged by their behaviour. In other words, the number plate is not there for the vehicle owners or the vehicles, but for the legal protection of others. If we transfer this to us humans: we are also clearly identifiable as individuals and thus also have a corresponding responsibility towards our environment. Our behaviour as individuals therefore has a direct impact on and includes responsibility towards our immediate environment. Are you aware of this and do you behave accordingly?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have just read the 16th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew. It struck me how different groups had very different ideas - namely about the Savior, the so-called Messiah. The theological hot-shots travelled all the way from far away to get a sign from Jesus, who is this Messiah. He, Jesus, points out that they should interpret correctly what they have experienced and seen so far. The followers of Jesus, especially the leader Peter, acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, but also has his very specific ideas about him - such that are not in alignment with the mission of this Messiah. Thank God, nevertheless, his followers stay with Jesus, unlike the theologians. How is it with you? Do you also have certain ideas how God has to be and do you stay or do you turn away when he does not fulfill them and lives his being which is often not understandable for us?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a windscreen in every car. It is necessary to protect us from the wind when driving at high speeds and from the rain when the weather is not so good. If it were not there, our eyes would be overwhelmed by the force of the wind and we would be in danger of causing an accident due to a lack of good vision. In our lives, we are also increasingly living at higher speeds. Modern technologies, 24/7 accessibility, social media, etc., further promote this development. All the more we need such a metaphorically speaking windbreak, so that we do not lose our clear view and do not put ourselves and others in danger. Do you have one of these? I think mine is the conscious reminder of what the meaning of my life is, where I come from, where I am going and that I want to stay conscious on this path and not let myself be distracted by the demands of the environment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We talk about the full moon or the half moon or the empty moon - depending on the shape of the moon as we can see it. Of course, today we know that the moon is always full. Simply because of the position of the Earth in the Sun's cone of light, it covers more or less of the moon surface. Nevertheless, depending on the Earth's position, we see only part of the moon illuminated. So the position in the light is decisive. This can easily be transferred to everyday life: depending on how I position myself, I perceive situations - holistically or only partially, because perhaps I only want to see them on one side, whether consciously or unconsciously. And what is even more to learn from the moon example: depending on how much I put myself in the spotlight, I see situations more holistically or not: so the more of me, the less of what I am looking at or in - and the less of me, the more wholeness of the other. Is this perhaps an issue for you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Mud collectors can be found on most roads. These are openings in the roadway that are covered with a cast-iron grid. Their purpose is to drain rainwater into the ground when it rains. This usually works very well - except during thunderstorms, when the wind tears branches and blossoms etc. from the trees and the thundershower carries them along and they eventually get caught in the grating. Of course, that's what the grille is there for: to hold back material and only let the water out. But if too much material comes in, the mud collector gets clogged and in a very short time the roadway is under water after all. The same applies to our psyche: if we have too many and too violent impressions, these can clog our protective system and we are no longer able to deal well with new impressions. The only thing that helps is purification. So perhaps today in particular, pay attention to what is flowing into you and reserve resources for a healthy cleansing of your filter.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The bark of a tree has the task - analogous to human skin - of protecting the trunk or tree body from environmental influences. If the bark is injured, it can - again analogous to the human skin - regenerate the injured area through self-healing forces. However, if the bark is missing or is removed to a very large extent, the tree is no longer able to survive and dies. We all live in different groupings, both in our private and professional lives. Such groups or bodies often have people who are more on the inside and animate the group and others who are more on the outside and partly represent the group to the outside. They get a lot out of that too. Perhaps today is a day to express special appreciation to such exposed people - for they protect such a grouping, among other things, and thus keep it alive.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I notice that a traffic light has less and less authority in our time. By this I mean: whether the light is on red or not plays less and less of a role for drivers. If they have the impression that they can continue driving despite a red light - based solely on their own assessment - then they just do. When I was younger, I had the impression that traffic lights enjoyed respect as representatives of a superior, socially generally accepted authority. But such a loss of authority in our days can also be found in many other areas of society: Towards the police or teachers, parents, superiors at work etc. It seems at times that a general "I know better" attitude has permeated modern society. I challenge you today to think about what this looks like in your life. Is it still "Honour to whom honour is due" or "Honour to whom I may give it"?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you have had people in your environment who have reminded you with incredible persistence of things you should have done. When you were a child, it might have been cleaning your room or doing some other household chore. For me, it was often the case that I delayed doing the task because I was annoyed by the repeated reminders. I was probably more annoyed by my forgetfulness than by the demands made on me. So there are people - myself excluded - who remember things well and keep at them with great perseverance until they are done, until they can consider them fulfilled. Actually, it is a blessing to have such people in one's environment who remind one of things that one quickly forgets. Yes the forgetting... in a prayer King David prays "praise the Lord my soul and forget not what good he has done for you". Apparently, he too had to keep urging himself with perseverance not to forget the good received from God in his life. I wish for more of this perseverance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A trophy such as a medal or a cup in sport can be of varying value to the recipient - depending on the performance required for it, etc. However, the ideal value is certainly higher than the material value. Furthermore, there is a danger that if one identifies too strongly with the trophy, one's own personality may be damaged by atrophy or dependence, too strong an attachment to the award. Then it becomes unhealthy and the trophy becomes an addictive identity-giver that demands constant attention and respect. The Bible warns against what is called idolatry: that is, the materialisation of an idea of a higher power. I imagine that this warning or prohibition is precisely related to what is described: the danger of becoming dependent on something in an unhealthy way, instead of living in the dignity given as a free creature in a healthy relationship with the Creator. Do you live in this freedom?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
can't help but marvel that aircraft as heavy as we have today can stay in the air and fly from one place to another. For me, something like that borders on a miracle. How can such a heavy vehicle overcome the force of gravity despite the earth's gravitational pull? Of course, birds were the inspiration for this. But it took people who were probably cranks in the eyes of many, dreaming of one day flying through the air like a bird. Not the first one succeeded on the first try. But the first attempt was the inspiration and the encouragement for a next one, who in turn was that for a next one and so on - until we were where we are today. You also have dreams in your heart and you may be inspired. I encourage you to pursue them as far as you can. Unbeknownst to you, you are the inspiration for another.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are trouser pockets as popular with women as they are with men? I have all kinds of things in there. As a rule, a pocket knife is never missing. But even when I'm out and about, my keys are in there, a paper handkerchief. But I still asked myself: why do people have pockets? Was there originally a certain need that I don't know about and is different from what I need the pockets for? This question - I admit it - unsettles me. Am I doing it right or am I missing the real point? Am I perhaps missing the real meaning and staying at a lower level than the real one? I've never thought about it like that before when I put my hands in my pockets - they're mega practical for that, by the way. What do I conclude from this? I simply don't know. But I am happy that they exist and continue to use them in my way with gratitude. It could be like that for many everyday things. Gratitude.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For modern electronic devices, there are so-called digital pens, i.e. "digtial pens". These look similar to another, analogue writing instrument, but do not usually write on paper, but are intended for use on a mobile device or its display. My experience with them is that you cannot write or draw in the same way as with analogue pens. However, the devices are able to recognise handwriting and reproduce it in standard script, which can be very practical. Or the writing can be stored digitally and easily passed on, etc. So which is better? The analogue or the digital pen? I think you have to decide according to the situation. It's the same with many other things in life: instead of playing one off against the other, you can also consider opposing approaches as complementary. So I wish you this complementary rather than mutually exclusive view for your situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In these hot summer months and with the current drought, rain is as the saying goes, a blessing. But that is not always the case. I still hear people complaining that the summer is rainy, that it is always raining, etc. Generally speaking, rain is considered bad weather. In many parts of the world, however, rain is a core element of life and the basis of life that is needed for essential food to grow in nature. This is how rain is perceived and appreciated. What does that look like for you? Is rain bad weather for you - i.e. negative - or do you also see it as a blessing that makes fertility possible in the first place? There are probably some things in life that we perceive as negative, but which actually contribute to growth. Resistance, in whatever form, is also one of them. They are often not welcome, but they are growth promoters. Also for you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Contact lens wearers know: if the lenses do not sit well on the eye or are not ground correctly or appropriately, then the vision is not really good and one is constantly tempted to improve the visual acuity with the eyes or to look for another position with the eye in which it would supposedly be easier to see. In this natural example, it is obvious where the problem lies: in the mismatched part on the organ of vision, the eye. Figuratively speaking, we are not always so aware that we have clouded or at least influenced vision. I find with myself that I don't always struggle to have the best possible view of situations or about other people, but my vision is partly influenced by a "lens of mistrust". If you have even slightly negative thoughts about situations or people today, check whether it is the real view or a clouded lens.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know people who have a tattoo, or maybe even a lot of them, or others who wear very original jewellery that stands out. Some do it simply because they like it, but my guess is that for some it is also to send a certain non-verbal message. I don't always understand it and I don't want to imply or misinterpret anything. But in any case, I think that behind it there is a kind of call for the desire to be noticed. Maybe you know such people or even work with them or meet them regularly. Maybe it's time to ask them why they are wearing or have had this or that done - and who knows what kind of open, personal conversation might result and how the non-verbal might turn into a relationship conversation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I belong to the generation that still grew up with an analogue telephone with a dial. The telephone was heavy, relatively large, connected to the network via cable and you had a handset that you held in your hand. The number you wanted to call was set with the dial and they were shorter numbers than we have today. Also, you didn't have to set the area code if you were calling within the same city. Tempi passati... At that time it was unimaginable that one day you would make a phone call with a device that had no dial, was digital and needed no cable to connect to the network - and: that you could carry around with you and therefore use anywhere. Unimaginable, but not unrealisable. You can learn that from it - and for you as encouragement: where you currently see no way out or solution in life, one is still possible. Read verse 37 in the Bible in the book of Luke, chapter 1.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I've reached an age where I can't remember everything and sometimes search for certain terms that just don't come to mind. For example, I just couldn't remember the term for cats' whiskers. This can be frustrating, although it doesn't bother me, but shows me: my resources are limited. I can't absorb new information on top of the existing ones every day and keep it all in. I obviously have to set priorities in information processing as well. In the West, we often live in an environment where resources are simply there: running water, electricity from the socket, full shelves when shopping. But this is not normal for many people in the world. Perhaps today is a day to become aware of our own available but finite resources and to use or plan them sensibly. By the way: the cat hairs mentioned are called vibrissae.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my understanding, a city is a place of settlement, i.e. a place where one intends to stay. This compared to a tent or a tented settlement, A tent allows for pragmatic accommodation in changing locations. The house in the city, on the other hand, has a permanent focus with infrastructure such as electricity, running water, etc. Those who settle in a house in the city, even as tenants, have intentions to stay longer than in a temporary place in a tent. This also means that neighbourhoods are formed differently and that one has a fixed address in the city. For all the FLexibility, it is more exhausting to live only in a tent. The non-binding or flexible does not only have advantages. Maybe it's time for you to become more settled, more committed in one area of your life and to signal this to the outside world. By this I mean: to signal where you stand, where others can reach you - analogous to a fixed address.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I consume something, it is not uncommon for the taste of the last thing I consumed to linger in my mouth. Even if it was some time ago and I have long since swallowed what I ate or drank, this taste remains. In cases where it is something I like, this is pleasant, in others - for example, medicines with a bad taste - less so. In most cases, the only real remedy is to brush my teeth. Not even consuming something else can sometimes help. It is the same with other things we consume, such as thoughts or our mind. In this way, we actually determine ourselves what we allow ourselves to be imprinted with. Often we are not aware of this. So a brutal thriller before falling asleep can have a negative impact on our night's rest, or negative talk about others shapes us in the same way and how we see others, and so on. How do you maintain your mental and psychological hygiene? Prayer and dumping all the negativity there and consciously focusing on God's goodness helps me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
How is it that we humans look so different globally. Why do we have light skin in Central Europe, but people in Africa sometimes have very dark skin? I'm sure there are reasons. Along with the skin colour, it is often the overall posture or body shape that differs. Or in the Asian region, the facial shapes are so different, etc. The cultures of the different types of people also vary. So we are all from the same tribe, so to speak, but still have such different expressions. And this difference is usually perceived as foreign - mainly because of the cultural differences. And foreign often leads us to scepticism and mistrust. Yet we are all human beings, creatures, born in the same way and have an expiry date. The essence of what is foreign to us is nevertheless what is essentially the same to us. Rather a reason for joy and openness than scepticism. Does that speak to you right now?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I spoke once before about the four-leaf clover and my childhood memories of it. Supposedly, one of these brought good luck. Our children's eyes would scan the meadows with strained eyes and our little hands would grab at possible shamrock candidates because they might look like they actually had four leaves instead of just three. Which, in retrospect, is a realisation: the desired did not come by chance, but by conscious searching, by focus, perseverance and tenacity. Actually, one would have to say: the four-leaf clover did not bring luck, but it was luck to find one. In other words: only those who sought found. Or: only those who knock open a door and those who dare to ask are received. Whether you can force luck, I don't know. But I believe that you can chase after blessings, seek them, set out to find them - until they come.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A sunrise is something beautiful to behold. You see a red ball of fire slowly begin to rise above the horizon and then get brighter and brighter. But it is and remains a ball and much smaller than the horizon in width. When I once flew into the morning during an overseas flight, the view was so different - just the other way round: there was a bright glow of light all around the globe that we saw from a great distance thanks to the altitude of the flight. So the horizon was much smaller and rounder and surrounded by the bright light of the quasi rising sun. Both times a sunrise and yet such completely different views. Depending on the altitude, depending on the distance to an object or depending on the point of view, facts appear quite different in their relation to each other, almost inverse. Perhaps you will find yourself in a situation today in which it is worth changing your usual way of looking at things or the altitude of your view.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What is scarce often has more value and therefore often gets more attention. So I experienced that at the end of the holidays there was a shortage of bread for breakfast on the day of departure. It was interesting how suddenly the appetite for bread increased and at the same time the feeling of not having had enough. In the material sphere, there are things that are or become particularly coveted because of their rarity and therefore valuable. Gold is one of them, or pearls and others. In the material sphere, it is somehow obvious or prominent and present. But in relationships - I notice - less so: a familiar moment, an unplanned personal exchange, a familiar and connecting moment of silence that triggers a strong feeling of being understood, a genuinely meant embrace. Look out for such treasures in your everyday life. And maybe you can bring them from the stage of rarities into the realm of habits.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
According to science, nature is built up in fractals. That means as much as: the small is depicted in the large or vice versa. A simple example is a tree or a fern. You can see that the branches of a tree look like small miniature trees. They also have a kind of trunk below, from which further branches branch off as self-similar structures. The same goes for a fern whose leaves look like small ferns. Other examples are the Romanesco or broccoli, which consists of nothing but smaller copies of itself. Isn't that amazing? There is so much more that, on closer inspection, leads to an overwhelm for me. And at the same time to a relativization of myself and humanity and their achievements. Take some time today to marvel and to become aware of how so many things work in and of themselves for the good of us - and for gratitude.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Maybe you are one of those who likes to play computer games. When I was a teenager, the handy game consoles came along. They were the forerunners of Gameboys. I bought one too, second hand, and loved to play. In these games you always try to reach a new level. That's the reward. But when you've done them all - what then? Then the enthusiasm is lost. Not so with a parlour game like hurry up and play or a card game. You don't play alone, but together or against each other. The levels are not programmed, but the outcome is often random and open. That is generally the risk in relationships. Building trust also makes you vulnerable. But I think it's still better than isolation, where you don't get hurt but you get lonely. If you are currently suffering from injuries from relationships: be comforted and dare to trust again. In spite of bad experiences.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
They say that fire purifies. And what is meant by this is that everything that is not good is burnt away, burnt up, and only that which endures remains. And what is burnt? The burnt is then ashes. And what do you do with the ashes? You can throw it away or scatter it - or: you can process it together with fat to make soap. And what is soap used for? For cleaning. So fire seems to have the double effect of purification in itself: firstly, purifying what the fire consumes and secondly, potentially purifying substance for further things. And because in hot moments of life, in those in which things seem to be taken away from us by fire, it is not easy for us to endure these moments. That is why we should point out the positive, the purifying at this point. Because impure things have the potential to create contamination. And that could be much more devastating.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A key ring is very practical: you can attach all the keys you need to one ring and thus have them all together on one ring. However, the disadvantage of the key ring is that if you lose it, all the keys attached to it are gone. Lump risk. In this case - as in other similar ones - it is an assessment of risk and benefit that lets you decide whether to attach all the keys to one bunch or perhaps to spread them over two or three - which in turn has the disadvantage that you have to carry different bunches with you. Risk or benefit - which prevails? What tips the balance? We face such challenges in life from time to time: Risk or benefit, risk or gain, risk or added value. It can be the same in relationships. I wish you the necessary wisdom for today to make such decisions for concrete situations consciously and with courage but also sobriety.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that the tree crown is the part of the tree with needles or foliage between the base of the crown, i.e. the first green branch, and the top of the tree? I always thought it was just the topmost part. So it may be that one tree has very light foliage compared to another fully leafy species - but nevertheless in both cases one speaks of the tree crown and means the leafy part - regardless of its volume. It is said of man that he is the crown of creation, and we can read of this in Psalm 8. Well, we humans don't always behave like royalty... but nevertheless we ARE. These thoughts on the crown of the tree should encourage you today that no matter how you see or perceive yourself, you as a creature have such a royal identity. If you are aware of this, you will certainly behave more royally, I imagine. Have courage in doing so!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my youth, there was an electronic game that had four different luminous fields and sounds. The game was simple: a sound and colour sequence was played and had to be confirmed correctly. The sequence became more and more difficult until one made a mistake. Memory training. I think it is a privilege to have the ability to remember something or to be able to consciously remember something. I believe that this ability is given to us so that we are prepared in life for what is to come. So Peter could watch Jesus calling a dead girl back to life. And after Jesus died, Peter remembered and called an already dead woman back to life. Perhaps you are experiencing something special today that is preparing you for a circumstance in the future. Therefore, be especially attentive today to what you experience and remember it. It can be a lesson for you later in life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I went swimming in the Rhine the other day. As a rule, I can orientate myself well even during the crawl. Then a ship came by and there were strong sideways waves that also caught me. Due to the ups and downs caused by the waves, I was totally confused in my usual orientation. I absolutely could no longer rely on my sense of direction, but had to stop and orientate myself with my eyes. This reminded me that when life is also suddenly up and down, you need better orientation than just feelings. It helps me that I have consciously placed my life in God's hands. Even when it is stormy - and it has been stormy for me in recent years - the conscious memory of this decision gives me support, orientation and peace. I don't have to be afraid of going under, I know my life is safe in a good hand. That really helps.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For some years now, coffee capsules have been very common and also popular. Of course, first there was a manufacturer of both the capsules and the corresponding machine. Then came the imitations - both machines and capsules from other manufacturers were imitated to get a share of the market, which grew steadily. We humans are sometimes also in danger of behaving in an analogous way: someone is successful with a behaviour or a certain way and we want that success in our lives - so we imitate the behaviour. But this does not always ensure success. I think it is better to follow one's own goals, desires and, in a positive sense, passions. These are our own, they belong to us and I think no one but ourselves can live them out in this way. If we do that, I am sure we will be successful. Even if successful in a different sense and perhaps not so visible.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I see a photo in front of me from my teenage years. That was almost 40 years ago. Yet the memories of the picture are as fresh as if it had been taken only recently. The style of dress and the hairstyle make it clear that the picture does not fit into our time. Such a picture triggers memories, feelings, experiences that I would otherwise not be able to actively bring to mind. When I look at the picture, I feel transported back to the moment and the situation of that time. I am the same, but still different, I look different today, I have gained life experience and yet the person in the picture is infinitely familiar to me. If it had been the other way round, if I had been shown a picture back then of how I look today - I would hardly have believed it. So I am left marvelling at how easily 40 years can be skipped. It shows me how relative the time component in our lives is and how non-linear. So everything has its time. Also on this day.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
For me, doors signal transitions with conditional access. That means: someone has the authority to open the door and grant me access or to close it and keep me at a distance. That is absolutely legitimate. What I find strange from this point of view are glass doors: they can be open or closed in the same way as ordinary doors and mean the same thing: Access or not. But because they are made of glass, access can be denied but a clear view of what lies behind them can still be granted. That is somehow strange. One is allowed to see almost everything - but still not have a share in it. Seems to me like a contradictory double message. Why don't you look at your life and see if you have such behavioural patterns: that you might express something with your words but signal the opposite with your body posture, or perhaps in some other form, and try to communicate clearly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I imagine how a painter or painter with her brush very carefully takes the mixed paint on the brush and then applies it in the right place. At first this only looks as if material stuck to the bristles is now transferred to the canvas and somehow spread. But this technically easily recognisable and comprehensible process is in reality the completion of an image that already exists in the artist's imagination and is now being brought into the visible realm as a creation. The single spot that is being applied could simply be seen as any colour-covered limited area - or as an important, complementary part of the overall picture. A question of optics and perception. How do you see today? As an insignificant one? The day after yesterday and before tomorrow? Or as an elementary part of your own life story?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As far as I know, bricks are generally used for building houses or for the façade of a house. In some cases, they are also used decoratively on a bookcase or as a pen holder. I was recently in a town where, in the old part of town, the bricks were used as paving stones. That was a bit unusual for me: walking on red ground. But then I thought: yes, why not? There is no rule on how to use bricks correctly. That's probably the way it is with many things that have different uses and applications depending on the culture. If you meet others today who perhaps deal with things or words differently, unfamiliar to you and perhaps even somewhat irritating, then don't stop at irritation, but challenge yourself with the question of what you can learn from it or how you can become more open to what is foreign.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In times like these, when a virus has so much impact on both global social and individual lives, it is striking that something as small as a virus can have so much impact on the very big. Or think of a mosquito that can transmit a pathogen and from which one can hardly protect oneself. So man, in all his size, is actually very vulnerable and fragile, even if he has invented weapons of tremendous destructive power. Power and effect do not always depend on size. And so it is also in the very personal. A straightforward, sincere person may have a much greater impact on the environment than an influencer in the social media. Format is not a question of size. So for today, be encouraged that you have an impact with your lifestyle, your sincerity, regardless of the size of your sphere of influence. This is both an opportunity and a responsibility.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We all know tears. They can be caused by external stimuli, but they can also be emotional. In the latter case, they are a kind of language - for a counterpart or for oneself. For me, tears help me to express something to myself that I cannot do verbally or in any other form. It gives voice to something that goes beyond words. It also purifies. This is so in the physical - so for example, if something gets into my eye that shouldn't be there, it is flushed out thanks to the tears. And I think it's no different emotionally. In his vision, which he writes down as a revelation, John speaks of tears in the second last chapter, namely: "He will wipe away all tears from their eyes: Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, neither shall there be lamentation, neither shall there be travail. For that which was before is passed away." He does not write that there will be no more tears - but that they will be perceived and wiped away. I find that very beautiful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was in the US the other day, I noticed the hydrants. They were strikingly red and looked like little firemen. They were not hidden or underground, but a noticeable part of the road infrastructure. But hydrants are actually very rarely in use, I think. But when you need them, they are enormously valuable: if there is a fire and the fire brigade can get running water as close to the burning object as possible, that can save lives and prevent greater damage. We have also had remarkable experiences or encounters in our lives. I said it the other day: I believe that these are not accidental, but prepare us for things to come. If you are in a tricky or difficult situation, look for your next hydrant, that is, a memory or experience that you can connect to and draw from for the current need.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The proverb about the glass of water being half full or half empty is a common saying and I think it is very appropriate, also for our time and society. The culture in which we live shapes us and shapes our thinking, our perception and also interpretation of what we perceive. For example, certain cultures tend to be optimistic, positive-minded, grateful for what is - in other words, see the glass half full, while others are negative, deficit-oriented and often only see what is missing, not perfect or different from what was expected. These different attitudes also shape our view. Indeed, we often see what we want to see: the optimists what works, even if it is a small part in the whole context, and the pessimists what is not good, even if it would be more neglected. Why don't you pay attention to your point of view, the culture you let shape you - and find out which one does you better.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The purpose of a street lantern is to illuminate a public area. Both the height of the lanterns and their distance play a role. If the distance is too far, dark places are created between the lanterns. If the distance is too close, an unnecessarily large number of lanterns are placed, which does not make economic sense and can also lead to conflicts with other street furniture. We humans also have a certain sphere of influence, similar to the luminous effect of a lamp. Just as the luminous effect depends on the source, our influence on society depends on what is inside us. It also seems important to me that one is aware of this luminous effect - so that one is careful in some moments and does not expect too much result in others. Perhaps it is your turn today to become aware of your sphere of influence and adjust your actions accordingly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently met a professional colleague who told me he worked in the Black Forest. It was immediately clear to me where that was. On further reflection, however, it struck me: we both knew that the term Black Forest referred to a certain area. So we could assume that we both knew what was meant. Literally, however, it would be easy for someone unfamiliar with the term to assume that the colleague was a forester. Our language is always fascinating to me: it is often imprecise in itself and yet we understand each other in most cases. How magnificently the system of language and interpretation works. We can use language to express more than just the visible - we can also describe feelings, moods, etc. Reason enough to pause for a moment, to marvel at this and to enter into the next dialogue with gratitude and amazement. Maybe just today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Napoleon was a defining figure in the history of Europe. Remarkable because he neither came from a famous family nor was he perhaps a scientifically outstanding personality. But he managed to advance from nobody to emperor. An entire nation followed him. A people listened to what he commanded. It is interesting how in the course of history such examples are reported again and again of how individuals manage to reach the head of an entire nation and often lead and rule it with dictatorial characteristics. This reminds me that we as individuals have a responsibility to whom we give authority, whom we follow and what we allow on a small scale. I encourage you for today to be aware of your personal impressions when something seems suspicious to you and not to suppress it and tolerate and support it by not reacting. In other words, to live civil courage.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
With our eyes, when they are healthy, we can see. So they are a sensor that gives us visual information and this helps us to find our way around and make decisions. In theory. But we also see with other sensors such as our feelings, our mind and partly also with our experience. On the other hand, we can see with our eyes and yet not recognise. We perceive, but are not able or willing to correctly interpret and understand what we perceive. This sometimes happens in communication as well: What is formulated in words can be profound or ambiguous and we talk about the real message being between the lines. Why don't you pay attention today to how you see - in the different ways - and how open you are to really understand or want to understand what you see and then also be prepared to act accordingly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I really enjoy a piece of grilled lamb. But when I see the lambs on the pasture, I am also overcome by a protective instinct and would like to take such a small animal and protect it. You can't do both: protect the animal and eat its meat, which means slaughtering it. Maybe that's why we say we don't eat lamb or anything else. The motivation lies in the fact that when we have established a personal relationship, a piece of meat is suddenly no longer just a part of the menu. But it's the same with coffee and the exploitation of coffee farmers or anything else. The personal connection influences our behaviour. But objectively it is irrelevant. Injustice is not justified by the fact that I lack the personal connection. None of us can therefore behave completely justly in this world. Guilty, therefore, we all become. How do you deal with this? In Jesus we are given a reconciliatory way out.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We live in a time when we are becoming more and more efficient in many things. I.e. we save time. For example, an email is written and sent much faster than a letter. Or through modern technologies we save time and there are numerous examples in everyday life such as the smartphone: today we can be reached better and retrieve information faster. But what do we do with the time we have gained? Often we simply pack our day even fuller with activities. And in many cases, we are stressed out as a result - without meaning to be. Or at least more stressed than before the supposedly more efficient solution. We may actually save time for individual tasks - but we need it all the more for rest, because we are not really made for such a fast-paced life. Therefore, I invite you today to consider and implement where you consciously forego such efficiency - for your own sake.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have already rolled out a dough with a rolling pin. This is mega practical and works much better than flattening a dough with your bare hands. Whether it's cake or biscuit dough, a rolling pin is extremely useful for both. Now, while I rave about and praise this tool - it is forgotten that this rolling pin only really works well - if... yes, if it can be used on a flat, solid base. A table or a shelf as a base is necessary to make the best use of the whale wood. And that's how it is sometimes in life: we consider certain things to be outstanding - or sometimes people - and forget or overlook that they are only brilliant because they are in a good environment or the circumstances - or other people - support them in the best possible way. If you feel the same way as Walholz - don't forget that circumstances you may not even be able to influence yourself, or other people, contribute to your success. If others are in the limelight, then let this comparison be a comfort to you and enjoy the frugality of making your contribution - even if it is hardly noticed or only appreciated by a few.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As human beings, we experience happy times from time to time, but also difficult times. The former are easier to bear than the latter. One gift we are given as human beings is to have a sense of humour. Humour helps not to lose courage or perspective even in difficult times. It expresses itself in different ways. For example, through a joke. Here is one that I heard recently. It fits into the context of difficult circumstances: the oppressive time of the GDR. The joke goes: "Why was there already two-ply toilet paper in the GDR? Because one copy of each went to Moscow." Maybe not so accessible for younger contemporaries, but for me it was, because I visited there often in childhood. I believe that humour can be trained like a muscle - and so I wish you that you will experience humorous moments of refreshment today - or that you will be able to give such moments to others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was called the other day and informed that as a result of a burst water pipe in the house, the whole basement was under water and it now had to be cleared. This meant that everything that had direct contact with the ground was soaked by water and destined for disposal. Sad - because all my educational documents and also many other things with memories of sometimes decades were affected. Just get rid of it. I had to let go. I disposed of over 600 litres of waste. In the evening I thought about it and also felt a relief in this letting go. Things from the past - they are gone now. I don't have to worry about them any more, I'm freer again. Letting go also has its good side, I realised. And the following night, an image from nature came to me: the fruit, when it is ripe, lets go. It can be harvested. When it is unripe, it holds on. So being able to let go is also an expression of maturity. That is comforting.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I see before me the contrast of a designed surface with drawings of random round arcs in various colours. It seems somehow harmonious in all the randomness of the design, even with different shades of colour. In contrast, I perceive jagged lines as nervous and strenuous - and somehow unnatural. The comparison reminds me of nature: in the mountains, walks where there is only rock are jagged. You have to watch where you step much more when walking than in a similar landscape that still has vegetation like moss or grass. The latter, analogous to the curved lines, also appears calmer. There is also life in the softer transitions of the surface as opposed to pure rock and so I assume that generally there is more peace and life in a more continuous, softer environment than in angular, rough and pointed circumstances. Or more simply: calmness and leisureliness are more conducive to life than edgy stress.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A waterfall is an impressive natural spectacle. The water, which is still flowing so softly and delicately, suddenly takes on a tremendous force through the fall. The greater the fall of the water, the harder it seems. So, when I stand under a waterfall with the water coming from just above me, it is a pleasant shower. But if the water falls from, say, over 20m, it hurts (or so I imagine). So the hardness is directly proportional to the height of the fall. This can also happen in life: the deeper we fall due to difficult circumstances, the more hardened our heart can become. The only remedy is steps - in the water example, the river falls from one step to the next and is no longer hard. For us: it is also best to work through difficult things in smaller steps, stages - this way we can avoid hardened hearts and remain soft in spite of the difficult things. Perhaps this comparison will help you or someone you know.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Speculation and hope are not the same thing. Both are about an expectation that something that can only be influenced to a limited extent will happen. However, while speculation focuses on one's own ego, hope involves the humility of accepting that I am dependent on a higher power. Exposed to this, I hope that a good outcome will occur. That is much closer and more reconciliatory for me, and somewhere also more relieving. Because with speculation, I could accuse myself in the event of a non-occurrence. Paul writes in a letter to the church in Rome that hope can also arise from suffering through probation - but how? By having a reality present in our hearts that is not of this world. It is the love of God, or rather the certainty of being infinitely loved by him. This happens through the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, according to Paul. How beautiful!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Unlike the eyes, our ears are not located in a plane with the same orientation, but are placed exactly opposite each other, i.e. facing away from each other. Both serve to receive information, but in completely opposite directions. Hearing does not mean understanding. Hearing, in the sense of understanding, does not only happen with the ears. Only when I pick up signals and draw conclusions from them do I hear. Whether with the ears or the eyes. Jesus spoke a lot with and to the people. He once said in the context of his remarks: "Take care to listen carefully! For to him who has, it will be given; but from him who does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away." I find that exciting. Apparently, one can listen in an uplifting way. If you already have something - perhaps trust in what you hear - this can be increased and deepened by further listening. Or maybe even only then. What does such a statement trigger in you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, I notice that in the vast majority of cases, plants branch out in some way as they grow. These divisions are sometimes identical or sometimes slightly different - for example, in a tree the branches become thinner and thinner. Such divisions can also occur in soil plants. It inspires me when I think that in an area of life where I am with others - be it in the family, at work, in the church or in a club - such branching can also be natural. In other words, that individuals can contribute their preferences or talents in such a way that they can be lived out and grow and are not held back just because not everyone is able to or likes it. I think there is a deep truth and a blessing in the statement "diversity in unity" - but not always easy. If you are in such a situation with many differences - try to also see the good things in common.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A little over a year ago, I regularly went into the forest in the morning for a long walk. At first the walk seemed quite long, but when I walked the same path a few times, I knew which sections were coming and it almost seemed like the walk was shorter than when I started - simply because of the familiarity. Our lives are usually very full and there is also a lot of unpredictable or new or unfamiliar things - or at least a partly unpredictable sequence. This is also stressful and causes such days to seem more intense or perhaps longer. Perhaps today is a day on which you consciously try to do as much as possible of the usual things or maybe even not to do them - in order to allow yourself a quiet island, a break, a breath and to feel where your centre is, where your origin is, where your life is going and what the beginning and end are. I am sure your mind, soul and body will thank you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we are reading a book in the West, we pick it up and open it by opening the cover from right to left. We then read the first page from top left to right and then downwards. This is not only logical for us, but anything else would be unusual, as if right-handed people had to write with their left hand or vice versa. When I learned Hebrew, it was therefore very strange for me at the beginning to open the Hebrew Old Testament - from our point of view - from the back: that is, to open the cover of the book from left to right and thus to read the last page from top to bottom but from right to left, according to Western custom. Unfamiliar things need practice to become familiar with them. Perhaps you are already or will be in a situation in which something in your job or in a relationship is quite unusual, totally different from what you are used to. Give yourself time to get used to it. And above all: don't give up!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my understanding, a biotope is a place where nature is left to its own devices as much as possible. This means that humans intervene as little or not at all as possible. This creates habitats for animals that might not live in an environment cultivated by humans. It has algae and moss that would otherwise be removed by humans because it looks unkempt. Unkempt - exactly! Unkempt in this context means life. I think in our western world we tend to have it orderly, organised, well-kept. But that doesn't always leave room for the spontaneous, the unpredictable. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews admonishes them: Do not forget to practise hospitality! For without knowing it, some have received angels in this way. With such a perspective, would it not be worthwhile to live a more unkempt, uncontrolled, spontaneous lifestyle? I encourage you to do this today - let's see what you experience
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had already done two impulses on the zipper. This time I will go into the individual links. There is no redundancy in the zipper. This means that none of the links can simply be left out or replaced in the event of a defect. Depending on the purpose of the zipper, the entire garment or bag or whatever is unusable if the zipper is defective. Small cause, big effect. Understandable in this case. In your case it is the same. You are unique, important and not redundant. If life circumstances whisper the opposite to you at the moment or the environment tells you that others are more important, more significant or whatever. That is not true. You are like the link in a zipper - if you are not there, then something is missing and no longer functions as it should. Maybe this is comforting you at the moment or it is comforting a friend of yours.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have formative memories of earlier years when I was just going about my daily life with my son - and suddenly noticed him doing exactly what I was doing. For example, I had a special way of pushing my bike - and suddenly I noticed out of the corner of my eye how my son tried to do the same as I did - and failed every now and then, but still, he kept at it until he succeeded. So there were other such examples: without me asking him to do the same, he imitated me in movements and behaviour. So it is not without reason that it is called: learning by example. I may also remember that as a teenager other people had influenced me by their particular ways, be it behaviour, laughter or tics, and I imitated them. What we look at and study shapes us. Paul exhorts the believers in the church at Ephesus to imitate God and how? He says as children beloved by Him. I think that is very beautiful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A tent is a very temporary type of accommodation. In most cases. Compared to a house or barracks, it can be put up and taken down quickly and is easy to transport. In camps, people often choose to spend the night in a tent. For house dwellers something adventurous, for nomads everyday. In a tent, I limit myself and do without comfort. I am much more exposed to the meteorological conditions, many things are much more immediate, closer. Withdrawal or separation is more difficult. When you are together like this for a certain time, conflicts arise more quickly, you live together more intensively. In his account of Jesus' life on this earth, one who knew Jesus very well, John, writes right at the beginning of his account that Jesus camped among us. From John's point of view, Jesus did not choose the flat, the house with retreat, but the tent, the great closeness to us with all the consequences. Remarkable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When something is well formed, especially smoothed, we often think it is in the best condition. Assuming a piece of wire remained straight - it would probably have only a very limited potential for use. When bent, on the other hand, it finds many different uses - as a paper clip, for example. Only when bent it is really useful. In our lives, we usually also strive for straightforwardness - our plans should come together nicely without detours. Sometimes this works, but not always. Maybe the comparison of the paper clip helps you when you grieve about certain situations or courses in your life in which you had the impression that life bent you, deformed you. But this experience can become a new potential for good use - in the right and expert hands of a higher power - like the paper clip. Perhaps you can also use it to comfort someone in sadness or disappointment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We live in a time and society in which reason has an enormously high value. As a rule, decisions must be rationally comprehensible and appropriately justified. These are often decisive acceptance criteria. But if we look at our lives and the really big decisions, we see - other mechanisms: As a rule, one does not choose one's partner exclusively on the basis of rational consideration! I also think of animals that live underground. A mole is blind and yet finds its way around in the ground in its gang landscape. No idea how. So I guess we all have our own navigational support that helps us move forward in life. If you are currently in a situation where decisions are being made that you cannot understand, check whether it is still worth trusting that decision. Maybe the decision-maker's navigation system is just different from yours, but just as reliable.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I see in front of me a beautiful image of a stylish bicycle leaning against a railing at the side of the road, representing a kind of style image. Looks beautiful, emotional, atmospheric. But that's not what the bicycle was actually made for. Its primary purpose is not to look beautiful, but to be used as a vehicle. Then it has fulfilled its purpose. How is it with you? Do you seek and live more for looking beautiful to the outside world and to others in your life, or for what your heart burns for? That which, like nothing else, gives you the feeling and the certainty that you are living it out, that which makes you feel like nothing else but you? I invite you to take a few moments for this and to check concretely on the basis of the last 2-3 days: are you the leaning, unused bicycle that is simply nice to look at or is it in use? Do you perhaps need to change something, set new priorities?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently went jogging and listened to music. Suddenly, while I was running, I noticed a piece of music that I had already heard very, very often, and that a violin was playing. I had never noticed it before. I was quite astonished. All the more so because I hadn't concentrated on listening to individual instruments. I was concentrated on walking. I found this enriching on the one hand and instructive on the other: although this violin had always played in this piece, I had never noticed it. But it was always there - just not recognisable or present to me. So for today, I invite you to be open and perhaps expectant, that in an ordinary day like any other, you may discover something new that has perhaps always been there but not recognisable to you. Perhaps the love and kindness of another person.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had already done an impulse on wild bees before. They came back to my mind when I saw their nesting places in front of me: in nature or also artificially created small cavities they prepare the nesting places for the larvae of the next generation. They use what we would probably call a rubbish heap as the birthplace of their successors. What appears dead and lifeless to us, without perspective, becomes a place of new life for them. Isn't that remarkable? When I stop and think about it for a moment, I have the impression that this is probably just one of perhaps an infinite number of examples of how nature works - and in the same way how little I know about it, I am aware of. Truly amazing. So my invitation to you today is to look somewhere in nature and stop at something you haven't noticed before and take time to marvel at it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a certain body cult in our time and society. People go to the gym, perhaps even have plastic surgery, eat a vegan diet or follow fasting regimes such as 16/8, etc. It is not uncommon to hear in response to the question of how one is doing: "Health is the most important thing." I dare to question this. On the one hand, because I think that we can certainly shape our health to a certain extent, but never completely control it. On the other hand, because I am convinced that in us as human beings there is a longing for more than just life support. Some people make enormous sacrifices for certain goals and risk their health in full awareness. Others are prepared in extreme situations to die for a cause or for people. I think it is worthwhile to ask oneself honestly in between: what am I actually living for? Do you have a satisfactory answer to that?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Professionally, I am always dealing with people from other nations. It's interesting to find out how they perceive Switzerland. Some people confuse our country with Sweden, others know it mainly through the classic things like gold, cheese and chocolate. The other day, someone told me he didn't like Mövenpick glacé that much. And after an exchange about it, I was thoughtful and realised that as a Swiss, I felt reduced to this product. For my counterpart, this product was the gateway to our nation. Rightly so? And representative? I felt generalised and only perceived in a very one-sided way. But then I thought how I probably behave towards other nations and people in the same way: based on certain impressions or reports, I imagine I can form a final opinion. This teaches me to be more careful here - out of appreciation towards these people and nations.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a boy, it once happened to me that after lunch of cherry pie I later drank apple juice, i.e. cider. It was hot in the summer. I had no idea at the time that you shouldn't drink cider on stone fruit - because it can make you throw up in the worst way. That's what happened. A formative experience. It led to me avoiding raw cherries in the following years and actually to this day, or eating them very rarely - although I actually like them. Strange. It was over 40 years ago and yet it still has an effect today. Cognitively, I know that I can eat cherries today and also know what I'd better not eat afterwards - but the experience has a stronger effect than the mind. Do you know such experiences? Would it perhaps be a good idea to leave one behind and replace the unpleasant memories with new, positive ones? It would certainly give you a better quality of life. Have courage!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are all subject to the power or law of time. This means that we all have a start and also an end in our earthly lives, we are beings with an expiry date. Of course, in most cases we think little of this and plan our lives - yes, how actually? As if the end were only a theoretical construct? Or as if it were part of our existence, death as a transition into another dimension? In ancient Rome there was the ritual of a slave being behind the victorious commander in the triumphal procession, exhorting with the following words "Memento mori." (Remember that you will die.) "Memento te hominem esse." (Remember that you are a human being.). I find this remarkable and I think how different, perhaps more humble, our world would look if we, with all our achievements, remembered this. I think it would also influence the way we treat each other, it would probably be more respectful. It's a good time to start today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know the unpleasant feeling when you get into a traffic jam although you are actually already under time pressure and such a delay is just very inappropriate? It can happen in motorised traffic, but also when shopping or checking in at the airport or anywhere else. It always shows me how inflexible I am internally or how tightly I plan so that there is hardly any room for the unforeseen. Apart from being annoyed, I also ask myself: is my inner attitude really justified? Surely there is no malicious intent behind the delay on anyone's part. Nevertheless, I feel annoyed. But it is actually an invitation to critically question my agenda and to check whether I cannot be more flexible and thus allow for the unplanned. It would definitely make my life more unpredictable, but also more interesting - and if I'm honest - probably richer and more alive. Do you feel the same way?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Bees fascinate me and I have a small population of wild bees myself. They are hard-working animals. It's not wrong to say of someone who is very busy that he or she is a worker bee. But what are they so busy for? They collect the nectar to prepare it for the next generation. That is, they prepare birthplaces in niches for the next generation of bees so that they can hatch and live. Sounds kind of pointless: you only live and toil for the next generation, which does exactly the same again - but nothing else. Perhaps that is the bee's point of view. But for us humans, their work is immensely more important: during their core activity, they pollinate our plants and thus secure an essential part of our food - without knowing it. Let this be an encouragement to you: perhaps your life is as elementally important in other lives as the bees are to us - without you being aware of it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many people love balloons. Today there are all kinds of balloons in the shape of letters, cakes, palm trees, smiley faces, etc. In the past, we only knew the round balloon. It was a happiness when it was filled with helium and floated upwards for some time. At weddings, balloons with cards were released and the balloon whose card was returned from the furthest place was the winning balloon. Sometimes I think our life is like that of such a balloon: at birth, the breath of life is breathed into us analogous to helium. We learn to live, rise, reach heights and also depths and at the end of life we sink again, return to where we came from. Origin and end and in between our life. Today I ask you: Where are you travelling right now? Where do you want to end up? And how do you imagine that your life will continue after you land? A re-fill perhaps into another, eternal world as the Christian faith proclaims?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You probably know the well-known saying that one should not hide one's light under a bushel. In our culture, we find this a little difficult. We don't want to come across as proud by putting ourselves in the foreground. But that's what the saying is about. Others should see our light, it should serve to illuminate them. However, we are often envious when others do this. We accuse them of arrogance and self-promotion. But we ourselves would like to... I think the solution is simple: The quote does not say: let the light bearer be prominent - that is, we as a person - but the light. That is, what is inside us, what has been given to us in terms of talents, abilities, possibilities, and so on. In this way we do not present ourselves, but the one who has given us all this. We show what is literally inside us - and others should see this, others should benefit from it. What light do you let shine for your environment?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In ancient Greece, public offices were determined by lot. That was their understanding of democracy. For us today, a rather strange, unfamiliar idea. Chance decides who governs politically? I actually find the idea interesting and the procedure good. After all, we don't really use our governments as a representative compilation of the population, but mostly well-educated, not infrequently wealthy and well-connected interested parties are elected. But the final selection does not correspond to a representative picture of the population. I believe that in life we still have to deal with many an area in the same way. But just because it is familiar to us does not mean it is the best solution. If you find yourself in a situation where what you are used to is being questioned by circumstances or people - allow it to happen and think about whether it is not being done rightly. And maybe it is even time to change something.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When you imagine a dumbbell and how to use it, you're bound to think of bicep training. That is of course also correct. But with a dumbbell you can train the triceps or the back, shoulder or chest muscles just as well. However, it is necessary to use the hands that hold the dumbbells in order to be able to perform the corresponding exercises. The hand does not really train, the training effect is intended for other muscle groups. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel that you have to do the work for others, consider whether, as with muscle training, you might perceive the task of the hand: that is, you first make it possible for others to progress, to serve them, that they can grow or improve. Perhaps this comparison may encourage you not to feel used, but to do your part for others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What strikes me about landscapes is that they are actually without exception uneven. Quite the opposite of a lake or other still water surface. The level of the lake is always the same over the entire surface - which is not the case at all with a landscape. On a lake, I can also row a boat in any direction, but a landscape dictates through its topology how I can best move on it or in it. It's the same with people: some are very balanced and others rather unpredictable. Perhaps you count yourself as one rather than the other. Or you prefer some people to others - and it is often the case that you cannot choose your fellow human beings. But think about it the next time you go for a walk in nature or on a hike: isn't it precisely the variety that is fascinating and beneficial? Only sea or only land - that would be boring - wouldn't it? So too with people....
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some products have made a claim to fame. Product names become verbs or product typologies. In Britain people call a vacuum cleaner a Hoover, although that is the brand and not the neutral product. The same applies in the US to Cellophane - the clear plastic we wrap our food in. Certain things have such a formative influence that they pass into active language use. Transferred to people, one could ask: which character traits or characteristics would stand for an outstanding personality? Then one would say, for example, he or she "stefaned" or "deborahed" - as a verbalisation of these people on the basis of their first name. Assuming that this would be done by you: what would you like people to associate with your name in particular? And if you have found one or two qualities - do you live them consciously? Maybe this is just your turn.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know the unpleasant feeling when smoke enters your nose. In most cases, smoke indicates a fire. This can be an open fire or a smouldering fire. Smoke is often visible, especially from a distance, but if you are close to the source of the fire, it can also be perceived with your sense of smell. Smoke therefore makes something else visible - namely the fire. I think smoke - however unpleasant or threatening - serves as a warning against the real danger: the fire that destroys. It's true that you can get smoke poisoning from too much exposure to smoke, but the fire is the real evil. It may not only burn us, but destroy much else. Maybe today you will get into a situation that you are angry about or someone is annoying you - then stop, remember the smoke and ask yourself: what is behind your being angry or annoyed? Maybe an unhealthy source of fire inside you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In mathematics and language brackets are used to express syntax. In mathematics, you group terms together that are to be calculated first, in language they serve as a kind of optional additional information. But one also speaks of clinging when people hold onto something or people in a perhaps unhealthy way. People who cling to others are not perceived as very pleasant, because one feels taken in by them, no longer free. Sometimes, however, people cling to hopes and thus maintain a perspective in order to be able to move on. Do you know clinging behaviour in your life? Maybe like in mathematics: you are good at setting priorities or in language, some things are not so important. Or are you clinging to desires or even other people in an unhealthy way in your life? Maybe today is the day to think about this - and maybe to open certain clamps.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You know the saying „kicking the bucktet“. Most etymologists agree that the "bucket" refers to a kind of yoke that was used to hold pigs by their heels so that they could be slaughtered. The subsequent death-throe spasms of the unfortunate animals created the impression that they were "kicking the bucket“. It is not a pleasant thing to imagine. However, sometimes we feel like put under a yoke without being able to escape and which seems to lead to a life in slavery and finally death. how fortunate that Jesus came into our world and proclaiming that he offers us a different yoke - one that is easy to carry and light and that finally leads to life, eternal life. But not only that: he also took our place under the pig yoke and endured what was meant for us - death. So we can now life. How wonderful is that!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Ice cubes are wonderful when you have the desire for a cool drink. But they are used differently depending on the drink. For example, ice cubes are usually added directly to mineral water or sweet drinks, while for wine, a container is filled with ice and the wine bottle is placed inside. Cooling takes place in both cases, but in the former the drink is changed by the ice cubes because they dissolve in it, while in the latter the wine remains unchanged. Small difference, but still remarkable. In the first case there is an essential change, in the second only an external one. It is the same with faith: one can believe in God - like the cooling effect from the ice cube example - but without getting involved in a change of essence, as with wine. Or you can allow faith to become life-changing through a personal relationship with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit, as with water. Where do you place yourself?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Education concerns us all. We have all experienced it more or less intensively and are perhaps even currently in a situation in which we are actively dealing with it. One thinks mainly of parents and children, but I understand education more broadly. Somewhere it is about imparting certain values, thus shaping a culture and, as a result, modeling and promoting appropriate behaviour that corresponds to and represents this culture. So far so good. But it seems important to me in education: take out the core, the middle, and put it at the beginning as a priority and you will realise what it is mainly about. Sounds theoretical - but it's not: in German it is spelled "Erziehung". If you take the "H" out of the middle of the word and put it at the beginning - you get what it is all about: in German it is the word "Herz" which means heart.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Our microwave at home must not be placed in a box or too close to a wall. This is because it produces a lot of hot exhaust air during operation. This must be able to ventilate, otherwise it will overheat and ultimately cause the appliance to collapse. The unit does not radiate heat everywhere and at will, but rather specifically via an exhaust air outlet. Depending on the situation in life or everyday life, we also get quite heated, emotionally heated and then it is important that we can consciously and specifically dispose of these hot emotions and feelings, otherwise - metaphorically speaking - we scald our environment, hurt it. This can be like a microwave: Keep your distance. Perhaps a spatial and/or temporal timeout, distance. It not only protects your environment, but also yourself from overheating and collapse. Therefore: Hot emotions are allowed, but in a system that is also equipped to deal with them. Pay attention to this in your emotional management.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In mobility we are familiar with shortcuts: getting from A to B faster, with less effort in terms of time or distance. But with shortcuts you also lose part of the way. Sometimes that is a pity, even if the whole way is more time-consuming. Sometimes, in difficult times, we long for shortcuts and then we wish we were already at our destination. I'm not a fan of "the way is the goal" because I don't believe that's true. But the path, however difficult, still has its very own quality and probably only you can walk it as no one else can. We see or experience things that would remain hidden to us if we took shortcuts. If you are currently in a difficult time or environment - I hope this comforts or encourages you. The path is not the goal, but when you finally reach your goal, the path and the experiences made along the way are your capital.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We had it yesterday about the sun warming up cool places and that this is a good analogy for when people experience God's love and it warms their heart. It is similar with the fog. In places with surface water or in autumn, there is often fog in the morning, which impairs visibility or makes long-distance vision almost impossible. We know the saying that one walks as if in the fog when one does not know or see exactly where to go. Here too: when the sun begins to shine into this fog, the fog lifts, the view gradually becomes clearer and orientation is possible again. I think that here, too, the transposition to life fits well: in unclear or disoriented phases or times, love, especially God's love, brightens our lives in such a way that we regain courage and hope for the next steps, the future, for seemingly hopeless situations. That is exactly what I wish for you and your environment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In summer, something cool to drink, a cool shade or a cool breeze from a river are very pleasant against the heat. However, cool people are not perceived positively. We often mean that they are distant, inaccessible, unemotional. One does not necessarily seek a relationship with such people or want to spend time with them - because of their inaccessibility. When I think of nature, I think that a place is cool or cooler because it has not received so much sun. When I apply this to people in the same way, it gives me a new understanding of them: maybe they just haven't received as much affection, love, attention, praise, etc., so they need to protect themselves emotionally in their insecurity. That would actually mean that we have to pay special attention to them.
and love. Remember this the next time you meet people who seem cold.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I've written before about the good old vinyl records. I am fascinated by how they worked. So many things, or a whole system, had to function and be coordinated: the material, the system that imprinted the music on the vinyl, the pickup that could recognise these signals and also dechip them correctly, the playback system for playing the music, the record player that had to stand horizontally and turn the platter at the right speed, and much more. I think we humans are in similar constellations: not born by chance in this time in this place and in the context of this society. The overall system in which we find ourselves works best when we recognise and live our calling, what we were created for. We have a meaning and a purpose in our lives. Do you know yours and are you living it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we speak of seeing, we actually automatically assume the sense of sight and our eyes. But seeing is more comprehensive. It also means that we see something coming, an event or something similar.
Jesus once told his listeners: it is strange: you look at the sky, see the clouds, interpret them and predict the weather before tomorrow. But you cannot judge what else will happen. So he is addressing them to what is happening historically, what it means to live in a time and to have the opportunity to meet the one for whom generations had been waiting - and to see him with the eyes, but still not to recognise him. Perhaps things are happening in your environment that cannot be perceived with your eyes alone, but can be perceived with your other senses, as well as with your spirit. Pay attention to such literal sights these days.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We all know that due to climate change, glaciers are melting rapidly. They are one of the important indicators of rising temperatures caused by human behaviour. At first, we don't notice anything. We may even be happy that it is getting a little warmer, that we have to heat less and that it is really hot in summer for once. Other people on earth suffer existentially from the consequences. There will be more and more climate refugees in the future. So the glacier indicates that we are living beyond our means. In our personal lives, this mechanism also applies: we can live well beyond our means in terms of various resources - but at some point it is too much. The money is gone or the body goes on strike, relationships break down. Think about which indicators, which glaciers you should pay attention to in your life for a healthy lifestyle.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know those wonderful pictures of microscope images that show the smallest structures that we would never see with the naked eye? They are very often works of art, I think. They are often symmetrical and in my eyes just great, amazing. It reminds me that if there is such order and symmetry in such infinitesimally small things, how much more is the whole cosmos and we with it so wonderfully designed. And yet the structures are not so firmly defined for us that we cannot move freely. So on the one hand we are in a large, well-organised cycle and its structure, and on the other hand we have an enormous amount of freedom within it and the big picture still functions. Isn't that wonderful and a reason to be grateful? Freedom in perfected order - what a privilege to be able to live like that. This comes from an adorable designer.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Gliding means flying without an engine. This is made possible by thermals. When planning a flight, one looks for places where warm air rises. This is used to keep the glider in the air or to climb with it. A motor-driven aircraft first transports the glider to a certain altitude. Then it disengages and flies autonomously. This reminds me that in life I also depend on others to lead me first to places where I cannot go myself, thanks to their experience or knowledge. Then I can detach myself, choose appropriate circumstances to stay in the air, figuratively speaking, and continue my flight autonomously. Maybe today you can be such a train plane for someone, taking him or her to suitable places and then letting them go to continue their own way. or you consciously latch on to someone who is taking you further.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A drilling rig can handle enormous loads. Small and medium-sized drilling rigs, for example, are a maximum of 30m high and capable of lifting loads of up to 200 tonnes. What power! Such drilling rigs extract material from the earth's interior that would not come to the surface on its own. In our parlance, we also talk about someone drilling down when they persistently or specifically ask questions. This can be unpleasant - like the borehole for the earth. But it can also be healing, in the sense that it brings things to light that we would never see or be able to process ourselves. If you find yourself in a situation where someone is drilling into you, remember that with anything unpleasant, nothing comes to light that is not already there. Just because it is not in the consciousness or known does not mean that it is not there. And bringing it to light is often healing and helpful in one's own life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I think about all the processes that take place in my body to keep my organism alive, healthy and functioning and how little I feel of it - I can only marvel. It is completely beyond my imagination how individual enzymes work, how the lymphatic system functions or how the heart circulates oxygen and the intestines convert food into energy. But just because I can't imagine it doesn't mean it isn't true or non-existent. The example of the body may be plausible. In other areas of life, possibly less so. Fatal was a misjudgement due to lack of imagination for Jesus' contemporaries. They could not imagine that he came from heaven, as he claimed, and therefore rejected him. Fatal indeed for them. Are there also things in your life that you are closed to just because they have no place in your imagination?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We are all affected by the war in Ukraine and the unimaginable suffering caused by this war and others. The personal distress of individuals is unspeakable. A man named Jeremiah was also in such a situation and he wrote a book, Lamentations. In it he records how he fared in such times of war, how he suffered and how he turns to God in his distress with his lament. In the short book, in the third chapter, there are incredible glimmers of hope despite the great hardship. Among other things, he writes there "When I cried out to you, you, God, came and said to me, "Do not be afraid". What a powerful statement. In all the bewilderment, this gives hope, courage, strength and comfort, I think. If you are also struggling with a situation or an area of pain, let Jeremiah's experience be an encouragement to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A viaduct is a type of bridge - not necessarily over a river. It is a connection between two sides that are separated by a valley, for example. This means that you can also get from the starting point to the end point without the viaduct, but with much more effort. In our relationships, we can sometimes also be such connections between other people or even groups. We have the ability to understand both sides and connect them with each other - helping, for example, to resolve a conflict and thus significantly shortening the process. The term viaduct suggests it: from the Latin the two terms via for way and ductus for guidance - i.e. guiding the way. Perhaps today you will have the opportunity to be such a guide for others. Maybe even for one person to himself. Be alert for it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I put my contact lenses in the evening the other day for overnight cleaning with a new cleaning agent. When I put the first lens in the next morning, my eye burned like fire. It was like I was burning my eye. I had no idea what kind of solution I had used. I just felt burning pain. Instinctively, I closed my eye as a reflex - but that was precisely the worst thing I could do. I had to force myself to open my eye so that I could remove the lens as soon as possible and rinse my eye. Maybe you feel the same way in a situation that is very painful for you at the moment. Then you can learn from my example that withdrawing or closing yourself off is normal by reflex, but it leaves you isolated with the pain. I hope you find the determination to open up, address the cause of the pain and perhaps remove it with external help - for your own good. Have courage to do so.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We in the West live in a world where we have above-average freedom of choice. This starts with food: in most cases we are free to choose what we want to cook or eat. There are hardly any restrictions on what is on offer. We also have enormous possibilities in other areas - in mobility or materially and with regard to the housing situation, education, etc. We have a lot of freedom of choice. But we know from experience: not everything that is possible is good. It is better to do only as much as necessary, not as much as possible. This way we use resources more sparingly and there is more left over for others. In the end, we do something good for ourselves by limiting ourselves. The ability to discipline ourselves or to actively do without gives us dignity and does not let us be the plaything of our supposed needs. In this way, we can control our needs or their satisfaction instead of them controlling us. Perhaps this is a topic for you today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You have probably already used a filter and a sieve in everyday life. It looks like a filter and a sieve are the same thing: you pour something in at the top and the same thing comes out filtered or sieved at the bottom. That's only partly true. With a sieve, what you put in at the top comes out without the coarser parts. With a filter, an additional substance - usually liquid - is needed to dissolve out of the actual substance what it is all about. It is then dissolved in the liquid. Transferred to today: The sieve stands for the fact that you can take on influences from outside, such as someone's behaviour, without changing it for yourself, possibly leaving out the coarser parts. With the filter, you let what you have observed or heard pass through your own mind and through it you extract what is good for you - for example, you let it pass through your conscience filter and make the essentials of it your own. I wish you wisdom in your choice of sieve or filter.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a child, I thought that a crown made a person a king. In other words, that the crown makes a person a king not only on the outside, but in his whole being. I thought it and the sceptre were something magical. Today, of course, I know that this is not the case. The crown can either confirm what already is: the personality of the person wearing it - or: only imply a role for the person wearing it. By this I mean: the crown gives the person kingly authority, but not the personality. That can be a huge difference. A good king belongs to the former. We often wear such crowns in our daily lives, or we call them different hats. With some we feel as if we are really the one the hat stands for. With others it is a role play. Pay attention to your identities today and try to live them as authentically as possible - or else take off the crown and give it to the person it is meant for.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Moving forward is important to many of us and I would say that on the vast majority of days we are also moving forward in one way or another. Unless we are sick and have to spend the whole day in bed. For us, forward movement is clear: one step at a time, put one leg in front of the other, push off the back and do the same again. For certain animals, this looks different. The caterpillar, for example: there the forward movement is an alternation of contraction and extension. It pulls the back part of its body forward, the front part stays and the part in between goes up and then lowers and brings the front part forward while the back part rests. All parts of the movement are important, even if some of them rest during the movement process. Let this be an encouragement to you that you are moving forward in your effort, even if it feels like a time of stagnation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we talk, we don't use punctuation marks. Just by saying it, it becomes clear whether we are formulating a statement or a question. This is different with a text. There, punctuation marks are used to understand the text correctly, because neither pauses in speech nor pitch are represented. I got stuck with the question mark. It actually looks - with a little imagination - like a half - and therefore open - heart. That goes very well with the question. A question expresses dependence in a certain sense: I don't know everything, I have to ask, someone has to help me with an answer. That helps against pride, makes you open and also vulnerable. In the Bible, at crucial points, there are also important questions that are asked of us - and these with an open heart for relationship. So God asks at the very beginning: Man, where are you? Or Jesus asks: Do you love me? Have you already found answers to these two questions?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We sometimes say of people or ourselves that he or she or we have rough edges. By this we mean sides and qualities about us that we sometimes bump into. So in situations they lead to resistance and perhaps even conflicts, arguments. Especially for those in need of harmony, such moments or character traits are painful, unpleasant. But... I'm thinking of a screw or its counterpart, the nut: if it weren't angular, we wouldn't be able to fix the screw. The spanner would not grip, would turn empty and there would be no stability. The image of the angular nut helps me because the angular also has something grippy or rough, not round. Therefore, as an encouragement: if you experience rough sides in yourself or others: see them as part of a profile and not as a stumbling block or unevenness that must be smoothed out at all costs.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some say they believe only what they see. The conscious decision for the acceptance of a fact or a being convinced therefore involves a corresponding visible proof. So also in the God-relationship. God is invisible, so one does not believe in his existence. This was already the case for Jesus' closest friends: after his resurrection, his friend Thomas said the well-known words that he could only believe in the resurrection if he could put his hands into the stigmata of Jesus. His wish was granted. However, I would say that if you hear a familiar sound, like the flushing of the toilet, you don't see anything if you are in another room and yet you don't question that the flushing exists or that someone has triggered it. So our beliefs are not only dependent on the sense of sight. Here, it is worthwhile to critically self-reflect on one's own convictions and determinations.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
One may wonder if the sense of taste is a luxury that is not necessary. For the food intake and its conversion into energy, it is not necessary. For the TASTE, however, it is. So I eat a food, which tastes good to me and is delicious for me, differently than one, which resists me because of its taste. So why do we have the sense of taste? I think it belongs in the realm of the need for beauty. By this I mean: we are not only functional beings, but we also need our sense, our desire for beauty, to be satisfied. This is particularly striking after the pandemic of COVID-19, where many infected people reported the loss of taste perception. This has had a massive impact on quality of life. A good occasion, therefore, to consciously perceive this sense and possibly herbs or similar today, to enjoy and be grateful that we have this perception and that it gives us so much quality of life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am fascinated by what artistically talented people can paint with a brush. When I see paintings and imagine that they were created by a brush - unimaginable. What an extraordinary gift, what a talent, what a... mystery too, that what exists in the mind or imagination can be put so precisely on canvas or paper. And so I imagine that God did something similar at creation: with his - figuratively speaking - brush he drew the world and everything in it and then breathed on the wonderful painting and it began to live. Not a single brushstroke was wasted or missed. No shade of colour out of place or wrongly mixed. All intentional, all good, all beautiful. Well, that's how a simple brush makes me marvel - and admire what a simple tool can become in the hands of an artist when it is wielded right and well.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We distinguish between chaotic and order-loving types of people. By this we mean: the one who are very tidy and design their environment accordingly - the cutlery in the drawer neatly lined up and the socks all the same size in a row in the closet. The others are creative chaots, constantly looking for something, enormously creative for it. Their desk is usually untidy and their closet - if they have one at all - is disorganized. Both types have their peculiarities, strengths and weaknesses. Do you associate a positive connotation with one and a negative one with the other? It's interesting that an orderly flow - such as a stream of commuters - can become totally disorganized, chaotic, unpredictable because of something completely unforeseen. I believe God uses both: out of the chaos, the hullabaloo, He creates life, and in the order of things, so wonderful and mysterious, He is to be found.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When it comes to the weather, we can make reliable forecasts and act accordingly by observing conditions and developments and interpreting them accordingly. As humans, we are inclined to know things in advance, to determine and thus to follow an urge within us, independence. Independence seems to give freedom and competence. Dependence, on the other hand, is being dependent on others or having no control. But having control also makes us proud, and independence and pride seem to be two sides of the same coin. In relationships, they are not good currency. They create distance rather than togetherness. On the other hand, those who have healthy dependency in relationships are more compassionate, more open, more willing to help and be there. When God was on this earth in Jesus, he did just that: made himself dependent on us. I believe he did it because he cared so much about the relationship with us.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't know of any country flag that is exclusively black and white or consists only of greyscales. All the ones I know contain colours. I find this remarkable. Colours are used to express something and we associate colours with feelings or moods. We use colours in our everyday life: For example, in the morning in front of the wardrobe: Do you feel more like colourful or more like white or even black or grey? We express something with our choice of clothes and colours, talk without words. Maybe colourful today means I'm happy or black or grey means the opposite and white means please don't pay attention to me or I feel unappreciated etc. Pay attention to this non-verbal communication and try the opposite: let a colourful choice of clothes influence your mood, brighten it up and consciously say to yourself: "Today is a good day". Or as David or Moses said in the song of Psalm 118: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In a song by Count Zinzendorf from the 18th century it says: "Love will guide us, prepare the way and point with our eyes to many things, whether it is time to argue, whether it is a day of rest. I am always impressed by these words because they emphasise so strongly the motivation for our actions. How often we are led by mistrust of others or the fear of falling short or many other things that make us mistrustful. But Zinzendorf says: let love guide you. Whenever I do this, I notice how differently I then see and perceive the same situations and people and myself contribute to a better atmosphere for solutions or decisions. It is a secret. That's why I also encourage you: let yourself be guided by love!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We call someone who pays very detailed attention to spending or consumption a bean counter, and we don't mean this in a positive way. Behind this is the image of someone who is stingy and does not begrudge others something. On the other hand, there is the generous person who does not pay attention to whether someone has consumed or received more or less than someone else. With the former, the atmosphere is tense, one is constantly under pressure not to go too far or want too much - it would be unmistakably communicated to one. With the generous, on the other hand, there is freedom, and I would argue that with equal consumption or demands, in the former case there is nevertheless a feeling of lack, and in the latter a feeling of peace and full provision. It is said of the heavenly Father that he makes it rain on the good and the bad, that is, he is enormously generous - there is so much freedom. How beautiful it is in his presence.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The pavement is a demarcation from the roadway to the space for pedestrians. Thus, the traffic space should be safe. Should... In one village there were a lot of accidents involving people. The pavement was made higher and more clearly demarcated. It got worse. Finally, the pavement was removed: there was only one area for pedestrians and vehicles. Accidents were immediately reduced significantly. The effect: when there is a lack of clarity, people act more carefully. It is the same with regulations or the commandments in the Bible: it is not a matter of blind obedience in the sense that everything is permitted up to here, only after that I am a transgressor. I can also violate in the legal sphere. It is about understanding what is behind the rules, their intention. Understanding them, accepting them and living according to them - and that can sometimes be flexible, as in the shared traffic area mentioned above. In other words, accepting and living inwardly instead of fulfilling one's duty with inner resistance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Distillation works like this: A liquid is brought to boiling point. The water vapour rises, sticks to the distillation column - where the substances to be separated remain and the purified vapour is then cooled and collected again as a distilled liquid. So heating, cooling and then the result. Doesn't sound so pleasant - but the result is a certain purity. In life we sometimes have to go through involuntary heating, in which some things, especially negative things in our thinking and behaviour, come to light - and if we allow it or actively support it, we can be purified from it. If you are experiencing such a situation, I encourage you to look at the positive, the purification, cleansing and not to dwell too long on the heating. And if it helps you: in chapter 15 of John's account of Jesus, Jesus tells the same principle with a slightly different picture.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Telegraph
I imagine that back then, when the telegraph was invented and it needed lines across the country and lots of masts had to be erected, that not everyone liked this - analogous to the debate today about wind turbines. Certainly, the situation back then is not comparable to today - we are under a certain pressure to produce the energy we need, which was not the case with the telegraph. But: the telegraph is not that old - and today all masts could be dismantled because we have better technologies. We are all beneficiaries of electric energy - but nobody wants to live near the production of it. It doesn't add up. I realize that sometimes we have very strange ideas about our needs and their costs. Our lifestyle, which we have become fond of, requires a lot of effort and costs a lot - are we aware of that? Are we grateful for it? Or are we even willing to do without sometimes? Maybe today is a day to think about how you can consume more consciously and gratefully - and maybe even less.I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was watching a young couple recently. They wanted to go to a restaurant. The woman hesitated, looked into the glass of the entrance door and fixed her hair before they entered. The typical mirror effect: when one sees one's reflection, one's entire appearance is examined and judged in a fraction of a second. At the same time... by nature we would never see ourselves completely. There is no natural source of reflection except a still water. Actually, we are created to see each other, not ourselves. Analogous to the voice: before there were recording devices, we knew our voice only from the inside but not how it sounds to others. We have never been ashamed of that and we are not today. But when it comes to the outside, we're fussy, insecure. Why is that? Because we are so much more critical of ourselves than of others. Unfoundedly. We are very well created. Period. So: at the next control look in the mirror: instead of correction a quiet or loud cry of joy of gratitude!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A single pearl is quite valuable. You can't find them easily. As far as I know, they are hidden in shells, for which you have to dive. A lot of effort for the little ball. But obviously worth the effort. We also say from time to time, "He or she is a real pearl," expressing that this person is something very special that you have to be careful not to lose. John, who wrote Revelation, had in his vision at the end glimpses of the heavenly city that awaits us - and there are 12 gates, each of which - listen and be amazed - is made of a pearl. Unimaginable. In addition, the streets there are made of pure gold. What wealth there must be! And what splendor and glory. Could we be missing anything there? Hardly! How rich and abundant heaven is and what a perspective for us!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know what Easter and Christmas have in common? It is twofold. On the one hand, of course, the main character: Jesus, and on the other hand, a direction. A direction? you may ask. Yes, exactly: a direction. At Christmas we look to the east from the Western World and at Easter? At Easter, it is the east hidden in the name: the East-er. You can laugh or smile about it. I noticed it the other day. and it reminded me that in life we sometimes live with familiar things for years without being aware of them. Or have you ever noticed the compass direction in Easter? So I wish you for today that God gives you such moments of revelation in and over your life and much joy in these revelations!
And by the way: there actually is only one thing in common at Christmas and Easter: Jesus. He is our direction to life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We have the saying that love makes blind. This means that when you are in love, you see the weaknesses and faults of the beloved less or do not want to see them at all. And with time, when the infatuation recedes and everyday life returns, one tends to see again. I believe, however, that fear makes blind, not love. This is vividly illustrated for me in the stories of Jesus and his friends. When they are afraid - for example, when he comes to them in a storm on the water or after the resurrection, when they hid everything for fear of the Romans - they are so full of fear that they do not recognize their best friend. Therefore, as an inspiration for you: if you are afraid in one area, question your current ability to see there and try to come into a loving relationship - with yourself but also with God, who comes to us again and again in storms, even if unrecognized at first.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we were children, we used to look for four-leaf clovers in the spring, and if we found one, it gave us the feeling that we had found, or rather were allowed to find, a treasure, something quite extraordinary. It was not a feeling of our own perseverance and achievement, but of undeserved favor. Whether it is a shamrock, a horseshoe, a ladybug or a talisman - it seems as if man longs for supernatural support and as if he also knows that he alone has only a limited sphere of action and influence, but with supernatural support he gets ahead, things go better, one feels more secure. Even if man has partly successfully separated himself from this longing for the transcendent through the Enlightenment - the deep inner longing for a carefree home in the beyond has remained. At some point it appears in life. Thank God. Such moments are cloverleaf moments. Enjoy them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Bridges connect. They connect two areas that would otherwise be hard, difficult, or impossible to get from one side to the other. People are sometimes called bridge builders - for example, when they can reconcile opposing parties or connect people who don't understand each other. Peacemakers are bridge builders. But bridges are not places to stay or camp on but transit routes. Peacemakers sometimes feel the same way: they do enormously important work, but are quickly forgotten because the two sides are more important than the connection between them. This can be frustrating because one invests a lot, does a lot of good, and yet receives little in return. Jesus once said that those who make peace are called God's children. If, after successful peacemaking, you are overcome by the sadness of not being appreciated for your efforts, take comfort in that, you child of God!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When Jesus gave food to over 5000 people, there was more left at the end than was available at the beginning. The people realized that there had been a miracle of multiplication. They wanted to seize Jesus and make him king. Sounds good. But it is not. They did not see in him the good ruler, but the one who fulfills exactly their needs. They just wanted someone in charge who would serve them without any obligations in return. This would go well as long as this king kept the people happy. If the king were to make unpopular decisions or demands, his reign would be over. At first sight supposed voluntary subordination, is in the essence pure egoism. How is it with you towards those to whom you are subordinate: parents, teachers, bosses, politicians? Does your loyalty go only as far as their decisions align with your ideas and desires, or are you fully committed to their authority? Or with God: may He be as He is or only as you want Him to be?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
An umbrella probably has a curved handle in most cases. I was wondering - why? Is it that the umbrella fits better in the hand? Is it that it can be held better and with less effort in windy and nasty weather? Or is it analogous to a walking stick for support? Or is it more aesthetic? Or more practical, because the umbrella can be hung up when not in use? Honestly, I don't know and none of these questions gives me a satisfactory answer or one that convinces me. That's how we feel about some things in life. They leave us with many questions that we sometimes can't answer satisfactorily for ourselves. If you are in such a situation - don't stay there too long, but take it as it is, trusting that it is good for you. And if you forget to go on trustingly - the next rain may be a reminder for you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a boy, I tried to tighten the bulb on my bedside lamp because I thought it had come loose and that's why I had no light. When I reached into the lampshade, I got a strong electric shock - there was no light in the socket at all! Extremely unpleasant! If I had not only relied on my sense of touch, but also included my sense of sight and made a joint decision to act together with my mind, this would not have happened to me. We have different senses, which are great by themselves, but in combination they give us knowledge and wisdom to cope well with such challenging life situations. Assume today that you were brought in your environment exactly with the people and their abilities in constellation, which help you, which help you to master all that you encounter wisely and healthy - be it in the circle of friends, the family, at work or at school.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Why do we actually promise things to each other or how is it that we even know something like promise? Actually, our yes could be a yes and our no could be a no. Period. But life often plays differently... and - I imagine - promises are a kind of more binding commitment than would otherwise be easy. Strange. So when I promise something, my word is supposed to be more binding than otherwise. Or is it mistrust of the other person that I want him or her to make a more binding promise? Does this come from negative experience or fundamental mistrust? Or maybe the promise is just for us - when we doubt ourselves, that we have a reminder of our own word and get renewed courage in our own ability of faithfulness and reliability, which were given to us as creatures as abilities.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We all know that due to climate change, glaciers are melting rapidly. They are one of the important indicators of rising temperatures caused by human behaviour. At first, we don't notice anything. We may even be happy that it is getting a little warmer, that we have to heat less and that it is really hot in summer for once. Other people on earth suffer existentially from the consequences. There will be more and more climate refugees in the future. So the glacier indicates that we are living beyond our means. In our personal lives, this mechanism also applies: we can live well beyond our means in terms of various resources - but at some point it is too much. The money is gone or the body goes on strike, relationships break down. Think about which indicators, which glaciers you should pay attention to in your life for a healthy lifestyle.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Actually, to my knowledge, the door frame hardly receives any attention. If, then the door. It allows or prevents access to a room. But without the door frame, the door would hardly or not at all be able to perform its function. If the door does not fit into the frame, it cannot really be closed. It does not fulfill its purpose at all. We also have to give our life a frame so that it succeeds. For example, through careful use of our personal resources and respectful treatment of our environment. And then there are the hinges on which the door is attached. If they don't work well, the door sticks. Our lives also have an anchor point. Somewhere we tie it down. When everything is going well, we don't think about it - although it's actually those times when we tighten our hold so that it will hold when things get adverse. If you wish for such a hold, I recommend that you read the song of King David, which he wrote and which can be read as Psalm 121.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You can argue about which chocolates are delicious and which are... less. Something they all have in common: they are offered individually. They are packed in a box each in its own compartment or individually. You don't break chocolates apart like you do chocolate, and they don't come strung together like cookies. Just chocolates. Individually. The uniqueness and specialness of each one is expressed in this way. Most of the time they are enjoyed individually and not consumed like cookies or chocolate. This also expresses their specialness.
Would your everyday life and your behavior look different if you regarded every person you meet, no matter how fleeting, as such a speciality? Would your behavior change if you were aware or assumed that you are such a speciality for everyone else? If so, are you willing to adjust your behavior, attitude, and demeanor accordingly?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
SocialMedia are omnipresent. Depending on the claim, it is now a must to post a post here and a photo there. Regularly and frequently if possible - otherwise you are forgotten, uninteresting. It shows how much we are created on relationship and relationship networks. It's called "no man is an island". We have a need for - yes for what essentially? I believe for being seen and recognized. Undivided, genuine attention and interest. That's why in Hebrew, when Adam was intimate with Eve, it says: he recognized her. We all ultimately desire somewhere, without our shields, to be recognized. Being naked in front of each other without shame. Today, why not consciously give undivided attention to someone you meet? Put away your cell phone, close your laptop and just be fully present. A most valuable gift that you can give away without money.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Were there so many public trash cans in the past, too? The intention behind this is that people dispose of their waste correctly and not simply throw it away, resulting in garbage dumps. Today, this public service is often misused: instead of focusing on species-appropriate disposal, it has given way to "I throw my waste away as quickly as possible." In other words, the focus is no longer on species-appropriate disposal, but on disposal as quickly as possible. In the end, however, this does not work. Also not mentally. Our soul also needs hygiene. But also a species-appropriate one. Repression - the counterpart to indifferent throwing away - does not help in the long run. The soul needs cleansing according to its species. John says of Jesus that he is the one who disposes of all the guilt of the cosmos. So if one wants so the global garbage man. On the background of the comparison with the everyday garbage this impresses me even more. I can let dispose my soul waste with him environmental-fairly. Even without a garbage fee. He paid that, too. On Good Friday.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, in some places where there was wood - be it in the forest or in a forest hut - carvings were found that showed, for example, a heart and two names or initials in it. It was a visualization of a love relationship and with this carving probably also the desire that this would last as long as possible. The fact that it was carved into wood also meant that it was engraved here, that it was held on to, that it would not be erased. Manifestation and imprinting in one. A message of joy and love and mystery. What if our everyday life was like this? If through our lives we imprinted our environment the way lovers consciously do in wood. Why subjunctive? I believe that if we went through our everyday life with this attitude, as if we were permanently stamping our environment with messages of love with - figuratively speaking - a pocket knife, that we ourselves would be amazed at how much joy this would trigger in others and also in us. So: let's just do it!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know the story of Jesus feeding over 5000 people. John tells the story and introduces it with Jesus asking Philip where they buy so much bread from so that everyone eats. And then John writes that Jesus was testing Philip with this question because Jesus knew what he wanted to do. Sounds a bit mean. Jesus - so it seems to me - leads Philip on a wrong track with his question: the focus where to take the money from and then where to buy so much bread with the money - so a purely natural solution to the problem. But Jesus solves the problem in a completely different way: a little available bread he multiplies supernaturally. I draw two conclusions from this: First, when you face a problem, check if you are asking the right questions to solve it and second, count on God's supernatural possibilities.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I find a flame on a candle, for example, fascinating. It virtually sticks to the wick and is difficult to remove from there. Even a breeze or wind can bend it in one direction or another, but it hangs firmly on the wick - unless it goes out when there is no oxygen. Then it is completely gone, disappeared. Not lying next to the candle. Simply gone. In one of his speeches, Jesus tells his friends that they can't do anything if they don't stay close to him. That reminds me of the flame. If I hold on to Jesus, to the wick so to speak, life can remain stormy, but I am firmly anchored to him and my faith is the oxygen that makes it possible for me to hold on to him despite adverse circumstances - and to continue to burn, to live, to exist. This comparison helps me. Simply to know that there is an anchor in my life that won't let me go. I hope you too.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I reached into a jacket pocket and pricked myself on a toothpick. Annoying. A toothpick is something that very few of us need on a daily basis. Many stand around for a long time before being used once. But when you need one because you have something in your teeth that you can't get out that way - a toothpick is irreplaceable. Sometimes we feel the same way - we are not noticed, but when we are suddenly needed, we have to be there and available. This can be hurtful for us because we feel used. In this case, it is helpful not to make one's own identity and significance dependent on the selective need or attention of others or to draw it from the spontaneously demanded performance. Those who know they are loved unconditionally by God are less vulnerable to the lack of attention or spontaneous attention from others. This helps when it comes to being spontaneously available.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A windmill is beautiful just to look at. But even more amazing what it can do: Thanks to the capture of the wind, it can move millstones via a construction, which then grind grain. So an unbelievable power from the wind is released or captured and used specifically. In the Bible, the wind is also an image of the Holy Spirit. So if you take the image of the windmill: whose spirit or wind do you expose yourself to and by which spirit do you let yourself be driven? I think it's like the windmill: the wind that is caught there eventually drives. So: if you expose yourself to a good and healthy spirit, it will drive you and produce good results such as contentment, gratitude, kindness, love, peace, etc.. A bad mind, on the other hand, will produce envy, jealousy, quarrelsomeness, dissatisfaction, stinginess, feelings of lack, etc. Therefore, consciously align your windmill - again and again.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I know of no fuel-powered vehicle that has the exhaust at the front. Rather, it is placed at the rearmost part in the direction of travel or otherwise at such a great height that the exhaust gases go into the air above head height. So it doesn't occur to anyone to breathe in their own exhaust themselves - but rather to expel it behind them - even without taking into account who may be behind them.... actually very asocial. In everyday life, we sometimes do the same with what we say: whether we express ourselves unfiltered - it can be contaminating for our counterpart. Newer and more environmentally friendly fuels in vehicles are less pathogenic and therefore less dangerous. In this way, we can also pay attention to our own inner fuel, so that it is also environmentally compatible - and this begins, as in the natural world, with the raw material, i.e. our heart, our thoughts, our inner attitude and contentment and balance.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I prepared myself a coffee or espresso this morning with a capsule. At least this is what I thought I did. When the machine didn't stop and the espresso cup threatened to overflow, I was able to put another vessel under the spout just in time before things got messy. I was so sure it was espresso - but I was wrong. It reminded me of the story Jesus told about putting new wine into new, stretchy wineskins so that there would be no mess and loss of wine and hose. So be prepared for an upcoming situation in your private or professional life and maybe check again if everything is prepared - unlike me - so that you can experience this situation as expected and do not have to act unexpectedly and in a hurry to prevent an escalation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
King David had a son who instigated a rebellion against him and ended up dying in the process. His name was Absalom and was extraordinarily beautiful and apparently had extraordinary, striking hair, a real splendour. After his rebellion there was a battle and he had to flee and got caught in a forest with his magnificent hair in a tree - where he was pierced with a spear by the enemy. Tragic. I wondered if it was his vanity or naivety or just plain carelessness that made him not wear a helmet in case of war. If he had, this tragedy would very likely not have happened. If you are in a situation where you rely solely on your abilities and talents, even recklessly, then this Audiostretto may be a reminder not to become reckless and not to rely too much on your own abilities and judgements, but to be prepared for an unexpected turn of events.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you good at trusting others? Or how do you deal with situations where you have very limited influence on the outcome? Do you become fatalistic? Or do you assume the worst possible outcome in order not to be disappointed? Enduring an open situation is not always easy for me - my soul is in conflict with my spirit. The soul is often focused on disappointment, which has to be avoided at almost any cost. The spirit is lighter and freer and therefore more hopeful, reminding me of the word Jesus once spoke "Have faith in the Father and I me." When I manage to do this, I am pleasantly surprised and can say in retrospect - it was worth it. Who do you put your trust in when it comes down to it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have had situations in your life where you wanted change and you were limited in your ability to influence it, so you just had to wait until circumstances changed. Sometimes the wait for such a change takes longer and the hope for change is the only thing you have left to deal with the situation well. What is interesting is what happens when the situation actually changes as desired. I observe that it is then not so easy to change to what was hoped for. Suddenly the hope is gone - because the situation has changed as hoped. What remains then? Excessive demands, because the support of hope is gone and you now have to live with what you had hoped for. Is this familiar to you, too? I wish you good handling of change and the courage to take firm steps, even if it feels like you are the first to go this way. It can be part of your calling.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many dental product advertisements present people of all ages with gleaming white, flawless teeth. Everything looks healthy, well-groomed, perfect. With the dentist, this is only half the truth. With the help of a small mirror, he also looks at the back of the teeth - there he sees things that may contradict the shop window view of the front: Stains, tartar and, in the worst case, cavities. But thank God for this view and the mirror that brings unpleasant things into view. Perhaps unpleasant at first, but enormously important for health, because appropriate actions can be triggered and cleaning and care can be initiated correctly and in time. People and circumstances are also such mirrors for us, showing us sides, quasi backsides of our character, which we ourselves do not see and are sometimes unpleasant. Take them as an opportunity and chance for long-term health and act responsibly on yourself in what is shown to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't think I know anyone who doesn't stand or stop in some kind of awe before a mighty tree and associate a certain peace with such a sight. Such a sight gives us stability, power, strength and support. Such a tree is much stronger than we are: it can withstand natural elements much better and is much more resistant to environmental influences. Perhaps that is why it gives us a feeling of security and safety. This in turn suggests that we have a longing for these things: for strength outside of us, stability that does not depend on us. King David therefore composed the following sentence in one of his songs: "The LORD God is my strength and my shield. In him I have trusted, therefore I have been helped. Therefore my heart is full of joy and gladness; I will praise him with my song." Do you also have someone who is such a source of strength and power for you in the same way?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you thinking about a sledge at the moment - hardly at this time of year.... but maybe you have a sledge in the basement or the garage. It's no use without snow - but you'll certainly take it with you on your skiing holidays and then it's irreplaceable. We also have such things in life that support us in very specific situations, help us, let us get ahead or are simply the right tools for dealing with very special circumstances - but outside of that they lie dormant within us. However, the capacity for such things - both in the material and the spiritual world - is not unlimited. We will also part with things from the cellar or the garage at some point when they are no longer useful or come into use, just like an old air mattress or a bicycle that is too small. I encourage you to take a look at such a mental inventory - perhaps forgotten things will come out again or old things can be safely disposed of.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know the story of "Suppenkasper" from the German children's book Struwwelpeter who wouldn't eat his soup and finally dies of hunger. Pedagogically, this story was meant as a fight against anorexia. The focus is on the stubbornness and refusal of Kaspar, which kills him. But... there is actually also the same stubbornness of the parents who want to force Kaspar to eat exactly this soup. I think that's totally left out of this story. If there are people or situations in your environment who seem to you to be as inflexible or stubborn as Kaspar, step aside and ask yourself: what could be driving these people to defend their point of view so vehemently? Could you help to find an alternative that could bring movement into the hardened situation? In the end, are you as inflexible as you accuse your counterpart of being? Such questions may help you to look at the situation differently and hopefully find a way out of life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Let's face it: we all struggle with pride at one point or another in our lives. Again and again it has to do with comparisons. And where I do better than someone else in my eyes - yes, I enter the terrain of pride. But then it can also be that I am aware that I am dependent or have needs or require the support and help of others. It is no problem for me to admit this - but if I am supposed to receive this from someone who in my eyes is not suitable for this or I otherwise have a problem with that person - then pride comes up again and makes it difficult for me to admit my neediness and to accept the external help. If you find yourself in such a situation, I believe that the easiest way to overcome pride is to simply accept and be grateful for the help offered without thinking or feeling any further. Good luck with that!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I believe man has copied much of what he has developed and created as innovation or progress over time from nature. I imagine that bird watching inspired man to design, test and build aeroplanes - so that today we can travel from continent to continent in a short time. Or man has seen colours in nature and tried to create them himself for beautiful clothes etc. The creation in which man lives is simply given to him. It is far more than just practical and food supply, it is lush, rich, creative, playful, sometimes mysterious, full of wonders and extras. It inspires new things not only to be discovered and understood, but also to be imitated. What a privilege to live in such an inspiring environment! How good the Creator meant it with man that he did not withhold this from him. I hope you will find many opportunities to be amazed and inspired in the most mundane things of your everyday life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know what a circular level is? Something similar to a spirit level. I.e., in a small closed container filled with liquid, it has an air bubble and on the top of the glass of the container there is a mark where the bubble has to be placed - this indicates a balanced position. Depending on the terrain you are standing on and the part that needs to be aligned with the circular level, this can be easier or more difficult. But the small part is enormously helpful because it reacts very sensitively to shortages. I think our conscience is also such a sensitive sensor that, if you listen carefully, indicates very clearly where something is quite correct and balanced and where it is only partially or not at all or where justice is being violated. I encourage you to include this sensor more in your life, your relationships and actions and to consciously practise reading its position, so to speak.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In my experience, cinnamon is one of those spices that you can recognise very quickly, both by its scent and its taste. For me, cinnamon belongs in winter - when it's dark and cold, we have tea with cinnamon or, at Christmas time, cinnamon stars or rice pudding with cinnamon sugar. The bark of the cinnamon tree, which grows mainly in Asia, is peeled off, dried and then used accordingly. The cinnamon tree is evergreen and can live for several hundred years. Not bad! So for me it has something of the paradise that was once lost to us: it lives for a very long time can reproduce infinitely often in that time and reminds me of the trees that the prophet John speaks of in his Revelation when he tells us that he saw trees that bear fruit 12 times a year and whose leaves are used to heal the nations. In the case of the cinnamon tree, it is the bark - a contemporary witness for me of great biological wonders that await us in eternity - I will remember it next time and look forward to eternity when I smell cinnamon - and you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Just as a good meal is good for the human body, music is good food for the soul and spirit; whether classical or modern, instrumental or with lyrics. Music is more than just liking or being liked. It touches the spirit, triggers emotions and is a trigger to visualise experiences anew. Music thus also has a healing effect. Therefore, why don't you take some time to consciously look for music that has helped you in a situation, comforted you or given you security and love, and make it available. Just like you might have an emergency food supply somewhere and keep it ready - who knows when you will need it next time. And then you are prepared, you don't fall into a mental or emotional hole, but you can take care of your soul and leave a difficult situation well provided for and go on strengthened.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I often find myself distracted while listening and I don't always manage to be fully present in the moment. Be it in a personal conversation with the person directly or via a digital meeting or on the phone. Do you know this too? As an excuse, it's called multitasking. But actually it is a lack of concentration and sometimes deliberately denied undivided attention. I believe that if I, if we, succeed in being more present or exclusively there in such moments, that this helps to increase our ability to concentrate in general - like exercising a muscle. And from this I dare to suggest that our thinking then also becomes clearer - perhaps only with time, but definitely - and I can well imagine that we can think more sharply, come to good decisions more quickly. And yes, possibly even become wiser and come up with solutions or thoughts that we would never have come up with without this concentrated thinking and focused attention.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Which type of alarm clock user are you? The one who hears the alarm clock only after a long time or the one who hears it right away, turns it off and jumps out of bed or the one who presses snooze at least five times before getting out of bed? An alarm clock reacts to a change in time. In English it is called an alarm clock - which brings slightly more drama into play than just wake-up clock. After all, an alarm usually means: imminent danger, immediate action required. Waking up, on the other hand, only means a change of state. In this sense, our conscience is also an alarm clock or wake-up instrument. In certain situations it triggers an alarm - like the alarm clock - to shake us awake and signal: Wake up, something is wrong or values are being violated, boundaries are being crossed, injustice is happening or danger of violating principles. What type of person are you in this respect? Hopefully not the one who presses the snooze button too often...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When filling out forms, you are often asked to make a cross in a field. This marks a correct answer or selection. The cross - i.e. the intersection of two lines - marks the exact location of the hit, so to speak. But the cross or X that we make in this way is not only used there. We also find the cross in everyday life on church roofs or as a jewellery or on mountain peaks. It reminds us of the way Jesus died. He hung there on the cross and also as a focal or crossing point of two facts that could not be more opposite to each other: on the one hand - perhaps the horizontal beam - the harmfulness and failure of human nature in all aspects of life and on the other hand - as the vertical beam - the righteousness and holiness that is with God, that is God himself. The point of intersection is Jesus. He brings both aspects together in himself. It is called forgiveness and it originates or culminates in the intersection of the beams: Grace.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In addition to their protective function, shoes also have something aesthetically pleasing about them. Not every shoe goes with every outfit. And so you can ask yourself: what is more important: the appearance or the functionality? Spontaneously, we would probably all say: functionality. I am not so sure... Jesus once told a story about a great feast and there was a guest who was not dressed appropriately . When the host confronts him, the guest can't come up with an excuse - and is finally excluded from the feast. Dressing appropriately for the occasion does play a role, because it not only expresses appreciation, but also that you has prepared yourself and thus give the occasion the appropriate weight and appreciation. If you now think about various areas of your life: for which ones are you really - figuratively speaking - appropriately dressed and which ones are not worth it to you or have you neglected? Maybe it's time for a personal fashion inventory...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am currently in a situation where I have to or may learn new signatures. This is exciting. On the one hand, because I couldn't make head or tail of these symbols, which were cryptic to me at the beginning, and now I start to understand them. And on the other hand, because I feel as if I'm learning a new language. But I also noticed that it is not enough to know only the correct term behind the symbols, but also what they really mean, what they stand for. I believe that in the Western world we have learned far too little to see, read and understand the signatures or signs in our personal lives and circumstances. If we could, we would probably make wiser decisions - for ourselves, in the use of our resources and ultimately as a society. Here, too, the learning process is twofold: to recognise the signs in the first place - physical ones, for example - and then to correctly interpret and understand these signals. I encourage you to learn this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There were times when salt was very precious, when people even paid with salt - our term salary, still used today, bears witness to this. Wars were fought over salt deposits and it is just as important for our human life as water. Today, you hardly think of that when you add salt to something. Above all, salt was important as a preservative. There was the saying "Don't slaughter more than you can salt." As meaningful as salt was in the past and as ordinary as it may be today - it is the same salt. Jesus says in one place to those who follow him that they are the salt of the earth. I think he meant that if they become more and more like him and live like him, they will save this world from destruction as salt once saved food. What a meaningful task and calling. So think about the task you actually have in this world and act accordingly!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I had the privilege of flying in a helicopter the other day. I noticed that compared to the plane, the perception of taking off and being in the air was much less pronounced. Because the helicopter was not very well insulated, there was no pressure equalisation and because it flew very quietly, I hardly noticed whether I was sitting in a moving car or in mid-air. It was a question of consciousness. So if I were to rely only on my senses only, I might make a false assessment in such a situation. But thanks to the interplay of senses and reason, I was able to correctly classify the situation I was in. Perhaps banal - but existential. I wish you for today the good ability to allow your perception as well as your mind and your experience in a good combination, so that you can make correct assessments for specific situations and, if necessary, make wise decisions
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I'm a city kid, grew up in the city and still live in the city. In a city you expect to see certain things - and also that you don't see certain things. I thought so. Recently, as I was going on my evening walk, listening to a podcast with my headphones on - there was an unexpected and conspicuous rustling to my right. At first I thought I was mistaken, but then I stopped and tried to make out something in the darkness of the evening. I was expecting a duck, which are there from time to time. I was astonished when I saw - believe it or not - a fox. A fox in the city. I have hardly ever seen a free-living fox in nature in my life. And now in the middle of my everyday life on a Monday evening.... I wish you awake senses for today, to stop, to be attentive - and then hopefully to experience something very beautiful, surprising. In the middle of your everyday life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know the traffic signs? I mean the common ones. I'm not so sure about some of them any more. On the one hand because I rarely pay attention to them as a cyclist, and on the other because I practically never drive a car and therefore don't have such a trained eye. I recently learned that modern cars can automatically recognise traffic signs and then trigger appropriate manoeuvres or actions such as speed reduction or staying in a lane. Of course, this is great, relieving, can help to concentrate on the traffic - but: it also makes me illiterate, I forget, become more dependent and, in the worst case, can no longer decide correctly when I see a sign I no longer know. Transferred to life: stay active and learn more and more to recognise the signs in your life, what they mean. Do they warn you or should they even save you from a one-way street or make you slow down? Such signs of circumstances have the intention to bring you safely to your destination.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A proverb says that a coin has always two sides, meaning that there are always two ways of looking at it. However, the coin indicates the value on one side and usually the currency system, on the other. Thus, the same number on one side of a coin can have a totally different purchasing power in one or the other currency. Both sides are therefore necessary to define the correct financial power, i.e. its value. It is the same with us humans. I believe that - to stay with this image - in God's value system, his economy, thanks to what Jesus did for us, we have an infinite purchasing power, an infinite value - if we accept what He did for us. With this, we do not primarily buy our ticket for eternity, but have authority to advance the good kingdom and rulership of God in this world.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is this saying: "put it in your pipe and smoke it", meaning: even if you don't like your circumstances or what I'm saying to you, put up with it. Doesn't sound very encouraging. But strengthening. Strengthening in the sense you strengthen your muscles: they grow with resistance. If I don't like something but still have to comply, I can test my resilience and grow, become stronger. And even if you don't like what you hear here today, it can advance you in your personal development if you come into agreement. Therefore, if you are in an unpleasant situation or someone has told you something you don't like, think about whether it's better to accept it instead of rebelling. It could have the potential to grow for you and not the intention to break you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Happiness or blessing - which do we prefer? For me, happiness is what happens to me by chance, over which I have limited influence, but which I can perhaps also acquire situationally. But for me it comes from an indeterminate source. Blessing, on the other hand, is for me a favour that I receive from someone, a concrete improvement or preservation in the positive sense of a situation. There is no coincidence behind it but an intention. I can't really earn it, but it arises within the framework of a relationship. If I can choose, I will undoubtedly take the blessing. Not only because it is more intentional and conscious, but because it is tied to a relationship and therefore personal, conscious, intentional. A blessing can make me happy but happiness not necessarily blessed. If you are listening to this episode, I bless you from the bottom of my heart for your current life situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Probably most of us think that a raindrop has the shape of a tear - but this is not true at all, unless it meets a resistance like a window. Otherwise it has the shape of a globe or sphere if the drop is smaller than one millimetre. If it is larger, it deforms. First it deforms into a kind of squeezed ball, then into a parachute, and then it disintegrates. This is due to forces acting on the drop. Its own surface tension dominates with smaller shapes and is increasingly disturbed by the force of the surrounding air pressure as the shape grows. Transferred this can mean: stay with your actual form and be aware that with increasing size, fame or the like, the external pressure on you will increase and you are in danger of changing away from your actual personality. The external pressure can therefore deform you. That doesn't have to be the case and would be a shame. So stay true to yourself and give it priority.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I dreamt last night that I was in a football or soccer game as a player. We were even the better team. The ball fell to me. Actually I wanted to do something else with it, but somehow I suddenly stopped the ball for a teammate who shot from about the halfway line and scored the most wonderful goal you could imagine. We were all amazed - every one of our players but also the opposing team, because it was such an extraordinary shot and goal. I encourage you for today that in what is your contribution in a team, you can make others succeed and you can all rejoice and celebrate the success of the individual together. Remember, it's amazing what you can achieve together when it doesn't matter who gets the credit in the end.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In Italian cuisine there are some dishes that come in layers: Lasagne, cannelloni, tara-mi-su and probably others. The special thing about them - it seems to me - is the combination. So the ingredient of a single layer - be it the pasta sheets or the bechamel or tomato sauce in the case of lasagne are also delicious on their own, but in combination they make the whole thing that much better. Or as they sometimes say: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Just think that you are in a special combination in your social structure, perhaps at work, in which you can make a difference with your contribution so that the whole becomes great. Therefore, do not expect the great contribution from others first, but be ready to take the first step yourself for the common greatness - you will surely infect the others with it and then you will use your whole potential.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is a big issue today, especially on the internet, where we leave traces. So when we surf the web and look at websites, make queries, shop, etc., we leave our traces, which are analysed to create a profile of us. Many people don't want that - anonymisation is therefore a big issue. In nature, leaving traces is exploited. So when animals are mobile, on the move, they leave their tracks - for example, when they defecate. Thanks to this, depending on the animal species, certain plants are spread when the animals eat their fruits, including seeds, and then excrete them in other places - so that these plants reproduce in this way. I also believe that it is important that we leave traces, conscious traces in other lives - and others in our lives. This is how we allow ourselves to be shaped and shape ourselves. Therefore: pay attention to the traces you consciously or unconsciously leave in other lives through your behaviour, your personality. They will be formative.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we talk about hygiene, we usually mean cleanliness. So something we call hygienic expresses that it is clean and not potentially dangerous for an infection or contamination. The word originally comes from Greek. But there the meaning was much stronger: hygiäs meant healthy. So when, for example, Jesus healed someone, it was literally put that way: He made him hygienic. He healed him. On this background, the term mental hygiene, for example, takes on an additional emphasis and a somewhat different bent: health of our soul, not just purity or cleanliness. Hygienic, then, is being healthy or whole. And this is the intention God has for us, for all parts of our lives. Just remember that the next time you encounter the word or just wash your hands.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I wash dishes and set the washed dishes aside to drain, a corrugated surface is usually better for the drainage of the dripping water than a flat surface. But if I'm cutting or chopping something small, I prefer a flat surface like a chopping board. So a flat surface for drying is not ideal, nor is an uneven surface for cutting. Once again, circumstances either support or hinder an action or intention. If you have made up your mind for something today, or if work demands concrete action from you, such as the completion of tasks, then do not only focus on the execution, but also consider the circumstances. It may be better to change those or wait for others than to ignorantly do what needs to be done.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A carafe usually has a kind of pouring aid called a spout. This means that there is a kind of bulge on the upper rim that makes emptying easier and more concentrated and thus helps to avoid spilling. Actually just something small but with a big effect. In German with certain animals, the word for mouth is the same - although there is probably more of an aspect of what goes into the animal's body as food than what comes out. The fact is that this small part of a carafe or a body has a tremendous significance - incomparably greater than its physical size. So pay close attention to your beak today - what comes out of it, in what quantity and where it is poured - figuratively speaking. It would be a pity if you spilled good words or poured hot liquid and hurt others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It is well known that the shortest connection between two points is a straight line. So far so good. But if I change this line at certain points by making it wavy, i.e. longer, the total distance will also be longer. That's logical. Theoretically, on the other hand, I can replace an infinite number of short straight lines with small waveforms at the smallest level - and then the total distance suddenly becomes infinitely long. Sounds contradictory: a connection from A to B can thus become infinitely long. In our lives, such phenomena sometimes happen too: we have planned something - the big straight line - but then all of a sudden or at the moment we hesitate, postpone a decision etc. and in the end we never realise what we had planned with conviction. I encourage you today to implement decisions through concrete and firm steps and to follow your resolutions with determined action.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I have always been amazed how a petrol station works. It is often relatively small in terms of area - but I have never experienced that I or anyone else went there and didn't get any fuel. How does that work? Of course, there are relatively large logistics behind it and a large underground tank that has to be filled regularly so that the vehicles that come can fill up. It's the same in our lives: in order to have enough energy for all circumstances in life, we also need sources to fill us up, and not just when we need it, but beforehand - otherwise our reservoirs will be empty and thus our possibilities exhausted. That is why it is important to fill the necessary stores, to cover needs, to take care and to organise regular fillings, regardless of the current need. Do you give this the necessary attention and investment in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature shapes are not necessarily designed for practical use in our sense. For example, fruits or vegetables do not grow in such a way that they can be stacked or boxed optimally. They are much more optimised for their purpose, sometimes spiked for self-protection or other things. Very often we see round fruits - why this is so is not completely clear, but is probably related to the fact that growth from the centre in all directions is easiest this way and that a sphere allows the greatest volume with the smallest surface area. And this saves energy. I encourage you for today to set and live out your daily or work rhythm in such a way that you can also go through the day saving energy and optimised for your personality. This does not mean living selfishly and ignoring the needs of others - but it does mean practising good self-management. This - like the fruits of nature - serves everyone in the end.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Crystals are fascinating. How can these wonderful formations come into being, how can nature produce something so special, so pure, in so many different types, colours and shapes! It made me think even more when I learned that crystals are formed within rocks, so they are not visible or recognisable per se. It seems to me to be similar in the sea with pearls, which - as far as I know - can only be found hidden in shells. On the other hand, it is said of evil that it spreads and forms itself in the darkness and shuns the light. So nature produces such treasures in secret and evil likes to stay in the dark almost as an imitation. The difference is: one happens in secret, the other in the dark. They are not the same. I wish you the power of discernment for today to see the wonderful in the hidden and not to be seduced or deceived by the evil in the darkness.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the Swiss card game Jass, there is the ace, which is the highest card, followed by the king, the queen and the jack. So the latter is in the middle, with a few less valuable cards below it. So it's in there somewhere in the middle and you can't really strategise a game with it. Unless... unless his colour is designated as the trump colour. Then it's suddenly the highest card in the whole game that trumps everything. So a decision by the player catapults the meaningless jack to top value. I believe that it is also like this with faith: if we have a relationship with God and consider and accept what Jesus has done for us as true for our lives, then we suddenly belong to the trump group and our authority especially against evil increases like in the card game mentioned. Then we can go through life in a completely different way and confront the disgusting in a completely different way. Then we will no longer be outdone but will be the trump card.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently saw an animated picture in which a train was passing by very quickly. The picture said that you could decide for yourself in which direction the train should run. At first I only saw it moving quickly from left to right. But when I knew that it could also travel in the opposite direction, I tried it out. Indeed, after a few moments of concentration, I saw it going in the opposite direction too. Fascinating - the same image once with this content and once with the opposite. Conclusion: What I want to see, I will see. What I want to see in other people and in myself - for example, intentions behind actions - these I will see and judge and interpret accordingly. Today, pay attention to the way you perceive your environment. Positive or full of doubt and mistrust or even negative? The good news: You can change it and suddenly see the same situation in a completely different way!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Where I work, I can only get into the building with a personal number, a so-called PIN, and a personal card, a so-called badge. So my appearance may be as it is - if I have the pin and the badge, I can get in. On the other hand, I could come in the most appropriate outfit representing the company - without badge and PIN I would not get in, then I would be denied access, I would stay outside. Access to our heart and thoughts is sometimes similarly visited: doubtful thoughts and feelings want to enter our heart, our thoughts, others may seem inappropriate, but would still be good if unfamiliar. In any case, it is worthwhile to become aware of what we let in and what we don't, how open we are and maybe it would be time to change the PIN or the locking or access system.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I think we all know what I call the perfume effect: when we have a new perfume, we immediately notice the different scent. It only takes a little of the substance and we notice it - why? Because our olfactory nerves have not yet become accustomed to it. But only a short time later, the same amount of the same substance is hardly noticeable or perceptible to us. Habituation dominates. Let's be honest: there are many things in our lives that, when we first experienced them, thrilled us and perhaps even stunned us. And today we hardly notice it, we take it for granted. I encourage you to reawaken your senses and perception - and above all your memory - of and for all that was once enormously valuable and unique to you. At that time it was in the true sense habitual and today it is ordinary. Don't allow it - neither in everyday things like a sip of coffee without a sore throat nor an embrace of a close person.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In ancient Greece there were these beautiful columns, some of which are still visible today in the ruins of temples or other impressive buildings. I like these columns, their design, the care with which they were created. For me, when I look at them, their practical use - the support, the main task - recedes into the background. Rather, I see in them an architectural masterpiece. Today, for reasons of cost, one would perhaps simply cast a concrete column, optimised as far as possible in terms of functionality, lifecycle and costs. But the aesthetics would probably remain in the background, just for a column. I encourage you for today to do everything you do in this sense of excellence, of beauty in all functionality that concerns your daily work - be it cooking, writing an email, emptying the rubbish or pouring a coffee. Surely then the day will seem much more precious and special to you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I hope you are a coffee lover... A really good coffee today is not only one with a very good taste - but also with a nice crema. This crema is what makes a good coffee perfect. Of course, you can say that the coffee has to be good. But to make good coffee perfect, you need this crema. It confirms the good quality. When you take your first sip of coffee or skim the crema with a spoon - it's simply delicious. Imagine you were something as special as this crema described. You would go through life with a completely different attitude. Knowing that you are so loved and valued and welcome - what would that do to your everyday life, to your self-image, to how you see others, how you treat others? Therefore, why don't you go through your day today with this self-image? To be that special crema for others - and you really are, that is your original design!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I dreamt last night that I was in some kind of church service and suddenly we were all told to pray and pray loudly. That's what happened. But somehow I was totally overwhelmed because everyone was talking loudly and I couldn't understand anything in the babble of voices. I was overwhelmed because I thought I couldn't hear or understand the individual voices or hear what the individual request was. Impossible. When I woke up and remembered this scene, I was overwhelmed by how real this scenario is: all over the world, people are praying to God at all times, around the clock, whenever they feel like it - and how many there may be at the same time is totally beyond my comprehension. What an inconceivable greatness of God that He nevertheless, despite all this simultaneity, hears the prayer of each individual clearly and does not forget. Overwhelming for me. Even better: dreamlike!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Headlights are amazing. They enlighten things with much power. I like the fact that the spotlight actually throws light on what is hidden in the dark, makes it visible. That can be interesting and literally enlightening, and depending on the situation, life-saving or life-saving. We humans sometimes find it difficult to step into the light, especially when it comes to our thoughts and feelings. But it is actually the most liberating thing that can happen to us to live, think, talk and act as if we could permanently be in a cone of headlights. We have nothing to hide and we don't have to be ashamed of what suddenly becomes visible. I deeply believe that living in the light is liberating, easy and cheerful. The prophet Isaiah invites this by saying "Arise and become light, for your light is coming." And with that he pointed to the person of Jesus. With him as light, a cheerful life is possible.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The word "lovable" has it all and clearly states what it means: is something or someone worthy of love. This implies that there is a standard by which a judgement is made pro or con. But who determines the value for admitted love? And where is the threshold? Obviously there is a pass or fail. When I think about it, I ask myself whether this concept is permissible at all: is this still love at all, which sets conditions, which is conditional, which makes demands? Isn't that a contradiction? In theory it probably is, but not with us imperfect humans. There it is reality. It is different with God. He not only loves - and unconditionally - but is love itself. He makes it rain on the good and the bad, as Jesus vividly puts it. And I am convinced: whoever has once encountered this quality of love is changed for the rest of his life. How beautiful, from God's perspective, we are all worthy of this love without exception.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
What is art? A difficult question. For many of us - I count myself among them - something that requires a special talent. For example, painting or designing. Then one is quick to say the art of doing something. In other words, something that is given to some but is difficult or impossible for others. So there are those who love and admire art, especially creative art, and revere its creators accordingly. Others are indifferent to this or make fun of it. What is art? If, from my perspective, art is what others have as a skill that I lack, then it can already be something very mundane like patience or perseverance or hospitality, etc. And if one then becomes a lover of art, then it can mean: I appreciate in others precisely that which is not easy for me. My wish for you today is that you may do just that: go through the day as a lover of the art of others and rejoice in the abilities of others - but also in those that are difficult for others. That is - I think - no mean feat.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have been in a hectic situation. Maybe you just got into it and people or circumstances around you were hectic or even you yourself. How did you perceive it? Just very chaotic and confusing or maybe even painful? Today, the term usually means excessive busyness, excitement, haste. But actually the term comes from the health sector. So there was the term febris hectica, which meant consumptive or pulmonary fever. I think that this original meaning has some truth to it, which is no longer expressed in the same way today: rushing, especially too much of it, makes you ill. It is not just temporary confusion or haste, but really sick-making. Therefore, especially today, but also in general, make sure that you don't give hectic a place. It's better to take time out and remember: many things that are urgent can usually wait or take care of themselves.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A quarter is a proportion. This means that a part of a whole is shown - the fourth part, a quarter. Depending on how large the whole is, the fourth part can be large or small. But it is and remains a quarter. The rest is three quarters. So three times more. Now, you can always look at the fact that you only get one quarter and three quarters don't. Or you can look at what this quarter is, how big, how much. And when you look at it this way, you may actually be very satisfied and not even think about the fact that three quarters are not available - because you are satisfied with what you have received, even if it is only a quarter. In other words: relative quantities can lead to dissatisfaction because they inherently involve comparison. I wish you a day free of comparisons and content with what you have at your disposal!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know that teeth have spaces between them. We don't just have two teeth: one continuous at the top and bottom. That would be possible. But we have several teeth - and spaces between them. We have to take good care of them and the sides of the teeth that form these spaces. Interspaces are perceptible - although interestingly enough, at first glance they are just places without anything. At second glance, they may still be empty places - but they are transitions. Be it from one tooth to the next or in other forms perhaps from one phase of life to the next or one job to the next or a change of residence etc.. These in-between spaces are important and not just empty spaces. It seems to me that they show how stable we are, how well we can endure apparent emptiness and still be focused on what is to come. If you are currently in such a transition or in-between space: it is not the emptiness, but the determination of the position for being prepared for what is to come. Or in a nutshell: are you ready?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Our everyday life is usually full of decisions and things we have to take care of. This starts with decisions about when to get up and set the alarm, what to wear and eat, etc. Then there are bigger things, like maybe a trip to organise or arrangements to make for a decision or investment. If we have help and support with these things, it helps us. And if we have people in whom we can fully trust and even delegate such decisions or preparations for decisions to them without restriction, we are freer, feel relieved. In Greek, the word for trust is the same as for faith. So when I say I believe in God, it does not mean (only) I believe that he exists. But rather: I trust him as just described. I can let go, give up, be freer. Isn't that great?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a boy, a royal palace for me was only one that was a fortress or stronghold. A castle like Versailles I felt was just a big house. But a stronghold usually has - compared to the a palace or castle - less space, is more inaccessible and sometimes you are locked inside. A palace on the other hand is spacious, has many and large rooms. When you grow up like that, it also influences the way you deal with others: Generosity is the norm. But if you grow up in a small three-room apartment, it's different. Jesus once said in a passage that he goes to the Father to prepare a home for us. I think that's a beautiful image - and I'm already looking forward to this new home - and I'm sure it won't be a small three-room flat, but a spacious palace with lots of room and not an inaccessible, secluded stronghold designed for defence. I hope to see you there at the latest!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Reversi is a board game with 2 opponents, each with one colour of stones, white and black. The board is a regular grid of squares on which you may place your pieces. You may only place stones on squares that have a neighbouring square that is already occupied. If white places a piece in such a way that one or more black pieces are adjacent to it in a line and at the end of the line there is another white piece - i.e. all black pieces are enclosed by two white pieces - these black pieces become white. I like the analogy: as a Christian, I believe that God has very good intentions for my life and wants to do good to me - that is the white stone at the very end of the line. There may be dark stones of fear etc. in front of me. But when I come into agreement with God's good intentions - i.e. place my white stone - I believe that all the supposedly negative situations in front of me - the black stones - must turn and become good. Because I am in alignment with God's good thoughts about me. Try it out and see what will turn around!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The familiar question - which was first? The chicken or the egg? In faith it is similar. John tells us in his account of Jesus that Jesus once said "If you do not see miracles and signs, you do not believe". So: first miracles and signs and then faith? Or first faith and then miracles and signs? If the former, my faith is always dependent on whether I experience supernatural things - if not, my faith wavers. But if my faith is there first, then signs and wonders happen as a result. And even if not - my faith remains and is firm and the signs and wonders are rather a proof of my faith, but no longer a prerequisite. So as with the well-known comparison: faith is then not a thermometer, which only reflects the environment, but a thermostat - which actively shapes it. How is it with you? Do you believe and thus experience the supernatural or do you make your trust in God dependent on what you experience?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German, we have two proverbs about hands: having your hands full and standing empty-handed. The first means you have no more capacity for anything else and the latter you have lost everything or have nothing. Both are not necessarily meant in a positive way. But it is precisely the latter that is deceptive in its message: it is actually good to have empty hands - because then we are free to receive. And perhaps the negative aspect of the proverb is not so much the fact of empty hands as the fact of standing there. With empty hands, you can also rest or otherwise go on and tackle something. Either way, I encourage you, if you feel empty in an area of your life, to focus on the fact that this is not negative, but the best prerequisite for receiving something new. And therefore you may be full of expectation in this emptiness. So instead of empty - full: full of expectation!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When a road is newly built or generally overhauled, it is given a new fine surface. It may not be very thick, but it has a fine structure so that you can drive over it beautifully. Because the surface is so smooth, there is hardly any friction and you can make very good progress. It is different where a road is damaged, has potholes or grooves and cracks. If you know these obstacles, you drive around them or avoid the bumps ad hoc. Such damage occurs over time through use. But at some point, the surface has to be renewed, because otherwise driving on it is not only tedious, but also dangerous and damaging to the vehicles. In our lives, damage also occurs from time to time, which can spread and make certain life paths impassable if we do not make maintenance efforts. Perhaps it is your turn today to identify such places in your life, to no longer avoid them, but to tackle them, repair or renew them - so that you can then use them again safely and with joy.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Listening to the impulse for today, nothing came for a long time... I was a bit frustrated and disappointed with myself. But then I thought: I won't give up because I know that something will always come. And so I stuck to perseverance. So I have the impression that today it's your turn to encourage yourself in something that you would like to do with joy and passion but maybe you can't do it at the moment or it doesn't work out as you would like or you are discouraged for some other reason. So do not give up. If it is in your heart, burning inside you and you desire it - then it is not a coincidence. Keep at it, believe that it can be done and go on courageously and confidently. Perseverance is sometimes expensive, but in the end it is also valuable. In the truest sense of the word!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I loved playing with the Yoyo as a child. It fascinated me that the thing could spin so fast and then after it went down it would automatically come up again without my doing and then with a new impulse of mine it would be sent down again and then come up again. I think we all know moments when we have the impression that things are going downhill and sometimes it is not even our own fault - a broken relationship, lost health, problems at work, and so on. I believe that our life, to remain with the analogy of the yo-yo, does not hang on a random thread, but is given by God and can be driven again by his impulses if we decide to do so. And I am sure that he wants things to go up. On which string are you hanging and receiving your impulses?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I see a Swiss flag, it always touches me. No matter where, abroad even more so. It moves something in me emotionally and even more so. It touches me, it affects my identity. When the Swiss flag is used for mischief, it hurts me, and when it is mistreated in any way or not treated with respect, it touches me and stirs feelings of justice in me. But this also shows me that we human beings are deep beings with more than feelings, it is also about identity. This is important for us. Who we are, what we live and stand up for. I feel the same way about my faith. When it is ridiculed or God is made fun of, I feel hurt because it is precious to me and part of my identity. I hope you also have such meaningful areas in your life or even a living faith that gives you your identity.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In summer, people like to drink an iced drink with a straw. This actually requires more effort than if you were to just drink the drink like that. You have to consciously suck in the liquid with compressed lips and pull it into your mouth. Why do you make this extra effort? Because it's a sensory experience, I think. So the straw doesn't help make things easier, on the contrary, but it gives you a more intense experience. And in this case, that is obviously worth the extra effort. But then there is also the saying that one clings to a straw as an expression for putting one's faith in even the smallest hope. Is it the same straw? In any case, I wish for you, and I say this quite deliberately about you, that this straw of the last little hope should become for you the straw of enjoyment and joy and that the supposedly negative situation associated with it will turn to good.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Products or companies often have a logo. This can be an image or a text or a font or a combination of these. The idea behind it is, of course, the law of association. That is, when I see this logo, I am immediately reminded of the product or company - and then perhaps even of certain characteristics or experiences. So the logo serves as a memory aid and emotion trigger. Perhaps you have made new year's resolutions or are otherwise working on changing behaviour patterns. Maybe you want to get angry or get upset less quickly, or listen better, etc. And you know how it goes: you forget so quickly and then suddenly you remember again what you had set your mind on. If you are frustrated because of your own forgetfulness: why don't you make a simple logo that you make visible to yourself in different places? It can help you to better realise your intentions or change requests. Good luck!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a teenager, I was an enthusiastic photographer - and so I witnessed the whole development of the digitalisation of photography very closely. Would you have thought 30 years ago that you would take photos with a telephone? That sounds absurd... or make phone calls with a camera? Probably a question of perspective. In any case, in the past you had to invest more time in taking photos. From buying film to the more time-consuming process of taking pictures and finally waiting for the developed prints. Today, with the smartphone, it's all much quicker and you take more pictures. But I think the awareness and appreciation for photography itself has been lost. Technology may make things easier, but it can also make them emptier or poorer. Why don't you try today, independent of the technical means, to consciously and appreciatively do what means something to you and is important to you - and enjoy it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Locked doors sometimes have a certain fascination. Especially when there is a keyhole. As children, we liked to look through it. That way we were officially excluded or something was hidden from us, but we could still see a few details of what was happening behind the door through the small hole. And suddenly the feeling of being excluded was no longer there. On the contrary. There was something mysterious - we saw and experienced something without the side behind the door knowing or suspecting it. At least that's what we thought. Maybe you have an impulse today that seems to come from another side. Then try to hold on to it, not to send it away or let it go - who knows: maybe it's a forward-looking glimpse into something that is still hidden or inaccessible to you at the moment - but where a door will soon open... then you are already prepared for it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Only recently I talked about the fact that, due to changes, there are always new terms that did not exist before. But there is also the opposite - terms that will probably become more and more obsolete or no longer in use. For me, the keyhole is one of them. I imagine that in the future, doors that need a locking device will only have them electronically or digitally, and they will be closed and opened with a smartphone or other device, and they will be installed without a hole. Letting go of the old - maybe this is a topic for you today. Be encouraged that the outcome will be good and there is blessing in the new.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that from Earth we only ever see the same side of the Moon? That is, the Moon also rotates on its axis but at a speed that does not allow us to see its far side. Thanks to the efforts of the last century, mankind has been able to use technology to send space ships into space and take pictures of the far side of the moon, and so we can now know what the moon looks like in its entirety. Applied to life: if we always have the same point of view, we are often not able to see a person or a thing holistically. If you notice this today or become aware of it in a perhaps heated discussion - then try to consciously leave your point of view and take on a different perspective. And yes: this may mean that you have to make the effort to overcome the gravitation towards the previous with a lot of strength and determination. But it will be worth it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Probably most of us grew up with a flush toilet. Yet as children, we went on certain holidays to what was then East Germany, and where we lived there was only one hole, a pit latrine. That means you simply defecated into a hole without flushing afterwards. The smell was extremely bad. A water flush, on the other hand, really carries away the excrement and after a short time the air is pleasant again. Most of the time. It is similar with our soul. We also have excretions in form of injuries, anger, negative feelings, feelings of guilt or shame, etc. What do you do with them? Where do you go to? I think the human being can at best dispose of it on his own like in a mental pit latrine, but the bad smell remains, the stuff is somehow still there. I am thankful that as a Christian I know that Jesus cleans up and flushes away these excretions in such a way that they are really completely gone and I can breathe easily again afterwards - without residue. Are you familiar with that too? If not, why don't you give it a try?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
One of the ways a bicycle is propelled is by a chain. This means that when you pedal, the power applied is transferred from the pedals to the rear wheel by means of a chain, and this is how you move forward. Such a chain can become worn out over time and in the worst case it can break. With the help of a small tool, the distance between the links can be measured to determine whether the links are too far apart and need to be replaced or can be fixed. You can't necessarily see this with the naked eye - unless the chain is really sagging and no longer tight. For today, I invite you to observe yourself and look closely to see if there are areas where you are just sagging and would actually be glad for a break, to take time for an inspection, a tightening up in the form of rest. Allow yourself this - before it tears you apart as a result of overload!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently ordered something online. I've done it many times before and this time I thought "I'll do it quickly". So far so good. Then I got the message that the order would be delivered - to my horror to an old address where I can't be reached at all and it wasn't exactly nearby either.... I was annoyed with myself. I needn't have been - if I'd been a bit more concentrated and on focused and hadn't just clicked. So my tip for you today: be focused in everything you do. Not "quick and easy", but "carefully and concentrated". This way you will certainly see better quality results and in the end also give things more appreciation. I can tell you from my own experience: it's worth it - and not only in terms of the effort involved...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The famous glass of water... is it half full or half empty? What does that mean? Our language is actually fuzzy and strongly dependent on the context. A glass of water in Switzerland is probably a glass with a volume of about 1.5dl. In the US, a glass of water is probably three times that size! Does that matter? Maybe not. Maybe it does. If I'm in a very hot place in the summer and maybe haven't had a drink or exercised in a while, I'd want the American size. Or for an African woman who first has to walk a few kilometres from her village to the well to fetch water, this also matters. Context, it is. It's the same with you. Depending on the context, you and your gifts and personality blossom more. I wish you for today that you have moments full of suitable context in which you can bring all your uniqueness to the benefit of your environment and bloom.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At the end of the 19th century, people were probably traveling mainly by horse and other animals. The railroad and cars were only in development, I imagine. And then in the following decades these travel services developed and today we take them for granted. Today we call the roads where the cars can drive at high speed highways. I do not know what relation there is to altitude but at some point a term had to be found for this innovation - a road for the fast cars. This did not exist until then. We live in constant change and no matter how old you are - you are young enough for something new, for which you may find a new name. I wish you openness for this new, in whatever form it may come and wherever and then creativity in naming! Just be open for surprises!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If I tell you the name of an animal, you might see it in your mind's eye if you know it, and if not, you might have an idea based on the name. Suppose I were to tell you about a little killer or abuser - you would certainly associate certain characteristics with it and imagine what the animal would look like. Now I will tell you about a fly... a butterfly, exactly. Let's be honest: we don't think such a name is appropriate for these delicate little animals, do we? What similarity do they have with either a fly or even more far fetched butter? And the same thing can happen to us with people: we often read qualities and characters into people just by hearing about them, their names or just by looking at them. If you find yourself in the situation of meeting new people in the near future or today - think of this input and be completely open to who these people really are, not what their name is or what they appear to be.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you know the feeling when you take a chocolate or something sweet - or salty - of which only one is left and you eat the last of it. The pleasure is different than if there were many of them left. The exclusivity of the individual influences the enjoyment. Although this is actually only something in the mind and not caused materially. But it has an effect: What is rare seems to have higher value. We are all human beings and creatures with an expiry date on this side of eternity. Actually, every single day is a unique one, like the last chocolate. But we often live as if we lived in a chocolate factory. Everything seems so self-evident. I invite you today to experience as much as possible that of what you do, encounter or experience in the consciousness of uniqueness. Maybe you can even practise this as a lifestyle. I am sure that it will change you. For the better. For the grateful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Hedgehogs are out and about in autumn. I think we all find these animals totally cute. I once learned that you shouldn't touch them with your bare hands, but only with gloves. I actually feel sorry for these animals that they have to protect themselves so much with this spiked armour. They remain motionless as a ball of thorns. Tragic. Maybe you know people in your environment who put up their spines depending on the situation. This can be very unpleasant and hurtful for those around them. You have to treat such people - like hedgehogs - with kid gloves. When you meet such people today, remember the hedgehog - which we find so cute and for which we show a lot of understanding and mercy - and don't bump into the spines of this person. On the one hand, so that you don't hurt yourself, but on the other hand also so that you give the person a chance to experience that he or she can feel safe in your presence even without defence and spikes.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our neighbourhood there is a kind of advertising pillar on which many posters hang - and inside there used to be a telephone booth with a public telephone. I remember how I myself used to be very grateful from time to time for such an opportunity to find a public telephone. Today, this is practically non-existent. It is assumed that everyone has a mobile phone. This development has been rapid. Within about 20 to 30 years, these public telephone booths became obsolete - or rather, no longer maintained and operated for reasons of profitability. Certain other technological developments are going even faster. Will we all keep up? I doubt it. Perhaps it is therefore good and advisable to develop habits that help us to find the quiet point in life despite the rapid and fast-moving developments and to live from there. Quality of life cannot be defined by modernity, technology or progress. It takes place in the heart, has its origin there and results from it. Take care of it. Now already. Or even more so now.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If we want to listen to music as undisturbed as possible, we use headphones. They come in small buds, with and without cables, and some cover the entire ear. Some even have active noise cancellation, so that the noise coming from outside the ear is neutralised by a counter-frequency. But what about our inner hearing? Do we have "heartphones" instead of headphones? Can we exclude disturbing influences and listen to what is good for us? I notice again and again that sometimes it takes very little and I have a disturbing frequency - a negative thought - and then all the good sounds in me are disturbed or worse drowned out. If you feel the same way, it has helped me to detect the interference frequency and to cancel it out with a counter-frequency - just like noise cancellation does. In other words, a neutralisation of the negative. This can be done by consciously refusing the negative thoughts and remembering the positive and sticking to it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Perhaps you are also present in so-called social media or even more specifically in social networks. There are quite a few of them and they all have somehow speaking names: Xing is a kind of play on words with the X, which stands for intersecting, meaning that life paths cross. Or LinkedIn means integrated. Especially with the latter I like the meaning: I am not only purposefully linked with others and it is not my primary goal to be able to show as many contacts as possible - no: I am integrated. In a certain organism. Part of something alive. I like that - whether I am active or present in the social network or not. Maybe today you can also think about where and how you are linked in or to - and possibly even help someone to feel socially linked thanks to you. Not just digitally, but in real life. I'm sure they will appreciate it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our language, I always notice that compound terms are sometimes very original to funny and that the individual partial terms do not necessarily indicate the compound term. Examples: cheese-cake. Who doesn't think of a salty bite when they think of cheese and of sweets when with cake? Or: roof-top. What else could be topping a roof? But it's the combination that makes it. So individual words not only complement each other, but they create something new, something beyond their actual, original scope. I believe that this is also possible with us humans: depending on who we are with, things are possible in the combination that we ourselves would never have dared to dream. So I wish you for today that you can see, appreciate and exploit the potential that arises in community with others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As far as I know, the woodpecker knocks on the tree to get to its prey, i.e. its food, among other things. This is different for other animals: predatory cats see their prey and chase it until they have killed it. The woodpecker knocks the bark of the tree until it splinters away and then he finds cavities where he finds the food. So he does something in faith without sight. That impresses me. He doesn't see it, but he is so certain that he will succeed - even if maybe not on the first try. Should you find yourself in a similar situation right now, where you need something but don't see it yet - then be encouraged and remember how you experienced before that you finally received and found all that was needed. And if it helps: Jesus says about our God: Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was able to watch a baker prepare bread for the baking process the other day. He was so skilled and nimble that I could only marvel. I don't think I could have done it that way. Of course, he was trained for that too. Still... the example reminded me how each and every one of us has special gifts, talents and a calling. My wish for you today is that you can rejoice in the uniqueness and skills and talents of others and at the same time appreciate and embrace your very own calling. Let's complement each other and remain humble-joyful at the same time.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I want to explain something to someone who doesn't speak English, I look for the corresponding word in their language. So when I talk about a table, I look for "table" for a French person. Then they know exactly what I am talking about, because they have already seen and used a table themselves. But if I'm talking about something for which there is no suitable foreign language word - for example, Swiss Rösti - it becomes more difficult. I can describe roughly what Rösti is, but it is quite possible that my counterpart does not know or recognize what I mean. Many people feel the same way about faith. They have heard of God, but have not yet had a personal experience, and so it is as if this concept of God does not exist in their vocabulary. If you are a Christian and know such people: maybe you can give them such a positive experience and encounter with God today. If you are not Christian - then I wish you today such a personal experience with the personal, living and loving God.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, before the PET age, drinks were almost only available in bottles. These often had a characteristic shape specific to the very drink. You could distinguish a Coke bottle from a seven-up bottle only by its shape without contents or without tasting it. Today, with PET bottles, this is more difficult - even though I absolutely understand and support the ecological aspects and reasons. With the bottles you recognised, you also had certain associations of liking or disliking. What about you: do you think people associate you with qualities that you want your life to stand for? Or does your person actually stand for something completely different from what you want it to stand for? I think it is our responsibility to prioritise our behaviours and our being so that we become the people we want to be recognised as. Maybe today is a day to reflect on this and take action accordingly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are certain items that can be used beyond their intended purpose. For others, this is not possible. An electrical plug, for example. And as ordinary and inconspicuous as it may be - if you want to charge your mobile phone, for example, but don't have a suitable plug - think of a stay abroad with other sockets - then you quickly have a problem. I find everyday life is often similar. In our routines, for example, we meet the same people again and again on the way to work or while shopping, maybe we make some small talk. That's it. But when we are alone, familiar faces are suddenly enormously precious because they relieve the feeling of loneliness. So for today: be at least inwardly grateful for every contact with a person, no matter how superficial, and maybe you will manage to express your gratitude to those you see regularly for the fact that they just exist or that you are happy that and when you meet them, no matter how briefly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You have probably eaten Rampon salad before - and then there were strange noises between your teeth - as if you were biting on sand. This often happens with Rampon salad if it has not been washed well. And then the whole salad can be as good as it is - but the moment when you think you're eating sand then spoils the whole other far greater part of the pleasure. It is the same with our appearance to others. If we are not pure in our motives, words and often also thoughts and intentions, this is also perceived without words and not infrequently experienced and rightly interpreted as unpalatable. Therefore, make sure that you are as pure as possible in your thoughts, your heart and your dealings with yourself and others. And otherwise: please wash and clean again, as with the Rampon salad. It is worth it - for the enjoyment for others and yourself!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have used or at least seen a carabiner. It allows to fix something like rope or anything else to another object by a loop or a ring. Fixing or attaching is very easy, because only a small piece of the carabiner, which is movable and closes automatically via a spring, has to be opened briefly for attaching. After that, this part is closed again and the link holds. Loosening is more complicated: again, only this part has to be opened, but the loosening has to be done in a much more targeted and guided way. It is often similar with habits in our lives. So quickly and easily we get used to something, thus bind ourselves to this habit - and how difficult it often is for us to break away from these often bad habits. Maybe today you come into contact with such an unpleasant habit - and this is then perhaps the opportunity to break away from it. It is possible, be brave!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you know more than 365 people, it is statistically likely that one of them has their birthday today. Then you will congratulate him or her - on the birthday. Strange. Congratulations are usually given for something that someone has successfully achieved. On their own birthday, however, no one has ever been able to contribute anything to it. Nevertheless, we congratulate... what for? Perhaps this can be an occasion to congratulate a birthday person next time for having behaved in such and such a way in this or that thing or situation that he or she has become the person he or she is - in other words, to express appreciation for a quality or achievement that this person has accomplished in a very concrete way. Let's see what that triggers on the birthday then....
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Depending on the time of year, there is a beautiful fog or band of fog over a meadow or river in the morning, which then dissipates as the day progresses. These are wonderful views. That is, the meteo conditions allow something to become visible for a certain time that is already there - namely, a certain amount of moisture. Our circumstances also allow things that are inside us to become visible to ourselves and our environment all the time. How we think, feel, etc. To be sure, we can to some extent only influence the conditions to a very limited extent, which then make what is in us visible. But we can pay attention in the inconspicuous times to what we cultivate in us in terms of thoughts, attitudes, etc., so that it is then this which becomes visible and perceptible to others in appropriate situations. Or to use the familiar saying, "By their fruits you will know them."
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know the difference between singing and stinging? It's just one line, one 't'. So around 88% are identical, 12% are different. But stinging has nothing in common with singing. Today we live in a time when many things are considered very similar. Also in the field of religion: it doesn't really matter whether you believe in God or are a Buddhist, an Islamist, a Jew, and so on. This reminds me of the singing example. As a Christian, I believe that I get access to heaven and eternal life through Jesus alone, because he simply offers and gives it to me without my asking for anything in return. I think that is more than 12% difference from other religions where I have to work hard and yet am not sure if I can make it to paradise or where I have to be born again and again to get better. Such a difference, perhaps small for some, nevertheless has a far-reaching effect. At the latest in eternity. And this lasts a relatively long time...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suspect that the huge industrial chimneys were used to vent the harmful gases produced during production as high up in the air as possible, so as to contaminate the air as little as possible. This works if there is not too much output and there is enough wind. But if there is too little wind and too much emission, bad air is created, which can lead to respiratory illnesses and infections. There is no perfect solution to this problem without a sacrifice in terms of reduced production or investment in filters or the like. We humans also need to blow off steam sometimes. When we are alone, this is more tolerable for the environment than when we are in the midst of people. Do you have means that help you to minimize these emissions? Maybe certain filters like forgiveness, love or conscious acceptance of the weaknesses of others or your own? Maybe it is worthwhile to invest in your spirit and soul hygiene. This serves you and the environment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
During my studies we played the game Tetris on our pocket calculators, which were quite new programmable at that time and had a multiline display. It works like this: differently shaped pieces fall down from the top of the screen. As a player, you have to turn and push them while they fall so that they fit into gaps at the bottom. If you manage and a level is continuously occupied from right to left with such particles, the row dissolves and creates space for new pieces. If this does not succeed, the pieces pile up and when the top of the screen is reached, the game is over. In our daily lives, a lot of things fall into place, too. Information, feedback, praise, criticism, worries, fears, etc.. If we can't categorize them well, they grow quickly and we are emotionally and mentally overwhelmed - game over it can be. Do you take enough time for this processing so that there is room for something new? Retreat, silence, a good conversation or prayer can help you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It sounds like a contradiction: white chocolate. Because chocolate or cocoa is actually brown. But...in the production of white chocolate only the cocoa mass is omitted, but the cocoa butter is used. So it is still chocolate, even if it is white. Sometimes in life we feel the same way: outwardly something may not seem real to us, but in its essence it is real. We may judge an action of someone as dishonest or hypocritical - but the person does it with pure and good intentions. Or vice versa: we pretend to be friendly - but in our heart or thoughts there is something else. It can be like that in our everyday life, in public traffic or in the kitchen or elsewhere. As with the white chocolate - it depends on the essence of my thinking, speaking and acting: am I doing what I am doing with a pure heart or am I pretending something? Therefore, don't be guided by how others perceive you, but by how it really is inside you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Your toes are essentially responsible for keeping you balanced, standing and walking well. The big toe is the most important of all. When it is in contact with the ground, it signals to the body that you are balanced. When your foot leaves the ground, it assists in cushioning. Of course, I don't always think about it when I'm walking or standing. But for the fact that my toes provide me with so much mobility, I don't value them enough. You often only notice this when something is no longer working - a broken toe, for example, can severely impair mobility. I think our mind does a comparable job. It keeps our soul happy and if we don't take care of it and nourish it, we don't feel well. It also keeps us in balance internally. Therefore, it is not for nothing that we say: a healthy mind in a healthy body. Do you take care of your spirit and nourish it? Do you even know it and its needs?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I still belong to the generation that grew up with books. I like books. I don't always read the same amount, sometimes more, sometimes less. But I like books. They have something comfy, like a fire in the fireplace. A book - when it is closed - has something mysterious for me. Only when I open it do I discover its contents. An open book, on the other hand, sends a different message than a closed one. Extroverts and open people are also compared to open books. I have certain books that are very precious to me because I associate certain experiences or phases of my life with them. Do you also know such objects that are like a mirror of your soul? A book, you think, is materially nothing more than paper. Yet it can tell entire life stories - whether open or closed. I wish you for today that you can be an exciting or beautiful story for someone, one that one likes to have on the bedside table before going to sleep.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Our pinna is a fascinating organ. As a funnel-shaped organ, it serves to capture sound waves and transmit them to the eardrum, while also exerting an amplifying effect. furthermore, it is capable of determining the location of the sound source so that we can perceive where what we hear is coming from. So on the one hand the perception in the first place, then the amplification and localisation. Clever part and clever designer! So we hear without having to align ourselves specifically! It's quite different with the eyes or vision, for example! We cannot perceive what is happening behind us with our eyes, but we can with our hearing. We are also able to filter familiar sounds from a mixture of different sound sources - for example, the voice of a familiar person from a multitude of voices. This also works internally if we practise it: recognising which thoughts and impulses come from which source: good or bad. Today, consciously perceive this in your inner dialogues.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I suppose it's mostly men or boys who are fascinated by fire brigades. There is also so much equipment that can be used in a possible incident - be it a fire, a flood or a wasps' nest. But the fact is for the equipment: it has to be maintained regularly and the use of it has to be practised so that in an emergency both the equipment is used correctly and is available fully functional. What applies to the fire brigade also applies to us: we have to be prepared for our life challenges. There are minor and major strokes of fate. Either way, we need tools, strategies, practised and trained behaviours to be resilient. Jesus once said that if you believe his words and act on them, you are prepared for life's crises and will come out steadfast. Have you ever experienced this and can you learn from it and make thus yourself more resilient for the future?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever noticed that in nature, for example, seeds can either be used to plant a new generation, i.e. to invest the seeds, or to use them for consumption as food. In both cases, the seeds are no longer present, but they served a different purpose and that purpose exclusively. This means: I cannot plant and consume the same seed. Either or. In one case, it is an investment with no immediate benefit; in the other, it is a timely satisfaction of a need. Both have their time. I can't always just invest and sow - then I starve. But if I consume everything, then I have nothing left for the future. It takes wisdom to find the right balance. If you find yourself in a similar situation today, for example with your time budget - i.e. investing time in someone else or a project etc. versus time for yourself to enjoy - then I wish you much wisdom and a conscious decision for one and against the other.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Depending on the position of your teeth and the food you have eaten, you may appreciate a toothpick to remove any remaining food from between your teeth. It feels better afterwards and is also more hygienic because no or less harmful bacteria can then form. It is similar with our thinking. We process various things that we ingest during the day - and certain remain, sometimes unpleasantly. And if we don't take care of them, they can attack our thinking. Therefore, thought toothpicks are also appropriate here. For example, in the form of the question "Does dwelling on these thoughts or experiences serve me well or do I rather develop (even) more negative feelings and thoughts? Or: is this attitude or opinion more important to me than the relationship with the person who thinks different or has a different attitude? Etc. Thought hygiene is important in the short and long term.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a kid, we sometimes had spun sugar at the fair. I liked it very much. Not because of the taste, but because as soon as you had it in your mouth, it was gone. I found that fascinating. I think in life there are also things like that, which we like but which are without substance in the end. They taste and are delicious for a short time, but they don't last. Such moments - at least in my opinion - should and may exist. But not only. There also need to be more nourishing ones. Those that we have to chew on, but which ultimately nourish us and take us further. I invite you to take a few minutes today to occupy yourself with a thought or a statement by someone that has already made you study or think or challenged you. But please, nothing negative about yourself! If you don't have the material, look up the proverbs in the middle of the Bible and read until you get stuck on a saying and then stay there and see what happens.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a player on a football pitch, you want the terrain to be as flat as possible without any unevenness. Then you can play the ball optimally, you don't stumble and the passes arrive. But if the terrain is uneven, that's no longer possible, then it becomes unpredictable, which is annoying for many. In our lives today in the West, we very often take such a flat, self-evident assumption for granted: everything should and must work the way we plan it, imagine it, expect it. But what if it doesn't work out that way, if something interferes with our plans, if something unexpected happens, etc.? What do you do then? Do you blame the circumstances, get angry? Or do you see, in addition to the small everyday unevenness, the far greater level of success of the things that function as a matter of course - even though they are not? For example, that your heart beats without you being able to do anything about it or that there is enough oxygen to breathe etc.? Do you rather see the small hills or the big plain?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have had to press a key at some point - on a computer or at a cash machine or on some other electronic device. I asked myself where the term comes from, because it obviously can't be that old, because where there are buttons or keys, such devices haven't really been around for a long time. It struck me: In German a key is called a "touch". That indicates the inclusion of feeling. In English, a key reminds of a key to a lock. I like both terms: the key as a key to access something and the touch as well: entering a text or number input or a confirmation to touch or access something. How much of our life is only indirect and we need so-called "keys" to access them: language, for example, to the heart of the other person, a road to meet someone, etc. Today, be aware of how many such "keys" you have been given in life for free, in so many situations, and appreciate them anew.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Did you know that precision and accuracy are not the same? Precision is when, for example, you always hit very close to the same place when shooting at a target. But that can be far away from the target. Accuracy is when your attempts are all around the target, but maybe scattered. So ideally you hit precisely and accurately. Sometimes we are very obsessed with precision, for example in statements, thoughts and what we expect from others - this can be very consistent and yet far from the target or the truth. Others may not be as precise in what they say, more fuzzy, less catchy - but more accurate because they talk around the truth in everything they say. Perhaps this comparison or distinction will help you today in conversations where there are - or seem to be - different points of view. Perhaps some are very precise but not exact - or vice versa.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In this time of long nights, many of us hang stars: as paper cut-outs, origami or even ones that glow. We long for light these days, especially in the darkness of the night. Stars also stand for excellence. In football, for example, in the Champions League. Or on the European flag there is a circle of 12 stars. They stand for the values of unity, solidarity and harmony between the peoples of Europe. Or perhaps rather for the longing for them. And because much of what we long for is out of our own reach, we speak of reaching for the stars. In the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of John, Jesus is called the morning star. The morning star is the star that rises before the sunrise. It heralds the day. Therefore, the morning star is a picture of Jesus who brings the light to each of us. How beautiful.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Today, people still call a tv a tv, but it is no longer what it originally was. TV stands for television. Translated from the Greek, it means - precisely - remote vision. Strange, because the opposite actually happens: it is a close-up view of images that come from a remote source, namely from the transmitter. The tv used to show only black and white pictures, then coloured ones, and today there are even movies in three dimensions. But something has remained: the limited view. The set, no matter how big the monitor, has its limits, very abrupt ones. Sometimes our view is also very limited - whether we are looking at the present or at our biography or even making plans for the future. It can help if we are aware of this. It saves us from disappointment. Or it simply shows us our own limitations. James puts it like this in his letter in the 4th chapter: you should rather say: if God wants and we live, we will do this or that. Yes, I think he is spot on with his statement. Relieving but realistic.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If you like coffee - like I do - then you know that a good coffee is one that is freshly ground and brewed. That is, the beans have been well and professionally roasted beforehand - but ideally they are ground just before brewing. Of course, you can also prepare coffee with powder from beans that have been ground for some time. But the loss of quality in taste is noticeable. On the other hand, you can store the roasted beans for a reasonably long time in uncomplicated circumstances until they are ground to make the coffee. I believe that in our lives we are always given situations and experiences in advance - like the roasted beans, which later serve us in situations as raw material to have good thoughts, to give good answers or simply to behave in a way that is life-giving - in other words, to operate the grinder for the final product. I wish you such refreshing experiences today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I find shadows something fascinating. They only exist where there is light. They do not exist by themselves. In other words, a shadow is an indication of light resistance. For example, if the sun shines vertically from above, a vertical tower will not have a shadow, but a canopy that is open on all sides will. It is created as a sign that the light has not reached its destination - the ground. Every shadow is an indication that something is standing in the way of the light. Perhaps you also have moments or places in your biography where you feel shadows. I think the light wants to go there, but is stopped by something. Sometimes we can tell what it is by the contours of the shadows. I hope that this contribution will help you to identify shadow sources in your life and to remove them from the path of the source of life light, so that it becomes brighter in you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Change
It is often said that we live in a time of rapid change and that changes and developments have taken place in recent years that used to take decades or longer. Or that behaviour is changing significantly, for example in the workplace: where someone used to spend their whole working life in one company, temporary jobs are now much more attractive for professionals because they are so sought after, that they can choose the best option at very short notice. But what does the best option mean? What does "best" mean anyway? I think that a lot of this best option is not necessarily measurable. For me it is more an overall impression like: do I feel comfortable and valued and can I be the one there and bring in and give what I was created for and is this received with appreciation. So: do I play a role as a human being and does it depend on whether I am there or someone else. Maybe it's different factors for you. Either way, I hope you can choose your circumstances in such a way that they are the best for you. If not - then I wish you that you can change the circumstances for the best and be brillant in those.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Comparison
I was recently in a situation where I got an offer. I was actually very happy with it and pleased when it was finalised - until I found out that someone else got a better deal for almost the same. I found it interesting what this did to me internally: suddenly a dissatisfaction arose, or perhaps envy or the feeling of being ripped off. Yet nothing at all changed in the original offer, which I found acceptable at the time without hesitation. It's always a curse with the comparisons or that nasty voice that wants to make you think someone else is getting better off or you are being wronged. Not only does it make you unnecessarily unhappy, but it sows mistrust, resentment and everything else that supports a good relationship. If you feel similarly about a situation, help yourself by choosing to be content with what you have actively said yes to. Regardless of whether others seem to get a better deal. For sure you will be more relaxed and happy with it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we talk about constructing a building, we might simply put it like this: I am constructing a building. It is clear that the goal is the building and the way to get there - which is still ahead of me is the building. But we could also say "I am building a building". It is the same word twice: building. To me it sounds like I have not only reached the goal when the building is finished, but that I am actually already there during the building process. I find this encouraging. I may not yet have the building ready to live in during the building process, but I am nevertheless already there in some way, it already exists, I am already part of the building during the construction process. I wish you this vision and encouragement for other areas in your life where you are currently investing energy and time and perhaps finances.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Before there was the mobile phone, telephone calls were mainly possible via cable connections. That is, there were cables stretched over land, for example, in the air from mast to mast, which made communication possible. If everything was in order from the infrastructure point of view, that was no problem. But how quickly could communication fail if the cable was damaged or cut at just one point. Even today, our communication between people - regardless of the medium - is very susceptible to disruption. On the other hand, good communication is something enormously beneficial. The feeling of being able to express what you feel and then also to get the empathy that you are understood - that is enormously valuable, precious and life-giving. So today I advise you to pay attention to this good quality - be it that you give undivided attention in conversations or be it that you actively listen and perhaps even allow yourself openness in your inner dialogue.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A friend of mine recently told me about a conflict and how what should have been a factual dissemination of information turned into polarising parties and groups that began to accuse each other. It made me think and reminded me that when I start to see things in others that I accuse them of, that in many cases this has to do with the fact that I myself am very much in danger of doing exactly what I accuse others of doing. Perhaps you know this yourself. On the other hand, it also wakes me up to be sensitive where I am accused by others, so that I am not tempted to defend myself blindly, but to listen, to check whether this corresponds to the truth - or whether it is perhaps even a projection of my counterpart's mistakes or temptability onto me. Either way, if you are in similar situations, maybe these thoughts will help you not to get drawn into conflicts that are not necessary.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When goods are transported by rail, it is usually quite robust closed wagons that are used and then filled with the goods. Sometimes there are also wagons that are closed all round but open at the top, for example for transporting potatoes or similar. And then there are even wagons that are open all round. Of course, these are then intended for special transports - the load must not be movable in such cases, this could lead to dangerous situations. Many of us like things to be well laid out, orderly and easy to arrange, as with the closed wagons. I take the comparison of the different types of wagons today as an opportunity to encourage you to be open to something unusual, perhaps even unfamiliar or shapeless - like the open freight wagon. Who knows what beautiful things you will experience and get in touch with.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When it rains and puddles form, water collects in places where it has a certain depth. And the deeper such an indentation is, and the deeper it is compared to its surroundings, the more water collects there. There is a force of attraction, gravity, which pulls the water there. Transferred to us humans: we too are earthbound and this is not infrequently associated with pain or questions to which we cannot find satisfactory answers or not yet. If we keep at it and endure the tension, it gives us depth. Even if we don't yet have answers to the difficult questions. But this depth - like water - is also attractive if we handle it well and don't become bitter. I wish you strength and courage today for such situations and points in your life where it is difficult for you. Remember: they have the potential for depth and, as I said, that is attractive to others.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I see in front of me beautiful detached houses, well maintained with a little garden around the house - and a nice garden fence about waist high. The fence is continuous around the whole plot and somewhere there is a gate through which you can get to the house. The fence doesn't really protect the house from intruders. You could climb over it without any problem. But it signals a boundary. A boundary from which owners change and thus also authorities in the area concerned. These are to be respected. We also have our personal boundaries and from experience most of us know the pain of an unwanted border crossing. I encourage you for today to stand by your boundaries and also to erect your own fence and make it visible so that others respect it - but for this they must also be able to perceive it. This way they can consciously stay outside and don't run the risk of suddenly standing on someone else's ground and then maybe even seeing the biting dog running towards them....
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Surely you have seen an organ in a church before. Especially the larger ones are enormously impressive to me. There are usually very small pipes and then, at the other end of the spectrum, enormously large ones. But they all sound through the same medium: the air that is pressed through them. And metaphorically you could say that maybe a small pipe is jealous of a big one because it is more visible or because it seems to be more important - which is not true. It is the same with us humans. How often do we think of others as being more important or more talented or more popular or ... No, they are not. Just as all the pipes are important for the entire sound spectrum of the organ, we as individuals are also important. You are just as important. And ultimately it is like with the organ pipes: The same Spirit is given to us by God that blows through us and makes us come alive.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I don't think I know a single person who wouldn't have liked to have something different at some time in their life or their body. One with straight hair might say "oh I wish I had beautiful curls like you!" And conversely, those with curls say "oh I just can't do nice hairstyles, my hair is so wild - wish I had your straight hair!" etc. Fact is that we have not accepted things about ourselves and so do not identify with them. In other words, we would like to be someone else. But who would then fill the place that we were specifically created to be? Today I encourage you to fully accept yourself with everything, really everything in and about you and see it as part of your own originality and know that you were made for a specific task and have a place that no one else can fill like you. If you are not there - then someone is missing.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are some similar proverbs like "no rose without thorns" or "where there is light, there is shadow". They all say roughly that where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. So there is nothing that is simply good, but there is always a disadvantage somewhere or a price you have to pay for what is pleasant and beautiful. I wonder if that is the case. Perhaps on this earth it is. Even unadulterated happiness comes to an end one day, purely because of our being subject to time. But in eternity? As a Christian, I believe in eternal life. I believe that the original creation, as it was intended but in which we no longer live, can be found there. According to testimonies, without tears and suffering. There is also no more sickness and pain. But certainly roses. Maybe even with thorns - but probably ones that don't sting. I am looking forward to it. You too?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When a man and a woman marry, rings are usually ceremonially exchanged and put on each other during the promise of fidelity as a visible sign of the mutual promise. The ring also signals to the outside world that the person has made a commitment to be faithful to another. The ring thus serves as a visible sign to the outside world, so to speak, to remind the spouses that they have promised to be faithful to each other and to show the outside world that there is a covenant and promises that should not be broken. In times of crisis, however, some find it difficult to continue wearing this ring. It is then perceived as a shackle instead of a sign of covenant. Are there perhaps things or commitments in your life at the moment to which you have committed yourself with a promise but are only half-hearted about? Would it be time to open yourself up inwardly and say yes again with all your heart? Sometimes certain things take effort and courage - but they are usually worth it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, we sometimes had to search for the right frequency on the radio or the TV to get a good reception of a station. And sometimes it was annoying because we received nothing but noise. The noise came in the form of incomprehensible, unpleasant sounds on the radio and pixelated pictures on the television. But if we could eliminate the interference frequency and hit the good frequency, suddenly everything cleared up and we had good reception, clear voices on the radio and clear pictures on the TV. Sometimes in our personal or professional lives we are like in a noise: we have questions or are looking for solutions, but we can't hear anything because maybe other things are interfering. I encourage you today to search for the right frequency that you need, even through distance, fresh air, a walk or simply a break and let the noise subside. You will certainly see and hear more clearly again.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I'm sure you've already once had a hot dog - assuming you're not vegetarian or vegan. As I understand it, a hot dog is a food consisting of a grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. Optionally there is ketchup and or mustard on top. Simple. Delicious. But why is it called a HotDog? Actually, it should be called HotPig, because the meat of the sausage is pork. And usually only the sausage is hot, not the bread. Label fraud? Many things in our lives have a name that is not actually appropriate or expresses the essence of a thing or person. Have you believed words that others have said about you or to you that are not really true? Perhaps that you are bad at this or that? Then perhaps today would be a moment to consciously separate yourself from them and think the truth about yourself.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you know people who smoke a pipe? Actually, I should probably ask: do you know men who smoke pipes - because I have never seen a woman do so. With pipe smoking, only certain characters come to my mind: men, intellectuals, Sherlock Holmes as a clever detective, etc. So while with cigarettes I have the impression that anyone or everyone could consume it, that's not the case with tobacco pipes. A prejudice? Or statistical significance? Whatever. In our lives we probably have many such cases that are clear to us - but are they so clear? Or do we just want them to be clear for the sake of simplicity? Why don't you pay attention today to your dealings with other people: how many of them, whether they are well known or hardly known, have you classified and catalogued in this way? Are you willing and ready to detach yourself from such images and to meet them again in a completely unbiased way? Perhaps even to set them free through this?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
An acquaintance of mine told me that he had three colon operations this year. Two were emergency, one was planned. In the meantime, he had to have an artificial anus because of this. For about half a year, the large intestine was inactive. After the third operation, however, this part of the intestine had to function again as before. My friend told me how grateful he was that his digestion was working well again - a miracle. Most of us take it for granted. Are you worried about something or someone? I think Jesus would have used the example mentioned to say: if you humans with all your worrying cannot control even basic things like a necessary digestion - why do you worry about so much else? Don't you know that your Heavenly Father knows about everything you need and will provide for you if you trust Him? So I encourage you in worrying to accept this offer.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A traffic light is a simple but very effective tool: with just three colours, all traffic is controlled. As a road user, I stick to red=stop, orange=caution, green=free travel. I wouldn't have to. If driverless vehicles determine our traffic in the future, the traffic light will probably be obsolete and the vehicles will either be controlled externally via a higher-level guidance system or negotiate the right of way ad hoc among themselves. But that is not yet the case. We have the freedom to submit to the rules of the traffic lights - or to violate them at the risk of putting others or ourselves at great danger. Maybe you have plans, ideas, projects at work or in your private life and you actually feel what colour the traffic lights are showing: In this case take them seriously: Go ahead with a lot of courage when the light is green and better stop and wait when the light shows red. Perhaps also in view of the new, coming year.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Toronto is home to the CN Tower, a tower over 555m high. I saw it myself once - impressive. And of course such a building reminds us of the Tower of Babel. We humans have it in us to strive for greatness. The comparative is part of our DNA: further, bigger, greater, higher, etc. Some call it pride and arrogance. But I think that every parent is happy when their own children make progress and perhaps even become better at certain things than they are. Real growth. The parents then are proud of what the children achieved. Why should God as our Heavenly Father not see us with the same loving and proud eyes? Therefore, I encourage you today to pursue your desires and goals for greater things with joy but also responsibility. Good luck!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some jackets have a waistband at the front of the sleeves, which narrows the sleeve of the jacket by a kind of elastic so that the wrist is firmly enclosed and the sleeve cannot slip over the back of the hand. This is usually very practical because it leaves your hands free. Sometimes, however, it is also constricting. This also depends on how tight the waistband is. But either way, the intention is a good one. And if I want to have my hands free, regardless of whether I have my arms stretched or bent, this waistband helps. In everyday life, we sometimes experience constrictions. They can be rules - a one-way street or red light, a political decree, a business regulation, medical advice or ethical principles in relations. We have the option to practically transgress them - but like the waistband, the real intention is that these principles or regulations give us more freedom, not constrict us. Perhaps this thought helps you in a situation or relationship today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently read the story about knowledge. So I asked myself: what is knowledge actually? Is it purely the multiplication of information? Or is it something that I know from experience? Or something that I have heard and decided to be true for me? Is it what I consciously acquire as conviction? And what does "I know this or that" mean? Does it mean that I have already heard about it and that this information is sufficient for me or does it mean that I have had a personal experience with it? I found that knowledge can have many layers. From superficial and unreflective memorisation - like a chemical formula - to deep experience: knowing what love feels like. In French, the verb for to know - savoir - can also have the meaning of to be able, to be capable. I like that. Maybe that's why it's called "savoir vivre": to have really understood how life works. Does this also apply to you?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You can travel by car or by train. Some prefer the public transport, others the cars. Travelling by train usually has the advantage that you can simply get on, be taken to and arrive at your destination on time on a known route, usually without any obstacles. With a car, on the other hand, you have more freedom. You can spontaneously take different, new routes, take breaks if you like, etc. On the other hand, there is the risk of getting into a traffic jam and the time reliability is not always given. Some people, as mentioned, feel more comfortable travelling by public transport, others prefer the car. It is a personal choice, depending on the type of personality. When you meet people today and you find yourselves in a conflict or a negotiation situation - perhaps it helps you to remember that your counterpart might just be a different type with different preferences and not against you or the cause. This thought may help towards a good solution for both sides.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a phrase or idiom which means: on the whole. What is meant here is a way of looking at a situation that is as all-encompassing. I am currently working with others on a project in which some things are not running ideally. For example, there are those who do their work very reliably and do what they have to do and what they were asked to do - but they don't see the connections, the links to other areas or employees and their tasks. The result is a lot of frustration because information is not passed on etc. So it can also happen quickly in our everyday life that we just manage days without seeing the big picture of our vocation. I believe this is important so that we live in and towards what we were created for - then we will rise to greatness and feel comfortable like a fish in the water - in the whole water! Therefore, don't let your calling get out of your sight!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was recently with many young men and we had dinner together, ordered pizzas and one of them drove me to pick up the pizzas. Later that evening, he was suddenly looking for the car keys. It was interesting to observe how something - in this case the car key - suddenly took on enormous importance and attention. Usually just hidden in the pocket without any attention except for locking and unlocking, and all of a sudden so important. It reminded me to give many things that are given to us, especially relationships, the necessary attention and gratitude. Especially when we still have them. If we lose a person, the loss - in contrast to the car key that has been found again - is incomparably more painful and perhaps even greater, because we have previously expressed far too little to this person what he or she means to us. Therefore, be careful with your relationships and cherish them.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At school we had line sheets or notebooks with lines. We learned to write with the help of these lines. Specifically, we could sort of prop up our letters, words and sentences on these lines and so our text remained legible. The lines helped us to make our text more readable for someone else. Not only were the lines helpful in aligning the letters, but they also helped - subconsciously - to keep the size of our writing fairly constant and even. On the one hand, this was nicer to look at and on the other hand, as mentioned, it was more readable and less strenuous for others. If you are perhaps bothered by certain guidelines today, remember this comparison. Looking at the whole, such limitations or guidelines - also in a figurative sense - can be very helpful. Not only for the whole, like a society or a company, but in the end also for the individual parts or persons. In the end, this serves everyone, even if it may sometimes seem a little stiff.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you familiar with this: You turn and turn in your thoughts and still don't get anywhere. You have a situation that you have already gone through a thousand times in your head, inner dialogues that you have already had a thousand times, and so on. It's the same with a nail: you don't achieve anything by turning it. A screw, on the other hand, has a lateral, vertical offset. If you turn it, it moves in a vertical direction. Transferred to the thought example: stop turning, even revolving around yourself, and try to bring into this turning an inclination, a different perspective, perhaps an unfamiliar or not yet thought of one, or perhaps even the decision to stop altogether. This will take you further than endless spinning without depth. And if you need a reminder because you keep falling back into it: take a small screw in your pocket or handbag as a reminder to escape it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In an egg - that's how I imagine it when it's still closed - egg white and yolk are together but not mixed, i.e. separated. People talk about the yellow of the egg and mean by that the special thing that stands out from the surroundings. I imagine that the yolk perhaps - just as an example - feels superior to the egg white. It's bright, it's more nutritious and it simply stands out more, and in most cases it gets into the centre and the egg white around it. But if the egg yolk were to rise up in pride and feel better than the egg white - that would be a fatal misjudgement: because finally, until the little animal is formed, the egg yolk feeds: precisely: on that which it despises. Therefore, this as impulse for this day: do not fall into the temptation to despise other people or things. Without knowing it, you may be much more dependent on them than you think.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our western world, thinking has a very central place. In school, so much is geared towards knowledge: one learns mainly with and through memory, the brain, and this quasi quite consciously. I have the impression that little value is placed on learning over time or learning with experience - perhaps also because this is not predictable or testable. But in life, I think, most of the things that make us capable of living are precisely learning insights from the latter categories. These take time and everyone learns differently. So we get to know each other when we spend time together or have experiences together and only to a limited extent when we read or memorise each other's CVs. Therefore, shared times and experiences are not only investments in relationships, but also valuable learning experiences. Be it with people, animals and also God. Enjoy them consciously today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In nature, many things are in motion and I think only few things are really even. For example, we observe that rivers or creeks can only flow and supply the land if there is a gradient - i.e. higher and lower land. The same applies to electricity: only when there is a voltage, a difference in charge, current can flow, which then provides propulsion, for example. On the other hand, some things are also designed for balance: we humans often need a balance of bodily values in the way we function. So the fact is: both differences, i.e. tensions and level differences, and balances contribute to life. It obviously needs both. If you find yourself in tense or perhaps boring, over-balanced situations today, try to see what is life-enhancing in them instead of spontaneously condemning them. Perhaps this will help you to gain a new perspective and gratitude.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As children, we talked normally about the whale-fish (in German), the huge animal in the sea. Later I learned that this was wrong: the whale is not a fish, but only a whale because it is a mammal. Well, it still looks like a fish to me. However, this example teaches me that just because something looks a certain way to me, that doesn't mean it has to be or is. How many concrete ideas we often have about other people, cultures, political groups or even God. Today I challenge you to question these for you normal assumptions, perhaps even those with great conviction, and to look or listen again carefully and to let yourself be touched by the true essence of these people, groups or even God. You want to be perceived as you really are, not as others categorise you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, I loved driving through tunnels. It was mysterious, dark, somehow I could relax. When you drive yourself, on the other hand, it can be exhausting: it's narrow, offers hardly any possibilities for evasion, and when there's a lot of traffic, it's very entiring. When you go through a difficult time, you also talk about the tunnel from time to time, or more so about hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel soon - in other words, the hope that the difficult season will soon be over. Did you know that in tunnel construction, a horizontal or vertical curve is often planned purposely for the traffic? This is so that the driver does not see the end too early, but as late as possible. The reason is that in the darkness of the tunnel he is not blinded for too long by the incoming light. An interesting thought. I hope it encourages you, if you are currently in a personal tunnel, that the end is perhaps closer than you currently perceive.
Modern technology makes it possible today for many things that used to be communicated verbally to be quickly sent digitally on a smartphone or computer in writing or as a voice or video message. Or as an e-mail. There you can read comments that the author would never have dared to say in a face-to-face encounter. The communicability of new technologies and digitalisation is disinhibiting. Often more to the detriment than the benefit. However, I recently noticed when I wrote a personal message to a close family member how it was easier for me to express my appreciation, admiration and love in writing than orally, because I could write all the things that I might not have dared to say for fear of rejection. This experience motivated me to become more courageous orally and to express appreciation, affection and gratitude more often and more directly. I hope this inspires you for your relationships today, too!
Rabbits have very large ears and hear incredibly well - because they have so many natural enemies and so they can hear them in time and escape. They can even move each ear individually. Fascinating. At first glance. But actually sad. Ultimately, there is nothing behind this extraordinary ability other than an omnipresent fear of death. These animals live in permanent tension and fear. How tragic. But actually, we humans are no better off. Death is waiting for each of us. At a small church in Basel, below the church clock it says "omina latet", which means the last one is hidden. What is meant is our last hour. On this background, the Christian message of the resurrection is even more powerful and hope-giving! Jesus has conquered this death and our fear of it. Whoever is connected to him finds peace and instead of sophisticated fear sensors, he can now develop a powerhouse heart of love and hope. How great is that!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I admire all florists - how they so artfully and creatively put together great and beautiful flower bouquets. Well, and if you have a bouquet like that and want to display it - then the vase also plays an important role. Not every vase goes with every bouquet, just as not every frame goes with any picture. There are combinations that complement each other so well that their particularity and beauty is enhanced by that of the other: the matching vase makes the bouquet even more beautiful and vice versa. Why don't you pay attention today on how you can make another person or their work or statement or something else even more beautiful, more special, more valuable through your contribution in at least one situation or encounter - I am sure that more of your beauty will become visible through this as well.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We live in a time when the medium of the newspaper is possibly a discontinued model. In German it contains the word time. So a newspaper is something time-related. But time does not stand still and so you may wonder how long a news-paper will really be what it promises to be: more of an information channel on current affairs or a contemporary witness for the chronicle? Either way, the example in our days makes it clear how short-lived everything can be. So perhaps the Latins were not so wrong with their carpe diem (cease the day). Or as a songwriter wrote many hundreds of years ago: "As a father loves his children, so God loves all who respect and honour him. For he knows how fleeting we are." What a comfort in all our short-livedness - we are not forgotten! I hope this gives you courage for today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the darker and colder days of this season, many of us start lighting candles. They give a special light, different from the electric light. Warmer, more natural, more alive - at least I think so. Candles, interestingly, are also more suitable for winter. A candle in midsummer doesn't burn well because the wax becomes soft due to the high temperatures outside. In winter, on the other hand, it becomes hard precisely because of the cold temperatures and makes the candle burn all the better. Interesting how there are things that show their special strength in difficult seasons. You have also been given special abilities how to show strength in situations that are difficult for you and how to cope with them well. Maybe not out of yourself or by yourself alone but by accessing external sources: good advice, special encounters, encouragements, wise words etc. at the right time. Perhaps today you might want to strengthen yourself by reading a Psalm, which you can literally be found in the middle of the Bible.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There is a saying "to see and to be seen" and this expresses how we actually want to keep up to date with, for example, celebrities, and at the same time want to be noticed and thus perhaps attend events not for the sake of it, but because our need for attention from others is greater. We need to be noticed - to be seen. It is a basic need of ours and woe to those who do not have this basic need met. They can sometimes force themselves to have this need met in a gruesome way. On this background, it fascinates me that John, the author of Revelation, describes in the fourth chapter of his book how he saw beast-like beings with wings that were full of eyes and had no rest. For me, this expresses: God cares that He sees us, or in other words: we are so to speak on his loving radar or in His vision. I wish you for today that you see how much you are seen and noticed.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you have rubber boots at home or at work? Have you ever had any at all? For me, rubber boots are associated with childhood memories: with them you could be outside in the biggest rain without getting your feet wet. They were a kind of universal shoe. If it was cold, just a few extra socks and I had warm and dry feet. When I wore these boots once on a Saturday afternoon at an event in the forest where we made a fire, I didn't even realise that - like with hiking boots - I could just push the wood back into the fire with my boot - because the rubber of the boot was not heat-resistant - and in no time my boot was disfigured and melted. Perhaps this little story will help you as a reminder to pay attention in a particular current situation and to check not to go too close - to stay with the story - to the fire and perhaps do harm.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There was or still is a financial institution that advertises with the slogan "We clear the way", showing an endless straight road with two lanes. One lane is in one direction, the other in the other direction. Of course, you can to ask yourself: which is the right direction? The mere fact that the road is clear does not mean that one is going into the right direction. Sometimes it's wiser - like with a navigation system - to hear the signal "please turn!" Maybe that's what you need to do today. Perhaps in a relationship or a professional situation. Don't continue to follow the chosen path unstoppably only because you have been doing this for a while now. But stop, turn around and look at the situation from the other perspective and perhaps also go back a bit and start anew.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A match is something fascinating: It is easily combustible wood with an ignition head. When this is rubbed against a rough rubbing surface, which often contains easily combustible phosphorus, enough heat is generated to ignite the phosphorus and thus ignite the match. And then many things are possible: lighting a candle or a fire or whatever. The individual parts by themselves do nothing. But in combination with the right movement, they can be the starting point of something powerful. I believe that in you and your immediate environment, especially today, there is also the potential for something great, even if it is perhaps hidden. I invite you to an experiment today: whether you believe in God or not, but try the following simple prayer: "Lord, bring my components and the external ones together today so that I can experience something great with you." And then be curious about what will happen - and if you like, share it with me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I remember many moments when I had the privilege to fly and look down on the earth from the plane above or in the clouds. Unique moments and if you haven't experienced it, it's hard to imagine and also hard to describe it. Many experiences cannot be described and certainly not been passed on or given away. It is the nature of experiences that you have to make them - and hopefully learn something from them here and there. Everyday life seems to be free of such experiences in all its routine - but this is probably not true. Just because they are more frequent or more regular, they still have a teaching potential. Why not assume today that what happens to you is a lesson for the rest of your life and prepares you for the future, so that you can cope well with whatever is to come.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I'm sure you've read fairy tale books or, more importantly, read them aloud. The fascinating thing about fairy tale books - I think - is that they convey deep truths in relatively short stories, but often in a hidden or metaphorical form. As a child, I mainly heard the story, but not necessarily the moral or message. As an adult, I now recognise these more readily - and then sometimes resistance stirs in my enlightened thinking, telling me that it cannot be presented in such simple or black-and-white terms. Nevertheless, it is often precisely in their clarity that these messages are so helpful - and sometimes also offensive. If you have the opportunity take a storybook or a fairy tale and read it and let it inspire you. Simplicity is sometimes much more useful than high complexity, which does not make progress due to its diversity.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Whispering has something special about it. It is soft speech that is presumably only meant to be heard by the person receiving it. As children we whispered when we didn't want our parents to hear, or lovers whisper to each other. But also evil or sinister, sometimes uncanny things are communicated in whispers. Our self-talk often also takes place in whispers. It reveals how we think about ourselves, how often we judge ourselves and how seldom we praise ourselves, how great our self-worth and small our credit to ourselves is. Pay attention to your inner whispers today - what voices are you actually listening to and are you aware of them? Perhaps it is your turn today to amplify good voices and no longer pay attention to negative whispers.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In the past, coffee grinders were used to grind coffee beans. They were a kind of wooden container with a crank at the top, which was then revolved around its own axis and ground the roasted coffee beans into coffee powder. Actually a good thing, I think to myself: grinding was done as needed and no electric power was necessary either. I don't know anyone who still does this today that way. However, this does not mean that nobody does it! I have seen that you can still buy and use various models today, apparently with very good results and in totally different price ranges. Why not? My impulse for you today is therefore: just because you cannot imagine something, because you do not know it, does not mean that it is not possible and perhaps very good. So, if necessary, be cautious today with all-too-quick prejudices and instead be curious for the unknown that you may encounter today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I had set my mind accomplishing something. I went into the situation full of motivation - but then I was so distracted that it only occurred to me much later that I had completely forgotten what I went into the situation to do. So I had allowed myself to be distracted without wanting to be and without being aware in advance that it could happen that way. When I became aware of this, I felt a mixture of anger and sadness for myself. So I take this experience as an opportunity to ask you in today's audiostretto if you are currently experiencing something similar: You have decided to do something specific, but have been putting it off until now - and now would be an opportune time. Then do it and concentrate on doing it with first priority and don't let yourself be distracted from it as it happened to me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you wear a necklace or have you ever worn one? One with a pendant? Often the necklace is virtually only a means to having a pendant in a unique place where nothing else is present. Sometimes visible, sometimes hidden. But often a pendant is worn for a special reason. For example, as a reminder in the sense of keeping alive experiences, usually with special people or unique moments. But there are also supporters of sports clubs, often called fans. They have a special loyalty to a particular club or a team or a person and so to speak hang on them. This is also about identity. A true supporter or fan is someone who remains loyal, even when things are not going well or when it is difficult. Do you also have such an area in your life for which you are so devoted or hang on, for which you show so much passion? Is it worth it?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Not so long ago, many households received their television signals via satellite dishes, often installed on balconies. So there were these bizarre pictures of houses littered with these dishes, several of them on each floor, at least one for each flat. Today, these are already "tempi passati" and today we receive TV signals from even more channels via cable. So in the past, the reception of external signals was crucial and also the orientation of the reception sensor. Today, this is much less susceptible and internal via the cable. What about the question of meaning and purpose in your life? Do you depend on external impulses, which may also be susceptible to interference, or do you let yourself be fed by an inner source that is reliable and steadfast? I believe that this is exactly what God offers us: His presence, which wants to dwell in us - reliably and steadfastly.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
It used to be that in the theatre it was "Curtain up!" Then the performance began. Some people still have curtains at home. They prevent people from seeing in from the outside. So not everyone can see into our private lives. They are a visual protection. In certain areas of our lives we prefer to open partially our curtains - we are transparent to a certain extent. In others, we choose closed curtains. These serve as protection for us and only in front of a few we open them. When God approached the people of Israel and created the tabernacle first in the tent, then in the temple, there was always a thick curtain between the people and God's presence - to protect the people from God's holiness. When Jesus died, the curtain was torn. By this God opens up to us, makes himself accessible. For free. What a generosity!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever seen a single grain of sand? Or a raindrop? They are insignificantly small. But is there a sandy beach without individual grains or a rain without the individual drops? Insignificant in their individual occurrence, perhaps, but decisive and important and perceptible in the aggregate. It is the same with our thoughts. We may not even notice a single one. Nor whether it is positive or negative against or for us, etc.. But in the sum they are decisive! We speak and act the way we think. Just as a single grain of sand carries the DNA of the entire beach, our thoughts carry the essence of our actions, or vice versa: our actions are an expression of our thinking. In such a context, Jesus once said "By the fruit you know the tree." What fruit do you provide? Do you really want to offer those or would you rather offer others? It is up to you or in your heart: decide what thoughts you allow!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I imagine a palm tree, I see a long trunk and only at the top the large leaves and immediately below its fruits, the coconuts. So these are not easily accessible. This is also the case with trees in our regions. The tree protects its fruits by making them inaccessible in a certain way - until they are ready for harvesting. If they were easily accessible, the inexperienced or impatient would take them too soon: they would be inedible and might even harm him. So what may look like a refusal at first glance is in essence a protection against harm to the recipient. If you find yourself in a situation today in which you have the impression that something is being withheld from you - check whether this is perhaps even for your protection and not out of resentment. And if you cannot see it, trust that it is for your own good .
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Today, many of us go to the gym. What used to be important for only a few is now important for almost everyone: an investment in health. For some, it's just an investment in an attractive body. Either way, we can only experience changes in our bodies, for example muscle growth, if we keep giving ourselves new impulses, impulses that push us to the appropriate physical limits. We say "no pain, no gain". If you find yourself in a situation today, or have been in one for a while, where you are reaching your emotional limits, try to see it as an opportunity for growth, for positive change. But be careful: even with workouts it can be too much and then injuries can occur. In such a case, it is better to stop, protect yourself and leave the situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
According to the Duden dictionary, tolerance is the ability of forbearance or the willingness to accept a different view, attitude, customs, habits, etc. In our time, I observe that precisely those who accuse others of a lack of tolerance because they hold a certain opinion are extremely intolerant towards them and do not have this ability of forbearance that they demand from others. Or some would say: typical human: expecting something from others that you yourself are not willing or able to offer. What about you? Do you also find such contradictions in your life? Unfortunately, they are usually detrimental to good relationships. Unmask such patterns in yourself and get rid of them, for example, by being honest and authentic towards yourself and others. Or by consciously starting to change such contradictions in your life.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In these days of climate protection, energy production from coal, for example, is very controversial. On the one hand, it is considered very harmful for the climate, on the other hand, many livelihoods, jobs and thus economic aspects depend on it. Many of us find it difficult to make changes or adjustments for good reasons. I have said it before. The creature of habit in us then goes wild. But nevertheless: be open and confident that if something that has been the case up to now proves to be no longer up to date, then something new will come along and you will open yourself up to it in a positive way. Not out of fear but with joyful anticipation. Who knows what great experiences you will have as a result?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A few months ago, during a stay at the clinic, I created communion dishes out of clay. Since then, I have taken communion from it almost every day. Today, my wife broke this homemade dish. That hurt. I associated so many memories with it. There is no equivalent replacement. It was nothing big, had hardly any material value. But still... Letting go is sometimes difficult for me. But it also sets me free and gives me the opportunity to open up to something new. If you are currently in the process of letting go - whatever it may be - be encouraged that you can at least be grateful for the time before the letting go, that you carry positive memories and that you are able to be emotionally engaged at all. And: I promise you that something new will come. Not a replacement of the lost, perhaps. But something new and alive. Be encouraged and look forward to it...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When we talk about ladders, most of us have a clear picture in mind: two vertical bars made of metal or wood connected parallel to each other with rungs in between. Ladders give us access to higher or lower levels that we would find difficult or impossible to reach without their help. Therefore, they are an excellent aid: be it in buildings or even for harvesting. In the German language, however, the term for ladder is the same as for leader. These are people who bear responsibility, usually have a special competence or experience and are therefore qualified to guide. Analogous to the ladder, they also bring people to higher levels or into the deeper depths, for example in terms of experiences or feelings. I am convinced that you also have such competence to guide others - simply through your very own experience. Why don't you use it consciously today for others to give them a new experience on unknown levels.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In German there is a saying that goes like this: "They are no good to eat cherries with.". You say this when you don't get on well with someone. The expression comes from the Middle Ages. At that time cherries were very rare and expensive. Only richer people could afford them. If they met to eat cherries together and discovered guests who had not been invited, they would spit cherry stones and stems at them until they left. It was not good to eat cherries with them. We still have this binary classification today: ally or enemy. But maybe today it's time to cross that line and "offer cherries to unwanted guests". Be open to what happens then. Maybe you will make new friends with whom you will enjoy sharing and eating cherries in the future. Love overcomes and heals.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You either like it or you don't, but I hardly know anything in between. It's all about coffee. Coffee can be consumed in many different ways: with milk or sugar or milk foam or as an espresso, ristretto, lungo, with aroma and with chocolate on the milk foam, and so on. The fact is, however, that with almost all of these variations, the taste changes immediately as soon as something is added. Even a small dose of milk or sugar - it is then a different drink. I don't mean this in a judgmental way. But transferred: we can also fill our thoughts with very different things - no matter how much or little of it, it will affect our thinking, then also our speaking and finally our behaviors. So if we want to change our behaviour in certain areas, we have to start with what we allow in our thoughts, how we fill them. I wish you much wisdom and good experiences with this.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are many fairy tales and stories and especially parents or grandparents like to tell them to their children. But adults also read, watch and listen to them: whether crime series or fiction books. We experience or find something in these stories that we obviously lack in our lives and everyday life. However, I believe that it is not primarily our purpose to seek and live through these longings for these often difficult-to-formulate needs in such escapes, but that these longings are given to us so that we can bring them into being in this world and realise them ourselves, become a part of them. So the next time you dive into a fairytale world - please bring something back from it and implement it in this world. You are called to do that!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Have you ever tried to take a bath in a bathtub without a plug? Somehow it doesn't work, because the water keeps running out. And even if you try to seal the hole with something else, water is constantly draining out and the bath is not really relaxing. So if everything is constantly flowing through - metaphorically speaking - it can be cleansing in certain cases. So when I take a shower, I prefer NOT to have a plug. But it's different for a relaxing bath. Exactly: depending on the case. Today, pay attention to whether you need moments in which not too much information flows, but in which you can process the information you have already received, spend a certain amount of time with it, like with the water in the bathtub, before you let new information flow in again. Allow yourself such moments of pause and relaxation in order to be more present again afterwards. Less is often more.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When people describe something as hairy, they don't mean anything positive by it, rather something tedious, difficult. Yet I think hair is something fascinating: so fine and inconspicuous a single hair. But in the mass on the head, it insulates and protects from the cold. But then there is also the hair in the soup that you don't like. And yes, with age they turn grey for most and we lose them too, especially us men. And yet, who is worried about losing a single hair?! Yes, there is someone! In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that the Heavenly Father who created us has counted all our hairs and that He knows about every single one that we lose. Incredible!!! Or rather, how faith-worthy, how trust-building, relational, encouraging. Think about that the next time you lose one or comb your hair!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
My experience has taught me that gullibility is often equated with naivety and tends to be ridiculed and judged as immature. But gullibility has many advantages: you are open, you trust and you get involved in something that you don't really know or can control. The opposite of gullibility... I don't know. But I would say it would be hard-heartedness. Jadedness. Detachment. And in the long run, lifelessness. Maybe I'll be smiled at or disappointed or fooled if I'm gullible. But I also have the chance to experience something, to discover, to be surprised and to come into contact with something that is not accessible without my trust. So I think I would rather choose gullibility than lifeless hard-heartedness, despite the risks. And you? Perhaps you are being challenged with this decision in a concrete situation today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I was already fascinated by radios as a boy. You could just turn on a device and listen to music or receive a programme. The principle is simple: there is a transmitter and the radio is a receiver, capable of converting the received signals back to how the transmitter sent them out in code. And even more fascinating: whether the radio is on or not, the transmitter information is simply there. You just have to switch it on. But if you miss the frequency, it just hisses.... If you have the impression today that you only hear noise inside you or that you need wisdom for a certain situation - then check which frequency you have tuned in to. Different frequencies - even interfering frequencies - can be unnecessary distractions such as social media or negative reporting, etc. Better frequencies can be good books, a walk in nature, visiting a church service, or conscious silence. Good luck with your search for channels!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many of us today have a smartphone and are also connected to each other through social media. Probably most of us have activated the function to receive a notification when a message arrives. So we are informed immediately after a message arrives. I turned off this automatic notification feature some time ago - since then I feel better somehow. I feel like a pressure has been removed. These notifications from the smartphone were actually moments for me in which my attention was separated or just DIVIDED to what was present at the moment. I was no longer focussed, but distracted with what I did. But being able to be undivided at something without constant distraction is also a part of quality of life for me. Simplify your life was the motto some time ago. Wouldn't you want to do the same? Simplification instead of constant accessibility and distraction?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Autumn is harvest time - a wonderful time when so much has ripened and can now be enjoyed: Fruits, vegetables and much more. But for it to come this far, a lot is necessary. The farmer's work, of course - but: no less: his trust. He scatters the seed in spring. He trusts nature, the soil, the weather, or in other words: the one who brought it all into being and created it, and ensures that it rains on time and has enough sun. The farmer trusts. He lets go. He leaves and waits. And then comes the time when his trust is rewarded. I hope you can take courage in this comparison for your circumstances in which you do not have everything under your own control - who does anyway?! And rejoice and relax in the fact that a good God is looking well after you when you entrust yourself to Him and let go.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was in the US, of course I went out to eat. And there were some restaurants called steakhouses. And as the name suggests, there was meat, lots of meat, not only steaks of course, but also. I was also invited by local friends to go to a steakhouse with them and I was looking forward to the food. And of course, on the way there, I didn't imagine myself eating spaghetti or a pizza - but meat. Because that's what they serve there mostly. Have you ever thought about what people around you look for or expect from you or what you stand for, what kind of label or name they would give you? If you can guess or know: how do you feel about it? Is it what you want to stand for, is it what you want to be known for? If yes, then be encouraged to continue to grow in excellence in this. If not, maybe it's time - metaphorically speaking - to change the cook in you.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I recently passed a bus stop, a father said to his very small child: The bus will be here in 6 minutes! No doubt he meant to express that it won't be long until the bus arrives. But I thought to myself: the little child probably has no idea of how much or what 6 is, nor what minutes mean. But it simply trusted the father's statement and was satisfied. In life, there are many situations in which we don't understand circumstances or things or even other people. In the end, we are totally dependent beings anyway, no matter how self-confident and well-insured we may be. Our lives are not in our hands. But to believe and know that there is a stable foundation that supports us in everything creates confidence and gives us serenity. Are you standing on this foundation with your life and have you already experienced how trustworthy it is?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A wire mesh is a network of sturdy, usually solid wire that spans a kind of orthogonal net and thus enables a kind of fence in the vertical or a kind of fixed plane in the horizontal. So although air can circulate through it and you can see through it without any problems - you still can't go through it vertically but you can't fall through it horizontally either. A bit of wire connected to each other is enough to set up a resistance, an impassability. Injuries in our lives can also become such wires and whole wire meshes, which sometimes protect us from falling but much more often make it impossible for us to move forward. But a good pair of pliers is enough to cut a hole in such a fence and break it open. I wish you the courage to take these pliers - for example in the form of forgiveness - and use them to break through old fences and leave them behind.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In order for a vehicle to be allowed to participate in traffic, it has a license plate - front and rear. This entitles it to participate in traffic. The license plate is available after the vehicle has been registered. The plate is actually just a visualisation of an important process of registration and proof of ownership. This applies to new cars, used cars, expensive or cheap, large or small models, passenger or commercial vehicles. I see parallels to our lives in this comparison: we were all consciously brought into being and I believe that if we have a living relationship with our Creator, that we then receive this uniqueness and entitlement to full life analogous to the license plate of the car, as in traffic. It doesn't primarily count what type of person you are - as with the car - but only that you carry this authorisation, this confirmation in your life. For me, the conscious yes on my part to a relationship with God and His yes to me. I am enormously grateful for that. Are you too?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At home, we had various carpets in our flat where we grew up. We mainly had single pieces and no fitted carpets. The carpets all had fringes at both ends and we even had a comb with which we could, or were allowed to, or had to, straighten them out nice and parallel again. If the fringes got mixed up because someone walked over them, it looked messy. Carpet fringes are really only an aesthetic embellishment and serve no functional purpose. But when the fringes are nicely aligned, the carpet also looks much more, somehow more valuable. I invite you to see the beauty and not the practicality or functionality in the people you meet today, and therefore to look at their individual beauty much more and enjoy it - it may well be that this is a door and access to your own unique beauty with which you were created.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Imagine you are standing in front of an armoured door with a handle. It is locked. Behind it is an incredible treasure. You have the key and can open the door. Everything is ready for you to get the great treasure. You unlock the door with the key, reach for the handle and want to open the door - but then you only have the handle in your hand: unfortunately, the little pin in the handle that locks it to the door is missing. Bad luck. You would have everything to get the treasure - but this little pin that is missing makes it impossible for you. Maybe you see yourself as insignificant in your environment, be it the workplace or the family or any other environment. But be encouraged by this comparison: without this small, insignificant pen, the treasure remains hidden. You are valuable because you are uniquely created. If you do not live your calling, then a great treasure remains hidden from this world. You have a purpose in life, you were consciously called into life. Follow this destiny so that the world can have the whole treasure.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We were still small children when we once drove with our family to East Germany or GDR to visit our relatives. We had a relatively old, cheap car. It was raining heavily on the motorway and then the windscreen wiper broke. It became very dangerous for us without clear vision at the high speeds on the motorway and we had to find a service station that would repair the damage. In order for us to go through life safely and thus not be a danger to others, we have to be mindful that our basic functions in life are intact. This includes our emotions. Today, pay attention to how much your emotions, whatever they may be, influence your view. Do they help you to see clearly or are they so violent and overwhelming that they suspend other important perceptions or behaviours and you end up putting yourself in danger or endangering others with your reactions? Maybe it's time for an emotional health check and even to seek external help.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you have a favourite actor or actress? If yes - why is he or she this? For me, it's because I'm simply impressed by that person. They embody something that impresses me or fascinates me or is or has something that I would also like to have or be. I take this for me as a motivation that my development is not over yet. So a role model with attainability, not one that is unattainable. In this way, I am motivated to consciously train certain character traits, for example, or to consciously discard others and no longer do them because a reaction of someone in a certain situation has made such an impression on me that I also want to acquire it. I hope you also have such stepping stones that make you even more the person you were created to be. Not as an act but in reality.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you a user of flannels? So it's a piece of cloth that you wet to wash yourself with? It's super practical. You can do a good cleaning job with it - better than with your bare hands. Just a piece of cloth. But it makes a difference. When you go through your day today and look back at the end, you might also think: what have I done today? Or said? Why don't you assume that your contributions - as ordinary and inconspicuous as they may be in your eyes - are very valuable to someone else. Wouldn't you then behave much more mindfully, self-confidently and purposefully? Then do it too! You will certainly experience your day much more satisfactorily.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In our language, we have borrowed some terms from other languages. In Switzerland, for example, we don't actually speak of a purse, but say Portemonnaie, a French term. A wallet is probably already a discontinued model, because today we tend to pay with cards or mobile phones or online. But the wallet has the advantage that the money is usually stored there - and not spread out somewhere in various pockets or items of clothing. It helps us to keep our money in order and to access it quickly when we need it, for example at the checkout. What about your feelings? Do you have such a container for them, especially for difficult ones, in which you can store them and access them as needed? That sometimes helps because then you are not overwhelmed by them all the time and have hardly any energy left for anything else. Maybe it helps you today to put certain emotions in a certain place in your life, not to deny them, but to give them a place - and then other things have more space and you are freer.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently saw a bird washing itself in a puddle in the park. It was beautiful to watch and it made my heart happy. It made me think of the paradise story: how everything was originally good and for the joy of man. Nothing of what we need today as motivations or satisfaction etc. existed there: no smartphone, no tedious work, no money not even shopping - nobody wore clothes anyway - and yet the place was full of joy. I felt that when I watched this bird taking his bath. A remnant from those days. I believe that such remnants can still be found today and remind us of our original purpose. I wish you that you can recognise, perceive, enjoy and lose yourself in such moments on this very day - to be completely you for a moment in your most original design.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A magnifying glass is something fascinating. It lets me see things in greater detail than I would see them just with my eyes. That means I see things at all or in finer resolution. So a cut glass makes things accessible to me that I would otherwise not perceive. For me, this means that my perception is limited. The magnifying glass does not create anything new, but simply shows me more of what is already there, but which I do not perceive normally, so to speak. Such an aid in the natural or such an aid for our natural perception also exists for our spiritual perception. This makes us more sensitive to what is there: moods, atmospheres, realities in the invisible world. And with it, I can also tackle unpleasant things in this area in a more targeted way - just as a magnifying glass helps me when I have to remove a piece of glass from my skin. But it takes our decision to use these tools consciously.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I'm on the train, I like to drink a coffee. And I like it hot. In paper cups it cools down quickly and paper cups are not very sustainable, ecologically. A thermos cup is ingenious: I can use it several times and the coffee stays nice and hot. I am grateful for such inventions, as simple as they may be. When I think about it, so many things come to my mind that I take for granted in everyday life without being aware of their value: a key that gives me access or locks precious things safely, a tap that I can simply open and that gives me hot or cold water as needed at any time, a warm blanket at night, and so on. So, this statement of Jesus spontaneously comes to my mind: "and yet their heavenly Father feeds them". With all our efforts and our own efforts - I feel so well provided for by the heavenly Father, also with good relationships. How well I am doing - I hope you are too!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Before writing this episode down, I had to yawn. This is an interesting phenomenon and, by the way, not fully explained medically. That is, why we yawn is not yet completely clear. Apparently it serves to cool the brain and of course it increases oxygen intake. But it doesn't necessarily have to do with tiredness. But it is contagious - because mirror neurons are activated in us. These trigger the behaviour that happens in our environment. In people who are less emphatic, these neurons react less. I hope that you have happy experiences with these neurons today: whether you laugh with others or mourn with others or: yawn with others. You now know why! I think these mirror neurons are a great gift - don't you? They make us getting closer together.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A few months ago I was able to work with clay and made a lantern out of a lump of clay. I noticed how carefully I had to shape the clay with my hands to get a more or less regular form, or how soft and sensitive the clay reacted to my pressure. I think we all have soft, very sensitive places in our lives, especially mentally and emotionally. A lot of pressure or hardness doesn't help, rather a fine hand. If I had left the clay unformed, it would have just dried out like that, misshapen, and eventually stayed that way. However, with the necessary care and perseverance, and then the subsequent drying process, something... let's say usable - but beautiful in my eyes, because I invested time and energy was there. I believe that this can also happen in our lives: a mild and patient Creator's hand that is kind to us, that deals gently with our sensitive parts and gives them enough time to heal. May it be so for you today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You may have grown up in the city or in the countryside and your parents may have worked in agriculture or as teachers or in hospitals or.... and you experienced your environment as orderly and beautiful and your parents' profession as something that satisfied them and offered them regular working hours. And then at some point you saw an ugly industrial complex, chimneys, smoke, large production halls, people who walked around the site almost like robots and hardly radiated any joy - and maybe you thought that you would never want to work like that and that it was desirable not to live near an industrial site or to have anything to do with it at all. But the fact that so many people are so well and happy, that they can live peacefully in the countryside or in a good flat or house in the city - they owe it all to industry, which produces cheaply what we all need. We are sometimes all too quick to turn up our noses at things or people and form a pejorative judgement - without realising how much we owe these things and people and ultimately how much we need them. Wouldn't it be time to be grateful for this, to show respect and perhaps even proactively set a sign of gratitude for others doing what most of us don't want to do?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Many bottles today are closed by a screw cap or with a lid. The former can be opened with sufficient force without tools. The latter, on the other hand, in the rarest of cases. That means I need a bottle opener. With such a thing, opening is very easy - most of the time. The bottle opener grips under the lid and, with the help of the law of leverage, a sufficiently large force can be developed with relatively little pressure or force to make it possible to loosen the lid. Such a bottle opener is not a special part. No electricity, no battery or anything like that is needed. But without... the bottle usually stays closed. Annoying if you don't have one at hand. Watch out today: it could be that in a situation such an opener is suddenly offered to you by chance or consciously, enabling you to open an area in your life that has been closed for a long time - be it externally or inside you. With little effort.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I belong to the generation that still listened to music with a record player and vinyl records. A long outdated technology - but it worked, was popular and reliable. Today I'm amazed at how it was possible at all: a groove is stamped into a plastic material in a very small space with information - which can then be picked up and converted by a fine needle and finally reproduces sound waves. Wow! What an amazing invention! My greatest respect. Without the needle, records would be in vain, their information inaccessible. Without records, the record players and needles would be useless. Dependence or mutual fulfilment of potential. However you want to see it. There is also a beautiful melody imprinted in your life and I speak today over you that your record shall come into contact with the needle and its system it takes to make your beauty accessible to your environment and you experience this appreciation for yourself and your song!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are there things or situations that leave you speechless? It's familiar to me. Especially moments in which I am simply amazed or moved, as if I can be out of time for a moment. It is the amazement, for example, at things in nature: how there are forms and shapes that we humans could hardly make so well designed and beautiful. A polished stone, the wonder of the indefinability of transitions - for example, where does the sea begin and the beach end? The same with forests: when is it still a group of trees and when a forest? Or the sight of an animal living in the wild or a look from friend to friend, watching two honoring and very familiar people. I hope you can immerse yourself in such a miracle today and enjoy the beauty of it and leave time for a moment and be speechless....
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In summer, the sun warms the stones and the asphalt or the ground in general. After a cool bath, children like to lie down on these heated stones to get warm again. So the stone absorbs the heat of the sun and gives it off again. What power the sun must have to heat up the lifeless material of the stone! And the stone itself is simple - it receives and passes on - if it is exposed to the sun. It's different with water: it needs a lot more energy to heat up, for example a lake. What are you focused on and what energy do you allow to fill you? Good or destructive? Do you also pass it on or do you only absorb and if you pass it on: can people warm up with you or do you radiate something negative? I wish you for today that you see the sun, absorb its energy and radiate it as a blessing for others!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you like crossword puzzles? The aim of these is to fill in the letters of the word you are looking for in the given number of boxes. It has to be the correct word, otherwise it won't work with the other words that cross it. In life it is sometimes similar: we feel that certain things fit, others don't. Although outwardly everything seems correct and it fits temporally, relationally or professionally - but still we somehow feel: this is not the right thing. I believe that this is our spirit advising us well here. We are more than body and soul. Our spirit, sometimes our conscience or gut feeling, guides us - I believe - to and into truth. She guides us a good way, the correct way. But we need to learn to hear her voice better and also to listen to her better. That is what I encourage you to do today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
My grandfather collected mushrooms and every now and then we had them for dinner, usually stewed. I didn't like them very much. Mushrooms come in many forms, including those that indicate that an environment is not clean, so that mould then spreads. Or then there is mould cheese that is edible and other mould on cheese indicates that the cheese is spoiled and should just not be eaten anymore. Not all mushrooms are the same and only experienced people can distinguish the good ones from the poisonous. In life there are also situations that have to be interpreted with appropriate wisdom to answer the question: good or bad? Life-giving or destructive? If you meet people today who have this wisdom, like mushroom experts with mushrooms, then use this wisdom and learn from them. You will be glad one day to be able to apply this wisdom appropriately in an important situation.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Frederick Buechner wrote "Beauty is to the spirit what food is to the flesh." We recognise with our eyes and in our spirit what is beautiful. Beautiful perhaps not in the sense of perfection, but I believe in a broader sense that words cannot express. Beauty can happen suddenly from one moment to the next: a smile, a warm handshake, a heartfelt thank you or a flower moved by the wind, a person's face regardless of gender or age. As human beings, we are made for more than functionality. Beauty is - to speak with Buechner - as much an essential nourishment for us as meals. Therefore, I believe, we must afford to indulge ourselves in beauty and in doing so also learn to see it and consciously perceive it - just as one looks for, picks and enjoys berries at harvest time. Open your mind today and your eyes to the beauty around you and feast on it!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you pay attention to certain labels when shopping, for example organic? Do you consciously buy organic to eat healthier and promote sustainability and biodiversity? Such products are usually more expensive because more effort is required and unhealthy or chemical substances are avoided for a greater yield. Organic. If the label is on a product, we believe it is organic. We trust - who actually? The seller? The packer? The producer? Either way, as individuals we are not in a position to judge the correctness of the organic label on a product. We simply trust. Perhaps today is a time for a general reflection on who you actually trust blindly in your life in all the different areas. Do you do this consciously or simply because you have no other choice? What does this insight do to you? Do you realise or are you even shocked by how ultimately dependent you are on so many things in your life?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You may be wondering why I am talking today about an Easter egg at this time of year. Chestnuts would be more appropriate. Well, that's just what came to my mind... an Easter egg. What actually makes an Easter egg an Easter egg? It's just an ordinary egg, like the ones you find all year round, that can be bought and eaten. But at Easter? As far as I know, there are two characteristic features of the Easter egg: the egg is boiled and coloured. So with enough heat and colour, an ordinary egg becomes a special egg. If your day today or maybe the last days or the days to come have heated discussions or arguments of people with different colouring - then try to see something special, something good in it and don't go into a defensive position, but try to see and promote what can come out of it in terms of new life! And if it is hidden, like Easter eggs are, then go in search of it - good luck!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you musical? Do you play an instrument? Surely you have sung before, even a song from sheet music. Then you know the treble clef. Perhaps also the bass clef. They indicate how the following notes are to be interpreted correctly. If a note lies on one of the five staves, it is decisive whether they apply to the bass or treble clef. Otherwise they will be played incorrectly and the music will not be played as written by the composer. So the clef really is a key to the right melody. I wish you for today that you may see all events that will cross your way through the clef of love and that you will live your life-melody with this clef of love today. This can also be disharmonious at times - but with the clef of love it is all right.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you an animal lover? There are animals that are very familiar to us because they share our habitat. Others we can watch in the zoo and some we only know from hearsay or not at all. Some of us are allergic to certain animals. There is now one particular "animal" that is probably too familiar to all of us: it lives inside us. It is the creature of habit. For example, it always likes to sit in the same place, does the same things at the same time and hates changes. If others disturb this regularity, it sometimes reacts very aggressively and unwillingly. Is this familiar to you? If you meet this creature today, check whether it is for the good of you and your environment and then you may also pet it. If not, then take responsibility and put it on a tight leash and lead it so that it doesn't bite or hurt others.... For your own and other's good!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
There are the so-called blue light or emergency organisations: Police, fire brigade, ambulance, which use a rotating light and a corresponding siren on their vehicles when on duty. Trained ears can distinguish the sounds even before they see the vehicles. These forms of signals allow for rapid deployment, for priority in traffic, for the most unhindered deployment possible to save lives. Actually, it is very little: a little light and a little noise and the way becomes clear for what is important. This should also be an encouragement for you and this day: it doesn't take much for you to set your priorities right today and give your attention to the really important things. Your mindfulness today will be enough to clear the way for these priorities. They will make your day!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Anyone travelling on official roads in our country generally travels in a lane. This means that we invest a lot not only in providing good roads and well prepared and maintained surfaces, but also in clearly structuring them with markings so that traffic can flow as orderly and safely as possible. There is also the possibility of changing lanes. However, this is not permitted everywhere - even if it is physically possible. A lane change may be necessary to take an exit or to overtake a vehicle or to let a faster one pass. To do this, we need to be mindful and considerate. If you find yourself in a situation today that gives you the opportunity to change your previously straight path, then be mindful for a lane change: an unexpected interruption, a spontaneous encounter, something that has unexpectedly already been done, etc. Such lane changes also bring a different perspective and make the journey more diverse. Enjoy these variations today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In Basel, at Carnival there are so-called Pfeiffer, playing the piccolos and Tambouren playing a single drum. They play their instruments while they walk. So coordination in walking and playing is important. And concentration and stamina. The sound of the drums is produced by beating on a strongly stretched skin and a hollow body. There is no mini version with the same effect. You can't save weight or size without losing quality of sound. If you want to drum properly, you have to carry the big drum with its weight. It takes a lot of practice. Maybe you have to get used to a new rhythm in your life during these days because of changing circumstances, which is difficult and tedious for you. But be encouraged that with practice you will build up the necessary strength, stamina and coordination and soon it will sound very rhythmic and dynamic. And you will soon be able to walk with it more easily!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
At larger Swiss stations, there are small black boards near the catenaries on the platform that are hardly noticed because they hang so high and actually only light up very rarely. That is when the train is due to arrive. When it's nasty on the platform and you have to wait and don't know when the train will arrive, these boards are an encouragement to me: even if the train is not yet visible, but the boards show a big "E", I know that in the next shortest time the train will surely come and the wait will end. If you have been waiting for something in your life for a long time, I wish you for today that you may see and perceive signs of encouragement and receive confirmation that your waiting is not only not in vain, but may also soon come to an end. Have a good journey then!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I recently stumbled across an online dictionary on the internet about the definition of God. It says: "God - in polytheistic religions a superhuman, in monotheistic religions supreme - supernatural being on whom the religious person feels dependent." That was a bit of a revelation for me. I had never thought of it that way before - but it makes total sense to me that so many today have no relation to faith. Who wants to be dependent on a supreme supernatural being? Even if we are... how very different is the message of the Gospel: the supreme God wants and offers man, his creature, a relationship at eye level. Wow... I hope you also stumble into such wonderful discoveries today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I noticed the other day that the word "gentile" has a very different meaning in Italian than in English. I.e. in Italian "gentile" means friendly, in English it means not Jewish. The word is of course pronounced differently depending on the language - but is nevertheless spelled identically. So you can't use the same words in the same way in different languages, but you have to know their meaning in order to use them correctly or even worse to avoid misunderstandings. How nice and relieving it is to know that one's own name is language-independent. What your name is, and even more so who you are, is language-independent. Isn't that great? You are allowed to be yourself, and you should be yourself, regardless of the environment in which you find yourself. I encourage you to be fully yourself today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When my parents were younger, smoking was cool. Even in my generation to some extent. Then, of course, smoking was always associated with the aspect of addiction. Not without good reason. But at the same time there was also the reality of pride and arrogance - among those who did not smoke towards smokers. We still observe similar phenomena today. But the fact is: we all have our weaknesses, character-flaws, areas in life where we are anything but successful or sovereign. We are - whether we want to admit it or not - imperfect. Or better, I think: unfinished! I believe our original design is perfection - but not out of ourselves, but given, placed within us, designed by a Creator. Although we have lost that perfection, there is still an offer from heaven to be perfected into our original purpose by the Creator. Grace. For you and me.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I am one of those people who loves bread enormously. Therefore, there was a time when I made bread almost exclusively myself. At the beginning without a kneading machine. Depending on the amount of dough, it was quite exhausting and during the kneading I could not see or smell anything of the good fresh bread it would become. It was simply cumbersome. But if I hadn't kneaded the dough for the right length of time and let it rest for a while, the bread would never have turned out so fluffy and good in the end. If you find yourself in situations today that are repetitive and arduous for you, then be encouraged. Perseverance can bring about something very good in the end that you don't notice yet - even if it still takes time to get there.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a little boy, my sister and I both wore tights in the winter. That was perfectly OK. But the older I got, the more I got the impression that tights were for girls and long johns were for boys. I started to feel ashamed of the tights and uncomfortable and would rather freeze than wear them. Interesting how something originally normal for me suddenly became something I began to reject, although nothing on the outside would have justified it. It happened in my head, my thoughts. Prejudices. Opinions. Do you also have such preconceived ideas about things or perhaps even worse about people or people-groups? Maybe you are experiencing a situation today in which you are guided more by your preconceptions than by the facts or the truth. Be mindful of this and have the courage to break through old thought patterns and to discard and redefine such preconceived attitudes!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I very rarely drive a car, but I remember that when traffic jams occur, for example due to increased traffic, they are announced in advance by appropriate warning signs. The intention behind this is that, especially on a motorway, vehicles do not have to brake abruptly from their high speed or, worse still, cause an accident because they are too surprised about the fact that the traffic is at a standstill instead of flowing. You may also receive such warning signals in your day today - from your body or friends or circumstances or news or whatever. They have no intention to take you out of traffic so to speak. Rather they invite you to slow down and, with consideration for yourself and also your surroundings, to adjust the speed of your lifestyle to the circumstances and your currently available resources. The goal is to arrive at your destination safely, right?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Just recently, I was offered a free yoghurt in the grocery store to try it out. A good idea, actually: the supplier can hand out his product to a customer for testing without any obligation. If the customer likes or needs it, they not only know that it exists but also where to get it. In life, there are sometimes situations where we need supernatural help. We are in a situation where human options no longer do. If you or someone you know is currently in such a situation, here's a tip: In a pilgrimage song it says: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." What a powerful statement: to have the one who made the whole world as your helper. This offer is open to all. Free of charge, to try it out. Have you already given it a go?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
You've probably seen joggers wearing finisher's T-shirts. In other words, a T-shirt with big letters indicating which run they had successfully completed. I've also taken part in runs and it's a great feeling to get the finisher's shirt at the finish. But is it really necessary to wear it in public? Does everyone have to see your achievements? Do these joggers want to show off and let everyone know how great they are? Such questions should make me be suspicious: why do I even think that? Why do I assume that these sportsmen have such intentions? Is it possible that MY unsatisfied need for attention is much greater than the one I impute to others, which may not even exist? If you are also having similar thoughts about others today and are in danger of doubting their motivation for their actions, remember that you are probably just looking into the mirror and seeing yourself more than others. What an opportunity for change!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A few days ago I talked about our conscience. It gives us a strong sense of justice. We perceive situations or behaviour as unjust and sometimes suffer with them and become angry when we cannot change the situation. Or we rejoice and are relieved when justice is done. Quite often, however, our sense of justice is only an indication that something is out of balance. How it can be brought back into balance is something we have ideas about, but if we are honest, we often know that these ideas will only partially improve something - but sometimes also make the situation worse. I therefore believe that the real solution to justice can only be found where someone has the capacity to bear all the injustice and, out of love, not to retaliate but to forgive. Yet it is precisely here that we as humans struggle. Thank God there is a solution!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, Lego came up with the Lego-figures. So there were not only the bricks any more, but also all kinds of figures that represented certain professions or groups of people. That was great for playing. It really stimulated the imagination. I think our imagination is more than just an escape from reality. I believe much more that our fantasy can be the pre-stage of reality and that it was also given to us for that purpose. Meaning what we picture in our imagination - that can become reality if we persevere. In German the term „imagination“ is literally translated as sort of „power of thoughts": a force that can bring into reality what we imagine, what does not yet exist but is possible. This applies to problem solving as well as to relationships. But we also have to be careful how we use our imagination: for good or do we give it over to negative influences! Both have the potential to become reality. So watch out...!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Light bulbs are no longer state-of-the-art today. But you can make a nice comparison with them: A thin wire is made to glow in the context of a gas and that illuminates the surroundings. Transferred to our lives: What do you glow for? What is your passion? If you live your passion in the fitting environment, then you are an enlightenment for those around you. Then others can see more in their lives. Therefore, I encourage you to search for your passion, to find it, to live it and thus to fulfil your calling in this world in such a time as this. It is the mission, which you were created for. So already in advance: Thank you for making your contribution in this way!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Are you a chess player? Not me. I just know the rules, but no strategies on how to win the game. But I do notice that the alternating black and white squares give clear rules for the chess pieces and their movements. So technically, every chess piece could be on any square. But not according to the rules. Then the game would become unfair. I believe that in our society we also have rules that apply quite fundamentally, that are not negotiable. For this purpose, we as humans - unlike other living beings - have been given a conscience. I don't believe that such a conscience results purely from evolution - what for? This conscience actually tells us clearly where we are in danger of entering inadmissible fields. That helps us - for ourselves sake and for each others. Do you listen to your conscience? I encourage you for today to do this consciously and to appreciate the blessing of such a life guide and to consciously integrate it into your lifestyle.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a young surveyor, I was allowed or had to take the survey sensor to an inaccessible place on a large construction site for a measurement. A crane was necessary for this. I had to climb into the crane basket, attach it to the crane chains myself and then let the crane operator guide me to the appropriate place on the construction site - a very steep and high slope. I had to overcome some fear because I had never done this before. I doubted my ability to have connected the chains properly and to have connected the basket correctly. For this task, I needed confidence in the equipment, the crane operator and myself. If you find yourself in a situation today that you have never been in before, be encouraged to let trust, not fear, be your guide - and in doing so, experience that your trust radius can grow and you can be enriched by a major experience.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Some men wear a beard. And of course there are almost infinite variations of these beards. Depending on the fashion, these beards look different. Some say a beard is a sign of masculinity. Others say insecure men hide their true face behind it. Either way, a beard is also a non-verbal signal. A man expresses something, sends a message with it. What about you in terms of non-verbal communication? Is it a big part of the way you communicate with your environment? Does it do any good or does it tend to lead to misunderstandings? Are you perhaps partly hiding behind it in order not to have to address things directly? Why don't you pay attention today to the way you communicate in all the different situations? And also how others do the same with you. At the end of the day, can you perhaps draw a conclusion about where you want to change and communicate more clearly?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As a teenager, I had an aquarium at home for a while. It wasn't big and I didn't have any expensive fish. The effort for cleaning and maintenance was not small either. Nevertheless: something became visible in the aquarium that I didn't get to see elsewhere in my life: The insight into a small part of the underwater world. There were beautiful and fascinating things - for example, how the fish move - but also not so nice things: when fish died and lay dead in the water or they attacked each other. If you find yourself in a situation today where a part of your subconscious suddenly comes to the surface, into the visible realm, then look at it and do not turn away. Even if it is unpleasant, it is there whether you want to see it or not. Therefore, if you look, you can also change it for the better! Take your chance today!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
These days, we hear about hurricanes and tropical storms. These can cause great destruction and claim human lives with enormous force. They are caused by the deflecting force of the earth's rotation. There, a swirling of the air masses around a centre of rotation is set in motion, from which the typical eye of the storm later develops. The strongest winds and thus the greatest destruction are at the edge of the eye, that is the centre, which often has a diameter of several kilometres. In the eye, the wind is lowest and thus you are safest there. If you come into an earthbound stormy situation today, so to speak, I encourage you to really face it and not run away. In the eye, in facing the issue, it is possibly safest for you, analogous to the storm, and distance from it can perhaps be much more destructive than you anticipate. Have courage today to face your storm!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
A house usually has windows. So do a caravan, tent or cabin, etc. The window helps to let daylight into the interior and thus make things visible inside, so that you don't trip or bump into things. But the window also serves to let you see from the inside, from the protected environment to the outside. Hildegard von Bingen, a German mystic, abbess and natural scientist said that the eyes are the windows of the soul. So what goes in through them influences the perception inside and also what goes out through them influences the outside or our behaviour. If we have clear windows, it is all the brighter inside us, if our soul windows are dirty, we do not really see things as they are and behave accordingly in a distorted way. I encourage you today to pay attention to how you look at your environment, how you see it - are your eyes clear or stained in certain places? What can you do and how do you do it in order to have the cleanest possible windows, i.e. eyes?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Depending on the conditions and the type of grain, an ear of corn carries about 40 grains. This means that a grain that produces an ear has a multiplication of about a factor of 40. What a number! When I think about the fact that money in the bank is currently yielding almost no interest at all, this fertility of creation is tremendous. It means not only that so much can be produced, but also that even if one grain alone fulfils its potential, about 39 others do not have to - and yet in the end the yield and the investment would still be balanced. How encouraging! Encouraging in the sense of being able to try without the fear that everything will quickly be used up if one attempt fails. You are also a part of this creation, like the grain that produces the ear of corn, and so I encourage you for today that you may also try out, pursue ideas and be courageous and trust that even if 39 attempts fail, one successful one is enough to still keep the balance positive! I am sure that this law also applies to investments in relationships...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Dominoes, as you know, have two parts, each with a point field. The aim of the game, as far as I know, is to line up the dominoes in such a way that neighbouring or adjoining dominoes always have exactly the point pattern of their adjacent domino. I think we humans also have at least two sides: the one on the outside and the one on the inside, and somewhere we long for it and also need a certain harmony, agreement with the adjacent environment with which we are in contact. We don't always find the perfect matching token for us in every situation, but we notice when it doesn't fit. I encourage you today to look for this harmony and balance both externally and internally. Allow your need for it and if you can't reach it through a suitable counterpart, stand by it, endure it and don't fall into the temptation - to stay with the domino - to place a similar but not suitable token next to yours. Rather wait for the right one.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
In most cases, a train or tram runs today because it is connected by a pantograph to the overhead line, which carries the high voltage and thus allows the required energy to flow. Others run on fuel such as diesel. The former are totally dependent on the energy output of the overhead line, but in that sense can run so to speak indefinitely as long as this connection is intact. The latter are independent because they have their own tank. But they only run as long as they have energy supply. Transferred to our lives: are you more the independent, but in the end left to your own strength and resources? Or do you live from a higher source, from whose close relationship you can go infinitely far and from which you can draw your strength? For this day I wish you in any case the necessary driving force and a constant good energy supply - regardless of what you have to carry through the day today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
We know the saying, "If your only tool is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail." The meaning is obvious: if we only know one way to deal with certain situations, in our perception all situations are the same and we always behave the same way. But that is not always good. If you find yourself in a situation today that causes you stress because you know it and you know that you will not feel well afterwards: try a different approach than you are used to, i.e. use a different tool. Then you may no longer be dealing with a nail, but with a slab of wood to be ground, so to speak - which perhaps requires sensitivity and evenness instead of strength of words (as with a hammer). And so the outcome of the situation can be quite different and hopefully more pleasant for you and for everyone - without you getting a wood splinter while sanding.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Let's be honest - man or woman. Most of us had a favourite plushie or something similar in childhood. It was dear and precious to us and accompanied us for many years and felt as if it was actually alive. Maybe you still have yours or have even passed it on to your own children or a next generation. Maybe you feel embarrassed about that now... Either way, I think the example shows us how much we are very emotional beings, despite our heavily westernised cognitive way of life. In other words, needy beings who need not only food and external protection, but also very, very much good relationships. Daily. Relationships characterised by strong trust, loyalty, openness and reliability. I wish you that you may experience such relationships today and the support, strength and blessing they give you. And I wish you that they are real people and not stuffed animals. And hopefully you can be for someone else such a source of strength today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
As I was walking through the neighbourhood the other day, I noticed 2 pushcarts or trolleys that are used for the early delivery of newspapers and advertising material. I thought of people going through the neighbourhood and delivering information to the households. Most people are still asleep at that time. I was moved by this service that the deliverers do. So I also see my life as an impressive working system: while I sleep, my body recovers, many processes are active that I neither know about nor perceive, but which enable me to get up in the morning refreshed and mostly healthy and to go about my day. The fact that my body, my life functions so well at all and that I actually have to take care of so little when I look at it as a entire system, so that my body-and-soul-system functions, makes me wonder, humble, reverent and enormously grateful. I hope you too.
Wishing you an extraordinary day!
When you go shopping, do you recognise those stickers on the products that indicate that a product is reduced in price, e.g. because the expiry date is close? Do you react to such messages? Do you tend to buy such a product or do you shop independently? I know someone who's hobby it is do his shopping in such a way that he buys as many such price-reduced products as possible. I don't mean that in a negative way, because I don't see him as stingy. For him, it's just like a game, a challenge that he enjoys. Interesting: you can buy such products out of an attitude of inner lack, i.e. the feeling of always coming up short - or like my acquaintance: out of a sporting challenge. The result seems to be the same - but the attitude behind it is totally different; certainly also the subsequent enjoyment or consumption of the things bought. Which attitude are you closer to? The one of scarcity and fear of falling short or the one of confident good supply? If the former: what could help you to come to a more confident attitude?
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I was a child, there was an advertising song for Smarties that went something like this - with a simple melody - "many, many colourful Smarties". Smarties were small tablet-like sweets that came in many colours. Some of them even had faces on them - like the emojis we know today. They were popular and as far as I know they still are today. They were more than just something cute, it was somehow emotional too. What strikes me today is the name: calling them smarties. So something that is smart. Smart has many meanings: witty, clever, stylish or elegant in dress or appearance, corresponding to high taste, etc. I want you to know today that you are also such a smarty in person: colourful, clever and funny in your own way and anything but dull or boring! Rediscover this truth in yourself and see yourself as such an original. And be it only for today.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
If a watercourse has an even course, a smooth bed in which it can flow, the surface looks smooth and calm. However, if there are obstacles in the bed, the water begins to swirl there, depending on the magnitude of the flow velocity. It has been observed that backwaters then develop in such places as sills or the like. Places where the water swirls and something lying on the water cannot get away at all, despite constant flow. Maybe you have things today that are in the way of your flow of thinking or planning and thus tie up your attention and don't allow you to move forward. This is perhaps a good way to make existing obstacles in your thinking visible and to remove them if necessary. Your mental or spiritual backwater can be your chance today and lead to a smoother flow, if you want it and tackle it.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
I live in the city. There you see a lot of e-scooters that can be parked anywhere and booked and used via an app on your smartphone. The idea is brilliant: instead of owning your own scooter, you can only use it when you need it, which means better utilisation. Sounds good. In theory. But I see so many of these vehicles parked somewhere inconsiderately, knocked over, etc. Unfortunately, with this "only as needed" strategy and attitude, the sense of responsibility also goes away. Things have to serve me when I need them and function perfectly. That is what I pay for. The rest does not interest me. But it should... I am not in favour of greed or a lot of possessions - but it also shows: what belongs to me, I identify with and take care of, take ownership of. Be it material things or also in relationships where it is not possession but obligation. Today, pay attention to where you are in danger of giving away responsibility that you should actually carry and consciously take on ownership - for the good of yourself and your environment.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
When I first heard about goldfish, I thought they were particularly precious. I was rather disappointed when I saw them - and they weren't even golden, but orange. To this day I still don't know why they are called goldfish. And they don't seem to be anything that special - at least to me. They are simply a type of carp. Perhaps there are also things in your life that you have gilded, that you unjustifiably value more highly and more valuable than they are and that you have figuratively built your own pool for and especially cherished. Perhaps it is time to take a closer look and see these symbolic goldfish for what they really are: Fish like any other that swim in your pool of life, like others, and therefore no longer deserve the same attention and care as before. Or vice versa: other, perhaps less conspicuous things are valued and cared for just as much as these things. Pool cleaning may be the order of the day.
I wish you an extraordinary day!
The other day I watched a leaf detach from a tree in front of me and slowly fall to the ground. It reminded me of autumn, of course, the time of falling leaves. I was impressed by the peace with which the leaf glided or floated down. In my life, I tend to find it rather difficult to let go, especially of the familiar - without having any idea of what comes next. And in nature, something new doesn't come right away. It remains empty for a while, a winter season - until the next spring comes. In any case, I wish you for situations, perhaps especially today, in which you have to let go of the familiar, this peace and the confidence that - even if delayed - new life will come - as in creation: once again completely fresh, unspent and full of sparkling energy. And here is the good news: You can already look forward to this when you let go...
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Do you like to dance? Maybe you are one of those people who can move freely and without blockage just like that to the music. I can't do it just like that. As a teenager, I didn't dare to do it - out of shame that I might embarrass myself or make a fool of myself. I had no confidence in myself, or maybe I was just too dependent on the opinion of others. Today I see things differently. Today I can enjoy moving freely to music, whether I'm all alone or in front of others. I have gained confidence that I am not so much worse or clumsier than others in this area, as I always assumed. Free movement and music today open up access to something that is not accessible to my mind and that is precious to me. Maybe you have a special moment today: to have to go one step further than you have gone so far, to overcome an inner blockage, to trust yourself more, to go beyond your comfort zone. I wish you a lot of trust and courage in yourself and love for yourself. You are precious and worth it. Enjoy the expanded experience!
I wish you an extraordinary day!
Audiostretto 59/4/24 is a daily podcast with an encouraging impulse for the day. Hence the combination of numbers: 59 seconds for 24 hours. Every day is unique despite all our routines, plans and repeated processes. Because many today have little time in a day with a full agenda, each input is a maximum of 59 seconds long. So analogous to a ristretto: short, strong and invigorating! My hope is that this input for each day fits at least one concrete situation. In this way, the listener can experience the day more attentively and consciously with the willingness to find the respective impulse in their own day and thus be encouraged to put into practice what was heard before. With this I wish everyone an extraordinary day!
Hello everyone this is Audiostretto 59/4/24!
I am thrilled to announce that Audiostretto 59/4/24 is going to be broadcasted also in English! I started the podcast in Swiss-German on June 6th 2021 and want to share it now as well in English. Please bear with me if not everything is perfect language-wise because I am not a native English speaker. However these daily inputs come from my heart and I do hope that they are going to be a blessing for you personally and each of your days you are going to listen to.
I will start purposely on September 11th. Exactly 20 years after the devastating and shocking terrorist attacks on the twin towers in 2001. By this I want to send out messages of hope and encouragement and maybe even reconciliation. Furthermore this day was the birthday of my best friend who just passed away a few weeks ago. So also in memory of him I will start on this day, as a sign that death has not the last word.
With this I am looking forward to hopefully win you over to become a regular listener of Audiostretto 59/4/24! So if you like it please subscribe and spread the word, tell your friends and share the link. Thanks a lot in advance!
And now I wish you an extraordinary day!