Discover life - giving enriches
Was I alive today?
Yes!
Hard work (derusting in a space 1 m wide, 150 m deep and 80 cm high is no fun…) and light work on board in glorious sunshine. And we’re making progress… some of the insulation panels, which were left over from the previous owner and have been lying around getting in the way for the last 18 months, have finally been fitted and are doing what they’re meant to do – insulating a wall.
And in the evening, a wonderfully inspiring concert by Christiane Döring – perfect for letting your mind wander… She has a fantastic voice and really brought out the best in the songs by Schumann, Schubert and others… full of nuance, romantic, profound and, in places, very humorous too.
The funniest moment, however, was undoubtedly afterwards. I got a bit flustered when I suddenly saw two police cars outside the pub – right where I’d parked my hire car… not quite the required distance from the corner. „No need to get worked up,“ commented a friend of a friend, who’d previously claimed that nothing could rattle him: „They wouldn’t send two patrol cars just because of a badly parked car.“ He was right.
What have I discovered about life?
It is in giving that one receives the greatest gift of all. I received a text message from a friend whilst I was in the middle of working; she needed advice and support. I made time for her – whilst I was treating the slats… You can paint and think at the same time. In the middle of the conversation, I heard myself say: „What preoccupies us most are situations where we don’t understand what’s going on – our brain wants to make sense of things and understand them – if it can’t, then it keeps plugging away – because it wants to find an explanation!“
I told her that, and at the same time it dawned on me that this was an answer for me too. I’m currently faced with behaviour from someone that I simply can’t make sense of, and my brain is working overtime trying to understand what’s going on. But it’s more like a jigsaw puzzle where some pieces are missing…
The solution? I’m still torn between two options:
– Simply settle on a working hypothesis (Person X behaves in a certain way because …) and let it rest.
– Deciding that it’s not something that can be resolved (after all, who can really understand another person?)… and finding peace with that.
What have I discovered about myself?
I don’t miss out. In the end, those who give always receive in return. A friend offered to say that her father, who is a qualified electrician, could help me with the boat’s electrical work. I’ve got a lot to get to grips with, and I don’t just need people to lend a hand – though I’m grateful for every helping hand. I also really need help with planning. I need to talk to people who know what they’re doing and can work things through with me. Someone who’s experienced and is patient enough to spend a few hours explaining things to me is a huge blessing for me. The fact that I’d specifically prayed for an electrician who could advise and support me makes it all the more wonderful.
This morning I was sitting on the sofa, crying with emotion, because I can hardly understand why I’ve been blessed so much. Suddenly, it occurred to me: „Through the projects you’ve initiated and supported, you’ve helped ensure that hundreds of people in Afghanistan now have a roof over their heads and clean drinking water again… You’ve helped them… and now others are helping you to build your house and boat!“
I’ve been doubly blessed: on the one hand, it has made me happy to be able to help. Being able to give people a home is simply wonderful. And on the other hand, I am blessed by the gifts that come back to me in the form of help.
Speaking of Afghanistan: My editorial team and I have once again organised a Charity calendar The proceeds from the sale of which will this time go towards funding an agricultural training programme for women in Afghanistan, which teaches them how to feed themselves and their families. You can find it here at Shop.
Please do buy plenty – the calendar makes a brilliant Christmas present – and, whilst you’re at it, do a good deed for people who could really do with some support!
