Audiostretto 59/4/24 English

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!