New Mexico - Boston - Stuttgart - Marseille - Heimsheim - Jerusalem - Tabgha

Hello friends and readers,

I had shared with you before beginning my sabbatical that I would try to include you on my Sabbatical Journey via a blog. I am giving this a first try to share with you where I've been and what I've been up to since I left Rio Rancho on June 30. 

I began by visiting David in Boston and enjoying some quality time between father/son. David gave me a tour of his new place in South Boston with splendid views of the Boston skyline. I arrived in Germany via Istanbul, Turkey to stay at my parents house in southwestern Germany. It is an enchanting village near the Black Forest with green pastures and each house adorned with multiple flower arrangements. 

We have been enjoying social time together and catching up with each other on happenings in our lives. I enjoy assisting my parents with some of their daily routines. One of the pleasant summer traditions in this area of Germany are the numerous outdoor town fiestas, also known as "Stadtfest" with live music of the local choirs and music bands. The food is tasty and always has a local bend to it. 

Next, it was off to Marseille, France, where the EURO 2016 football tournament featured the semifinal match between Germany and France. I met Katrina, who was also visiting this historic and scenic city in southern France. How great to see my daughter who has been living and working in Europe since mid 2015. Even though Germany lost to France, it was two days of making many new memories. German and French football fans got along great and shared in the joy of the "beautiful game." That's it for now ~ Many greetings. Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in mine. July 17 ~ It has been a week of get-togethers with friends and family at my parents house or in Heimsheim.  My twin brother, Jens, spent a few days at home.
The village of Schoenaich has been home to our family for 40 years. It is an enchanting place with a blend of historic buildings, churches, and many modern structures and small businesses. The 'Swabian' spirit of working hard, frugal habits, and a strong sense of small town community is alive and well here.
Then it was off to reunions with friends in Heimsheim, a bucolic town on the outskirts of the Black Forest - More about the "Schwarzwald" later. I served as pastor of the local evangelical church from 1994-2001. Our family made many friends during those years and it gives me joy and gratitude to see each other while in Germany. The local church dates back to a wooden structure from the year 900.

It is set in the midst of a beautiful square which includes a 14th century castle and the historic communal bread baking house. Besides visiting friends, Heimsheim was also the chosen location for a very special event. On Friday, I officiated at the wedding ceremony of Kurt & Valya Hubler. Kurt is the son of David and Gretchen Comfort of Community of Joy. Valya is from Russia. Kurt & Valya live and work in Siberia. One year ago, while visiting New Mexico, we discussed the possibility of a wedding ceremony in Heimsheim. People from the U.S., from Germany, and from Russia gathered for worship with readings, prayers, personal stories shared in three languages. Lena, a friend of Valya, introduced at the end of the service a Russian bread tradition in which husband and wife break and share bread and salt with each other. The whole loaf needs to be finished by all guests as a sign of blessing and plenty for the newly weds. Thanks to my good friend, Helmut, Kurt & Valya, were chauffeured in a 1953 Mercedes Benz Oldsmobile to their reception dinner. A banner day all around.
Next, I joined my friend and fellow pastor, Manuel, for a day hike in the Black Forest. The weather was picture perfect and we enjoyed the trails and the vistas into the Stuttgart region. Manuel had been a summer intern at COJ in 2014 and is serving a local church in Stuttgart. Many greetings to all who have chosen to read this blog about my Sabbatical Journey. Blessings to you as you start a new week. God is good. Before I travel to Israel, I want to provide you with an update on the past week. I took the train to the Ruhr region of Germany to visit with friends in the city of Gelsenkirchen. The area was part of the industrial heartland of the country with many jobs in coal mines.
They have been shut down over the past two decades and the reinvention of the region is arduous and slow. The areas around them are now recreational spaces for people to gather and enjoy the outdoors. Great trails for walks and cycling of which we did plenty.
I also attended a pre-season match and training session of my beloved football team, Schalke 04, and took some pictures with the players and staff. Traveling in Germany with clean and on time trains is a real treat as when riding along the beautiful Rhine river in summer. So many sights to take in. Like during a stopover in Cologne I visited the world famous Cathedral near the train station.
Throughout the past weeks I have had many conversations with family, friends and other people over the refugee situation in Germany. In 2015 close to a million refugees came to Germany as they left their home countries of Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Here in Schoenaich, my parents home town, the three local churches have taken on the responsibility of leading the relocation efforts of 150 refugees.
It has been an up and down situation, my colleague, Pr. Nudging, told me in a meeting on Friday. There is still a spirit of welcome and many people are involved in efforts to help and support refugees. There is also a good amount of push-back from some locals. Attacks as the one in Munich, with many victims killed or injured, make the good work of many volunteers ever more difficult. The relationship between locals and refugees in town (as in Germany overall) is brittle. I am impressed how across generations, churched or unchurched, people are coming together to offer support, lead German language courses or offer to help with legal matters that refugees struggle with. It is a difficult task and local churches are leading the effort. In closing, I leave you with a few impressions from my parents home town: a bakery, a small mom and pop store, and an Italian supplier of wonderful treats.
I leave for Israel on Monday and will start the second phase of my Sabbatical Journey - first in Jerusalem, and then on Lake Galilee in northern Israel. I will be staying at the Tabgha Monastery which was founded by German Lutherans in the late 19th century. I am much looking forward to this time in the Holy Land and to walk and stay in the area our Lord Jesus lived in and from which he started his ministry. "Shalom" - Peace to you. Peace seems so elusive these days. July 26 ~ I arrived in the Holy Land yesterday. Thus begins the second phase of my Sabbatical. I am staying in Jerusalem for a few days.
The giant Menohra sculpture stands at the entrance of the airport in Tel Aviv. It was created by the famous Spanish artist, Salvador Dali as a gift to Israel. I am staying at an AirBnB near the center of Jerusalem. My hosts, Yuval & Mazor, are working on their post graduate PHDs. We enjoyed a nice evening together getting to know each other a bit. Many Israelis speak good English and have worked, studied in the U.S. I did a lot of walking today, mostly along the famous Jaffa Rd. and into small side streets of which there are many. I stopped at the Mahaneh Yehuda Market with its shouting vendors standing inside their stalls which are filled and decorated with food items. What a sight and treat for the senses. The impressive and historic building of the YMCA is a landmark in our neighborhood. Build in 1933, it serves as a hotel today and is open to the community for activities.
The words of dedication that are posted on an outside wall carry their own significance in past and present. The YMCA's statement reflects the diversity of the Holy City's population and faith communities. I ascended the 152-foot Bell Tower and enjoyed spectacular, panoramic views of the Holy City. Greetings to COJ and other readers as I continue my exploration of Jerusalem in the next few days, stepping into territory in which our Lord Jesus lived and ministered in. Shalom to  you from Jerusalem.
I visited to the Old City today and entered thru the Damascus Gate. I went along the many narrow alleys in the various sections of the Old City where countless vendors sell their merchandise. There is a heavy Israeli military and police presence throughout. I stopped at the Western Wall (Jewish) and the Golden Dome of the Rock (Islam). During prayer times visitors are not allowed onto the Golden Dome area.

I also visited the Christian Quarter and the church of the Holy Sepulcher whereto tomb of Jesus is supposed to be. It is a fascinating area and holy place at the intersection of three monotheistic religions and their peoples and cultures. While at the Western Wall, I witnessed two remarkable celebrations. First, a class of young boys no older then six or seven years celebrated their successful completion of basic Jewish religious education. They all received their first prayer book. Next, also at the Western Wall, a group of decorated boys stood with their Rabbi celebrating their completion of reading pieces of the Jewish Thora. Both groups were super cute and dressed in costumes to mark the celebratory occasions.
Finally, an impression from a vendor of spices in the Muslim Quarter. It was hard to draw away from the countless smells which were incredibly rich. At the end of this day my feet are tired from
all the walking the past two days. But every step is worth it in this
fascinating and very diverse Holy City. I visited the Muslim Holy sites of the Golden Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. Their location is called in Arabic, "Haram al-Sharif" while Jews refer to the Western Wall as the Temple Mount. During prayer times the area is closed to all non-Muslims. Arabs make up about one fifth of Israel's population of more than eight million. Though they are citizens of the Jewish state, many of them, and their leaders, identify as Palestinian, a source of significant friction. Jerusalem has deep challenges. Israelis and Palestinians both claim the city as their capital. Of its 800,00 residents, one third are ultra-Orthodox Jews who mostly do not work or serve in the military. One third are Palestinians who, to protest Israeli annexation of their neighborhoods, refuse to vote in municipal elections. Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, but Israel has banned the Palestinian Authority and other institutions from operating in the city. The Holy Land is, quite literally, common ground. On a recent day this week I passed through the Damascus gate into Jerusalem's Old City. Palestinians emerging from Al Aqsa Mosque moved toward me following their daytime prayers. They ran straight into a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews headed toward the Western Wall. A bit later, out of the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross on Good Friday), a crowd of Russian-Orthodox Christians emerged, chanting and carrying a wooden crucifix. It was an impossible scene, funny even: the three great monotheistic religions jostling in the alleys of the Old City, no way around each other. Tomorrow, Friday, is a travel day as I head up to Tiberias to the monastery Tabgha on Lake Galilee. 7/30 ~ So much to tell and write about since I last updated the blog. I am now at the Benedictine Monastery in Tabgha, outside of Tiberias on Lake Nazareth. As many Israelis and Arabs do, I took the bus from Jerusalem up here. Father Jonas, the guest master, greeted me and showed me to my room, "Simon", right on the lakeshore.
I hear the sound of the waves throughout the day and night. It is very hot here, over 100 degrees during the day and in the 70s at night. I have attended evening prayer services since I arrived. Our evening meal is observed in silence, according to the Rule of St Benedict. A passage of the Rule is read before each meal. There are six brothers in the monastery, all from Germany. I have chosen to read the Rule of St Benedict during my stay here for my own meditation and prayer. Written some fifteen centuries ago, it offers a deep and practical spirituality which is helpful in coping with the multitude of problems and challenges one meets in his/her everyday life. There is also a little pool fed with freshwater that is wonderful for a quick dip during all times of the day. Because of the heat, it is a relief to be able to swim and relax in the pool.

The monastery is part of a larger compound which is home to the Church of the Multiplication. Near the altar of the church is the mosaic of loaves and fishes highlighting Jesus' feeding of the five thousand. Today's church stands on the site of a fourth-century church, displaying Byzantine mosaic decorations. The best known mosaic shows a basket of loaves flanked by two Galilee mullet. Most unfortunately, an act of arson by two youths from Jewish settler outposts damaged parts of the church and monastery in 2015. Reconstruction is currently underway.

Tabgha is at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave his 'Sermon on the Mount.' It is close to the city of Capernaum to which Jesus came several times during his life and ministry. The name Tabgha is an Arab mispronunciation of the Greek 'Heptagon' (meaning seven springs). Several springs enter Lake Nazareth attracting fish. This was a favorite spot for fishermen from nearby Capernaum, and its lakeshore was familiar to Jesus and his disciples, of which some were fishermen. Sunday worship service will be outdoors on the lakeshore. After worship I plan to go to the top of the Mount of Beatitudes which overlooks Lake Nazareth.

I greet you from this very special area in northern Israel. It is such a moment to be in territory in which our Lord Jesus lived and ministered and where his good news is shared in word and deed in and outside of the monastery of Tabgha. Sunday, July 31 ~ I woke early and walked to the lake
to witness the sunrise on Lake Nazareth. The area around Tabgha is called "The Jesus Triangle". It is here, in Capernaum where Jesus lived, and at the Church of the Multiplication (Loaves and Fishes) and on the Mount of Beatitudes, that the heart of Jesus' ministry in Galilee took place. I walked along the Gospel Trail to Capernaum where Jesus worshipped in the synagogue, read from the Tora and was well known by townsfolk as scripture tells us. On Sunday we gathered in the morning for worship at the outdoor chapel on the lakeshore. The Benedictine brothers of the monastery led the Eucharistic service. What a beautiful and spiritual experience. I met some other German visitors to the area. Together, we are driving to nearby Kursi this afternoon. According to Christian tradition, Kursi is Gergesa, identified as the site where Jesus performed the miracle of the swine, as recorded in the New Testament. The national park contains the remains of one of the largest Byzantine monasteries in Israel's. It has beautiful mosaics.
 
Nearby is the ancient fishing community of Magdala. It is at the crossroads of Jewish and Christian history, located at the foot of Mount Arbel. It is here that Jesus healed a woman who made her hometown famous.... Mary Magdala. The Magdala synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Galilee excavated in Galilee, and the place where Jesus surely worshipped and taught. This mural-sized painting in the basement chapel features the encounter between Jesus and the hemorrhaging woman (Mark 5:25). An amazing piece of artwork. While in Magdala, we visited a newly build Roman-Catholic church which featured a large sized boat at the altar area. The mosaic of the fishing boat dates back to the Byzantine period in the fourth century and is widely found as artwork on floors and along walls of churches of the time. As I mentioned in and earlier post, the mosaic of the loaves and fishes at the altar in the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha is part of that Byzantine period artwork.

I usually  do any excursions in the morning and stay at the monastery in the afternoons to read, swim and write. Because of the heat and (some) humidity - Lake Nazareth is 200 meters below sea level, one cannot be outside for long stretches after lunch. I have had the joy of meeting several fellow pilgrims who are also staying in Tabgha. We fellowship and visit biblical sites together. Renting a car makes a lot of sense here. It would be difficult to get to some areas by bus, though public transportation is available and widely used. August 04 ~ Another beautiful sunrise, shortly after 6:00 AM.

I visited the ancient village of Cana (John 2) where Jesus turned water into wine at a Jewish wedding. I was joined by Juergen and Valentina, whom I have met here. A great couple of deep faith.
Cana is a Palestinian town. While there, I got myself a haircut at Adel's barber shop. A fun experience talking about soccer and our families. We also drove through the Jordan Valley to Kinneret and along lake Nazareth. This area is part of the agricultural heartland of Israel w/ large banana plantations, olive groves. A fertile and scenic stretch of land. I took a swim in the lake and much prefer the fresh water pool at the monastery.

The Wed evening dinner w/ the Benedictine brothers is a "talking dinner." We share conversation together. The rest of the week, our meals are eaten in silence according to Benedict's Rule. For the various daytime and evening prayers the brothers and guests gather in the chapel. It includes a beautiful piece of art displaying the Holy Mother of our Lord. I had an interesting conversation about being Christian in the Jewish state of Israel with one of the brothers of the community, Joseph, yesterday. Christians of European, Asian, or Arabic descent make up a small minority (2% = 160,000) in the population of the Holy Land. The majority of Christians are Arabic/Palestinian. There are also Catholic Christians of Pilipino background who are in the country as legal workers or undocumented migrants.

The Christians schools or universities or monasteries (like at Tabgha) are mainly of Franciscan or Benedictine origins. The Arab Christians are very diverse in their orientation. They have well-established institutions in Israel and the occupied territories of the West Bank. However, they do not mix much with migrant or Russian Christians. Overall, the experience of Christians in Israel is that of a fractured, diverse minority. "What does the future hold for Christians"? is an open and challenging question. I am fascinated each time I visited the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (which I do daily) by the fourth-century Byzantine mosaics found throughout the sanctuary, the altar. The Bible prefers to talk in images of God/Jesus, and the mosaics do the same.

I have been attending the morning Eucharist at 7:00 a.m. in the chapel. The prayers, readings, hymns, are offered in German/English. The Eucharist is chanted by the brothers in Latin. Wonderful for the ears and soul. Because it is the Sabbath day in Israel, no buses go. I did what many others do to get around. I hitchhiked to Migdal for some sightseeing and a bit of shopping. All went well and we had good conversations during the car rides. Tomorrow, Sunday, the guests, visitors and the Benedictine brothers, will worship outdoors on the lakeshore. I look forward to it very much and will be serving as reader during the service.

Sunday worship was well attended and beautiful. The five Filipino Benedictine sisters who live in Tabgha assist at the Eucharist. Their convent was founded in 1994. The sisters also offer the readings in English during the daily morning Eucharist. After lunch, I joined the German group and we headed up to the Galilean city of Safed. It has magnificent views east to the Golan, north to the Hermon mountain and to Lebanon.

The city flourished in the 16th century, when many famous Jewish religious scholars and mystics  moved to Safed following the Spanish Expulsion, fleeing from the horrors of the Inquisition. Saved then became the spiritual center of the Jewish world, where Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) reached the peak of its influence. Various Kabbalist Rabbis made Safed famous. It was here that the first printing press of the Middle East was set up. At the time the town was also a thriving trade center. Safed suffered terribly during the ensuing years due to earthquakes, plagues and outside (Arab) attacks on the city. Safed is one of the four holy cities in Israel, together with Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias. The old part of town consists of narrow cobblestone alleys with many artist's galleries, medieval synagogues, and small private homes. Safed is home to many Russian and Ethiopian immigrants who have arrived in Israel in the past decades. I much enjoyed the natural beauty and charm of Safed.

August 11 ~  I have spent the past days staying at Tabgha with reading, reflection, talking to the brothers and day trips to surrounding places, like Nazareth. This is the town where Jesus grew up in. At the time it had no more than 500 inhabitants. Today it is a city of 80, 000 people, mostly Arabs/Palestinians. While there, we visited the "Nazareth Village" which opened in 2000. It features replicas of first century houses, a synagogue, a mikva, and olive/grape presses that have been carefully rebuild  using the methods that would have been used by Joseph the carpenter. Nazareth at the time of Jesus was a small Jewish village under Roman occupation.

I was very impressed by the olive trees on the grounds. The olive tree is considered a symbol of eternal life because it lives and bears fruit for over 1000 years. Olive trees in scripture symbolize life, endurance, fruit. When crushed and pressed, the olive releases oil that nourishes, heals, can be used as a perfume and provides fuel for light. This particular olive tree is over four hundred years old. After the tour, we enjoyed a delicious and simple first century meal, similar to foods that Jesus would have eaten.


During the tour we stopped in a first century synagogue and read from scripture the passage from Luke 4. Jesus came to his hometown synagogue on the Sabbath and read from the scroll of the Thora a passage from the prophet Isaiah. After reading from the scroll Jesus went on to explain what the passage from Isaiah meant and that he was the bringer of good news and the one to whom Isaiah referred to. The reaction of his listeners was mixed at best. Jesus faced hard rejection from the locals in Nazareth who wanted to push him over a cliff. Read the story in Luke 4. It is well worth your time. Because of the rejection Jesus faced in Nazareth, he left his hometown and moved to Capernaum, a small fishing village in the area that I visited earlier on my stay here. Friday, August 19 ~ Since my twin brother, Jens, came to Israel on Tuesday to visit with me at the Tabgha Monastery, we’ve taken trips around Lake Nazareth, into the Jordan Valley, and to the Golan Heights where Israel borders with the countries of Lebanon and Syria. 
Our visit yesterday took us way north. First to the city of Kiryat-Shmone and then on to Metula. Both are border cities with to the country of Lebanon. There we met and talked with a soldier who was on reserve duty and was glad to talk to us because his days are usually rather “ boring  as he said. From there we drove up toward the Golan Heights, passing the Druse town of Majdal Shams which used to be on the Syrian side until the 1967 war between Israel/Syria after which it was occupied by Israel. We continued on to Bental Mnt. with an open view into Syria and the old/new town of Quneitra. The Syrian capitol of Damascus is only 45 miles away. As we looked into the valley into Syria we could hear shelling going on in the not too far distance. The civil war inside Syria is shattering that country. It was a chilling and disturbing moment to stand on the Golan Heights, look into Syria and hear fighting going on in the distance knowing that that means more suffering and death for the people of Syria. 

After returning to Tabgha Monastery, we took a swim in Lake Nazareth and picked some mangos from the trees at the plantation on the grounds. During the times of worship in the morning and throughout the day, and especially when we gather on Sunday morning at the lakeshore I have been thinking that from this small and insignificant corner of the world, Jesus and his followers ignited a wildfire in the first century that has touched people the world over since then. 

That fire continues to burn and to compel Christ followers to this day who also gather here at Tabgha for prayer, worship, reflection, Sabbatical or whatever other reason leads them here to this sacred place. Praise be to God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  August 23 ~  In the last days of my stay in Tabgha, Jens & visited the Greek Orthodox Church near Capernaum, called the Church of the Twelve Apostles, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was build in 1925. It belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Monk Irinarchos lives since 1991 as a hermit on the grounds. The church is full of frescos and iconography which show biblical scenes from the Gospels and saints who lived in the Holy Land. 


One of the great treats of the monastery is to pick a mango from one of the trees of the plantation. Harvest season is over, but one can find an occasional 'left-over'. You cut it up in slices and then it is all about enjoying a sweet, delicious piece. Jens and I swam early on Sunday morning in lake Nazareth. We said our good-bye to Tabgha following a beautiful worship service at the lakeshore. Such gratitude I feel to have come here. I am going to miss this sacred place very much. Peace, Shalom, is what I have experienced @ Tabgha. 
We drove to Akko/Acre where I am staying the next three days. Acre is one of Israel's most ancient cities and is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The old city is 4,000 years old. Documentation of exists from as early as the Bronze Age. There are buildings from the Ottoman and Crusader eras. Acre is home to one of the world's largest collections of Crusader-era ruins. The city is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness. The walls, fortresses and strongholds of the city bear the marks of many nations that left impressive buildings behind them, beautifying Acre to this day. Thanks to these buildings, UNESCO declared Acre a World Heritage Site in 2001. 

Various cultures made their home here, the Crusaders captured it and the Ottomans lived here for many centuries. Even Napoleon Bonaparte tried to lay his hands on Acre and conquer it, but after two months of siege and failed attempts to storm the city’s walls, he retreated. High-walled alleys and underground passages, mosques, Turkish baths, Christian churches, beaches, a marina and fishing port. Between the ancient alleyways there are various markets and fish restaurants. 
I visited Acre Prison on the grounds of the former Acre Fortress, built at the end of the 18th century, on the ruins of Crusader structures built in the 12th century. The fortress was used as a prison and military barracks for the Ottoman Army in Acre. 
Members of various Jewish underground and resistance movements (1920-1948) during the British Mandate in Palestine (Jewish Eretz Israel) were imprisoned here alongside Arab and Jewish criminals. Some were sent to the gallows. Akko/Acre, Israel UPDATE ~ Every day youth stand on the large stone walls of the seaside promenade and jump off into the Mediterranean below. Fascinating to watch. I finally was able to catch one doing his jump. They do this 'till sunset. This takes some courage. Click on the video to see their amazing jumps from breathtaking heights. 

In the evening I went to the rooftop of a local hotel to witness the sunset. It was gorgeous and a fitting end to my days in Akko/Acre. My stay in Israel will soon be over and I return to Germany. Shalom, Israel. I have been blessed many times over during my stay in the Holy Land. I could not be more grateful for the rich experiences of places, people, culture, religions, and a strong sense of history and the presence of God surrounding me. SHALOM, Israel. 

August 29 ~ I have returned to Germany and am staying a few days with my parents. I do miss Israel. Over the weekend, my dad and I attended the season opener of the German football season in Frankfurt. We supported our Royal Blues from Schalke in the Ruhr Valley. Even though our team lost the game, we had a great time together as father and son. I will be doing another short retreat at a Benedictine monastery this week. The monastery of Plankstetten is near Nuremberg in the scenic Altmuehltal region of Bavaria. I need this time of structured daily services and prayer along with time for reflection and reading. It is a small monastery and I will be staying there 'till Friday. 

Earlier today, Helmut, my good friend from Heimsheim, and I, drove to Sindelfingen which is home to the large Mercedes Benz plant. 35,000 people are employed there alone. We received a tour of the plant and visited the Mercedes museum as well. What beautiful, high-end, and very expensive cars they make. The degree of high-tech automation in assembling these cars is amazing. In 2015, Mercedes Benz sold over one million cars worldwide which were build in German factories. In the meantime, China is a bigger sales market for Mercedes Benz than the U.S. Wow. At this time of year, many flower fields are in full bloom and people can pick flowers at their leisure from such fields while dropping a few EUROS in a box. It is a beautiful sight which I enjoy each time on my walks or runs in the area of my parents home. September 01 ~ I drove south to near Nuernberg in Bavaria to stay at the Benedictine monastery in Plankstetten. I stopped at a Highway Church, St. Christophorus, on the Autobahn Heilbronn-Nuernberg. It is one of the current 44 “Autobahn-Kirchen” along German highways. 

The chapels are rest places for the soul. The chapel has a beautiful and colorful set of windows telling the story of scripture highlighting God’s relationship with creation and his people. It is a delightful stop. One can take a rest, sit quietly for a while, pray, write a greeting in the guestbook and be on your way refreshed and with the presence of God’s Spirit guiding and leading you. I am staying this week at the Benedictine monastery of Plankstetten which is in the heart of Bavaria (Oberfranken) in the nature reserve, Altmuehltal. For more than 880 years monks live in the rhythm of “Ora et Labora” (Pray & Work) here. What a scenic and beautiful place to come to. I am granted a rare privilege for a guest: I am allowed to stay in the same section of the monastery where the eight brothers also have their quarters. 

The Benedictine Abbey of Plankstetten was founded in 1129 by the Hirschberg noble family and came under the supervision of the Bishop from nearby Eichstaett. The romanic church of the monastery was consecrated in 1138. Additions, renovations, destructions and rebuilding took place through the centuries of the highs and lows of the monastery. The architectural style of the inner courtyard as well as the church is from the baroque period. The brewery of the monastery began in 1461. I went for a long walk in the afternoon along the ‘Benedict Way’. A beautiful and scenic area. 

The daily prayers from Laudes at 6:00 AM followed by morning Eucharist at 7:00 AM and midday worship (before lunch) to Vespers before supper and Komplet at the end of the day, give focus and structure to Morning - Afternoon - Evening. We gather in the large baroque style church with impressive frescos on the ceiling. Following my month long stay at the Benedictine monastery at Tabgha on Lake Nazareth in Israel, this second stay with Benedictine brothers in southern Germany is a grateful extension of one of my sabbatical focuses: To listen to the voice of God in worship, silence, prayer and the gathering of the people of God whether at a lakeshore in the Holy Land or in an 880 year old monastery as in Plankstetten, Bavaria. 

My Sabbatical has afforded me opportunities to see my daughter, Kate, who lives in Berlin. We have met several times in Germany and in France. This weekend offers us more time between father/daughter. Kate is a freelance dancer who works very hard to realize her dream. I am very proud of her and look forward to spent the next few days with her at my parents home and with friends at my former congregation in Heimsheim. Sunday, Sept. 04 ~ While in Heimsheim I also visited with my good friends, Helmut and Sybille. Lots of conversation around the subject of refugees in Germany and how the country is coping with trying to integrate them into society. It is the first anniversary of their arrival and Chancellor Merkel's famous words, "Wir schaffen das" (We'll make it). Many in Germany are skeptical about that claim since Merkel did not say "How" this will be done. It is clear from the two months I have been in Germany that the "Refugee Question" has changed Germany. It will be a giant task for both Germans and refugees in the years to come to work on the "How" question. We attended worship together and met many friends and familiar faces, like Gerdi Weiler. The church bells rang. Kate was taken by Heimsheim and our past home around the Schlosshof and the Kasten (Castle).  

Sept. 06 ~ I made my farewell visit to Heimsheim and met for lunch with our good friends of many years, Evi and Gerhard. We enjoyed delicious "Maultaschen" for lunch. In the afternoon, Juergen, also a good friend from our Heimsheim years, joined us for coffee. Good conversations about our children, their paths, and about our parents and the changing seasons of life during old age. Thus comes to an end the European part of my sabbatical.  Sept. 13 ~ I have returned stateside and am currently staying in New Hampshire. Over the weekend, Sue & I traveled to NYC to attend the 15th anniversary remembrance of 9/11. 

Ground Zero is both a memorial and a celebration of survival, courage, endurance and resilience. We walked along the two reflecting pools where the North and South towers used to stand. We visited the National September 11 Memorial Museum. The Museum is located within the archaeological heart of the World Trade Center site - telling the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts. The lives of every victim of the 2001 and 1993 attacks are commemorated. I was profoundly struck by the missing-persons posters seeking information on friends and family members in the days after 9/11. As one continues his/her walk thru the museum you realize they did NOT come back home. 

You walk past a quotation from “The Aeneid” by Virgil, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time” which serves as an inscription at the memorial. The memorial inscription is on a wall that protects a repository of 8,000 unidentified remains. The museum is both a burial ground and a place of contemplation, of commemoration and of historical remembrance at the same time and in the same space. Many items salvaged from ground zero, have the dust encrusted on them. As we walked along the two reflecting pools and stood at ground zero, where the terrorist attack took place, one can feel himself inescapably transplanted there. 

Because the museum is at a site of memory, one knows from the start that this placement intensifies the visitors’ encounter with authenticity. visit was profound, powerful, disturbing, and very moving. At times it is too much to take in. A memorable experience! On the way to the 9/11 Memorial we passed through the Westfield World Trade Center shopping mall which opened in August. The soaring Oculus teems with people. There are cantilevered “diving boards” over the great hall with snow-white marbled floors. I found it dispiriting. Dispiriting, because there is little to suggest that the Westfield World Trade Center mall occupies consecrated ground. Sept. 27 ~ I have returned home to New Mexico after a 2900 mile road trip from NH through Canada and onto the Land of Enchantment.    I have settled in, unpacked, opened untold amounts of mail and am re-orienting myself to being home. I am discerning my Sabbatical as I enjoy the final ten days of it. Toward that end, I met with Richard Rohr today to discuss my Sabbatical with him and how to better listen to God going forward. 

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest and the founder and director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque. He is the author of many spiritual books and writings and has been very important to me and my personal spiritual growth. We had a wonderful visit with deep conversation and mutual prayer. It was a special finale to my Sabbatical journey. 
I also returned to one of my favorite spots in the land of Enchantment: I hiked in Tent Rocks and enjoyed the beautiful and scenic vistas of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia mountains and the Rio Grande Valley. This day marked the personal end of my Sabbatical. I now begin to resume my duties and work as I prepare to lead worship on Sunday and engage with folks at COJ. SHALOM!