Days Seven and Eight

Day Seven: Wurzburg

Wurburg was heavily damaged during World War II and has been completely restored. A highlight is the great Bishops’ Residenz Palace which was built in 1744. You can see the damage in the photo. We saw the sweeping staircase and magnificent ceiling frescoes by Teipolo. Long ago, the Bishop was the ruler until Napolean invaded and took over.

Our guide said the bishop thought he was God. When this political leader told him he wanted a divorce, the bishop told the Pope there was no consummation. Egos and Lies.

Sound familiar?

After the palace, we rode on the bus on one of Germany’s scenic routes which they call “The Romantic Road to Rothenburg.”  This town is the best-preserved medieval town in Germany and has not changed in appearance for hundreds of years. It is surrounded by a 1.5 wall that connects five medieval gates, complete with guard towers dating to the 13^th-16^th centuries. Today many shops and restaurants line the main cobbled stone road. A highlight are the beautiful Christmas shops. Also, Disney was inspired by the villages here to create Pinocchio.

I chose to walk along the wall, pausing to take in the views. I thought of Pinocchio, whose nose grew when he lied, and how the bishop lied. Although I am not a blatant liar, I have told white lies. “I can’t get together because I am busy,” when the truth is I don’t want to spend time with someone. And people have said that to me. I guess it’s a gentler way of rejection. True, I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, but even “I am busy” can hurt.

Today, it is common for people to just ignore the person’s text, calls, or emails. Then they are left hanging, wondering what is going on. Being ghosted can hurt even more.

Let’s try to be authentic and kind. Respond with "no" instead of "ghost.”  Tell the truth. Like Pinocchio, people may not see our nose grow, but they can sense when we are not authentic. I think God is gracious when we tell white lies with the motive of not wanting to hurt another.  But thinking one is God, like the bishop did?  No way.

Day Eight: Bramberg

Bramberg was one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed in WWII and has many intact medieval structures. They are famous for Rauchbier, a smoky beer made with malt dried over open flames. Like other towns long ago, they dumped EVERYTHING in the river, including all the waste and parts from the slaughterhouse that was on the river’s edge.  Beer was healthier for the people to drink, so they joke, “Beer saves our lives.”

We walked by a medieval building with a fresco painted on it. The artist then sculpted a leg that sticks out which you can see in the photo. For centuries, the people wondered why he did that. What does it mean?  Today they joke that he was leaving his legacy.

If it is God’s will, I hope to pass on Not Alone, which is a Christ-centered healing process. I am trying to raise new leaders now. I want the future generation to know there is hope and healing through Christ.

What legacy are you leaving?