In 1939, Dietrich Bonhoeffer temporarily fled to the U.S., seeking refuge from Nazi Germany. However, he soon regretted this decision, feeling a moral obligation to share in the struggles of his compatriots. Karl Barth, his mentor and a prominent theologian, admonished him, questioning his retreat and urging him to return to Germany, where his leadership was desperately needed. Barth’s challenge and Bonhoeffer’s own convictions led him to return after only two weeks, stating he could not rebuild post-war Germany without enduring its trials alongside his people[1][4][8].
Sources
[1] Bonhoeffer’s Dilemma | Penn State University https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/bonhoeffers-dilemma
[2] A Study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Accusation of “Positivism of … https://reformedperspectives.org/articles/chr_george/chr_george.DBKB.html
[3] [PDF] For Love of the World: Bonhoeffer’s Resistance to Hitler and the Nazis https://wordandworld.luthersem.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/38-4_Letters_from_Prison/For%20Love%20of%20the%20World;%20Bonhoeffer’s%20Resistance%20to%20Hitler%20and%20the%20Nazis.pdf
[4] 10 Things You Need to Know about Dietrich Bonhoeffer https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/10-things-need-to-know-dietrich-bonhoeffer.html
[5] Dietrich Bonhoeffer – World War II Database https://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=565
[6] [PDF] Pacifism and Resistance Revisited with help from Karl Barth https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1430&context=ccs
[7] Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? An AP Explainer about the anti-Nazi … https://apnews.com/article/dietrich-bonhoeffer-anti-nazi-pastor-theologian-77ceaa8b566a9aae2417f9a2c0bd8573
[8] Barth Challenges Bonhoeffer to Return to Germany – Preaching Today https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2003/september/14570.html
[9] Dietrich Bonhoeffer | Holocaust Encyclopedia https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/dietrich-bonhoeffer
[10] Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer
Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?”
Although I have some fundamental disagreements with Pema Chödrön (specifically her understanding of what Christianity is), I also have some fundamental agreements with her.
I thought this particular passage was significant in that it validates our attempts to try to get things together, to get our life together…
because, in Buddhist terms, we can’t get things together…things are not get-togeterable. And we really can’t make any progress until we finally recognize and admit that.
or in Christian terms (and Buddhists might agree with some of this too), we have to realize that nothing works. Our plans don’t work. Nothing that we do works. Everything that we do ends in disappointment. We’re restless, anxious, numb, busy, distractible and/or zoned out. Always striving. We have no internal peace ourselves and therefore none to offer others. And we can’t find anything that works no matter how hard we try.
Lay Down Sally
Song by Eric Clapton
There is nothing that is wrong
In wanting you to stay here with me
I know you’ve got somewhere to go
But won’t you make yourself at home and stay with me?
And don’t you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don’t you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, no need to leave so soon
I’ve been trying all night long just to talk to you
Sun ain’t nearly on the rise
We still got the moon and stars above
Underneath the velvet skies
Love is all that matters, won’t you stay with me?
Don’t you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don’t you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, and no need to leave so soon
I’ve been trying all night long just to talk to you
I long to see the morning light
Colour in your face so dreamily
So don’t you go and say goodbye
You can lay your worries down and stay with me
Don’t you ever leave
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don’t you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, there’s no need to leave so soon
I’ve been trying all night long just to talk to you
Lay down, Sally, and rest here in my arms
Don’t you think you want someone to talk to?
Lay down, Sally, there’s no need to leave so soon
I’ve been trying all night long just to talk to you
God is singing this song to us. All the time. In as many ways as he can think of.
Boyd Camak 