In Tubingen with Dieter

Written Saturday, October 3rd 2009
Mariella and I are waking up this morning to the sound of birds and sunshine flooding the windows of the campervan. We are staying a couple days with our friend Larissa’s uncle, Dieter. We left Kaiserslautern where our friend Juliana lives. She went to Brussels and England for the weekend with her family, and blessed us with the use of “the” car for our trip south to Tubingen. I use the term “the” car because Juliana does not consider it hers. She is of the belief that what she has is God’s and she is a steward or caretaker of the things of which God has given her. This radical way of living reminds us of the ways of Jesus. We hope to become more like Juliana and more like Christ. She seems to prioritize the heart of people over things. Mariella and I have decided to use the word “the” instead of mine or ours to describe things that are under our care. It will no longer be our computer, but the computer. It will no longer be my car, but the car. It will no longer be our house, but the house. We hope using “the” will help us hold material things more loosely and bring our focus more on loving those around us with the “stuff” in our care. I once read a saying that went something like this, “too often people love things and use people when they should be loving people and using things.”
Mariella and I were welcomed in Tubingen by Dieter and his girlfriend Angelica. We enjoyed a trip to the local supermarket and the wonderful meal we cooked together. Dieter cooked the main dish called Schupfnudeln. It is a great tasting noodle mixed with potatoes, sauerkraut, onion and buttermilk all cooked in a wok. Soooo good!

After brunch we plan on walking around town to see Dieter's neighborhood.