Change. It happened in an instant, and yet is still working itself out these many years later.
This picture is from an event commemorating 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. A moving reminder of the momentus change that happened that November evening. Yet a sobering reminder as well that though the wall may be long gone, the effects of 40 years of separation take a lot longer to overcome.
As a nation, we are more known for pointing out what is wrong than for expressing gratitude. Famous quote at the end of an international conference:”You put us Germans in a very uncomfortable position – there was nothing to complain about!” 🙂
So to see the whole country stop just to say thank you and to celebrate is quite something! Yet it is what happened earlier this month when Germany was marking 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. There was gratitude, there was joy, there was celebration.
As I was reflecting on the event, it struck me just how important it is even in the midst of challenges to stop and to remember all those reasons we have to be grateful. There were and there still are a lot of challenges that came out of the events of 9 November 1989, and they do need to be talked about. But this was not the time for that. This was the time to remember the miracle and to be thankful.
The question is: will I remember this lesson in everyday life or will the challenges again crowd out the gratitude?
Lichtgrenze: Balloons (lit up at night) marking the former border between East and West Berlin, commemorating the fall of the Wall 25 years ago.
Ain't Mine No More 