All of you have found the picture of a cross section of the trunk of a tree on your table.

It was only when this old, beautiful tree had been cut down because of safety reasons that we recognized the form of its trunk.

Growing old it built itself into the form of a HEART. You will easily see its lines which indicate age, the dark points of hurt, its strong brown bark giving shelter to the flow of life.

Praying over this piece of nature made us – the provincial team of Central Europe – become aware of the beauty of all creation. It gave us a deeply felt sense of awe.

How very often do we only recognize the wonder next to us when it has been destroyed.

God – the creator – fell in love with all creation when he saw – day after day – that “it was good”.

He called us to give shelter, to care for all his creation.

But we forgot about this, we don`t care, we use what was entrusted to us.

We need a new view.
We need a new HEART.
Ezekiel  36, 26 - 29