Family matters
Last week on Wednesday my family came to visit me in Göttingen and stayed for almost a week. Now, if it already was a surreal feeling for me to land here in Germany in the first place, it definitely was the case to see my family here as well. We spent a total of five full days together in the city vicinity and I was more than happy to receive them and show them a bit around as the local guide. Also, it was another cross border action for us this time as a family unit, since we have never made a trip abroad together as a whole family before.
I determined that this would be a great opportunity to write down some of my quick thoughts about the importance of family in the light of theological ethics and my own life experience. As the ground philosophy of my theology and understanding of life, once again I seek for a narrative perspective in this theme. How would a narrative approach towards family life shape and affect our understanding of it?
The first observation we can make is that the family life itself already has a narrative background. A man and a woman find each other, fall in love and get married. Together, they set up a family and strive to strengthen the family as a social institution on its different levels. The narrative grows as the family grows.
For me, family has always been the place where I can be 100% myself. It's like a mirror in which I can reflect what kind person I really am. Family life represents to me total security and freedom of self-expression. And this is how the family should essentially be like.
By no means, however, am I saying that my family life is perfect, not at all. It's actually quite far from it with all love, respect and honesty. Yet, it's still quite something I'm truly happy and thankful about. We have our differences and flaws, but that has never stopped us from being a family. It's a true blessing to be born in such a good and simple family that always supports me in everything I do.
The second observation comes from the Bible. Jesus broadened the concept of family in his teachings by saying that "For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." God's family is not tied to any biological, social or ethnical roots but it shows acceptance to everyone. Thus, the same idea could also be translated as, for whoever participates in the story of salvation, belongs to the family of Jesus Christ. Shared life experiences bind people together - the greater the story, the greater the bond between the people. And there is no better place to share life experiences than a family. As one of the highest values and ideals of a good life, the family matters the most.
Updated: 23.06.2018
 |
| Went to hike up top to Burg Plesse with my brother. |
 |
| We did a wonderful family hike to the Bismarckturm in the Göttingen forest. |
The first observation we can make is that the family life itself already has a narrative background. A man and a woman find each other, fall in love and get married. Together, they set up a family and strive to strengthen the family as a social institution on its different levels. The narrative grows as the family grows.
For me, family has always been the place where I can be 100% myself. It's like a mirror in which I can reflect what kind person I really am. Family life represents to me total security and freedom of self-expression. And this is how the family should essentially be like.
By no means, however, am I saying that my family life is perfect, not at all. It's actually quite far from it with all love, respect and honesty. Yet, it's still quite something I'm truly happy and thankful about. We have our differences and flaws, but that has never stopped us from being a family. It's a true blessing to be born in such a good and simple family that always supports me in everything I do.
The second observation comes from the Bible. Jesus broadened the concept of family in his teachings by saying that "For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." God's family is not tied to any biological, social or ethnical roots but it shows acceptance to everyone. Thus, the same idea could also be translated as, for whoever participates in the story of salvation, belongs to the family of Jesus Christ. Shared life experiences bind people together - the greater the story, the greater the bond between the people. And there is no better place to share life experiences than a family. As one of the highest values and ideals of a good life, the family matters the most.
 |
| Right at the moment I am enjoying myself on the island Juist, at the Nordsee, with other Erasmus people. |
Updated: 23.06.2018
Comments
Post a Comment