Rest and Renew (of a different kind)

Johanna Park Leipzig

One of the goals of sabbatical is rest and renewal. Often, I don't realize how exhausted I am until I'm a few days into a vacation. The sabbatical is no different. Rest comes easily here. For one thing, I have no one to talk to. There is no crisis to address. No pastoral care to offer. I'm alone with my thoughts as I reflect on what I am experiencing. With few expectations placed on me, I can set my own pace and explore what I wish. Sometimes that may lead to unusual decisions.

I surprised myself two nights ago when I pulled an all-nighter. I could blame it on jet lag or the new beds I'm sleeping on every night, but honestly, it was because I got caught up reading a trashy novel. Before I knew it, the sun came up with only a chapter to go. Unfortunately, set check-out times mean I couldn't curl up and sleep the day away. So I finished the book and headed to Erfurt, a 1 ½ hour drive away. 

Rapeseed fields 


The roadways here are something else. There are stretches with no speed limits and German engineering was on full display as cars whizzed by me at remarkable speeds. The farms on either side of the autobahn were dotted with what I originally thought were fields of mustard. Turns out these vibrant yellow farms were rapeseed fields, which the Germans use to produce more than 50% of their biodiesel fuel. 




balcony solar panels

The countryside also boasts numerous wind farms, which provide nearly 35% of Germany's energy. Germany is committed to going green and there are rooftop solar panels on everything from barns to businesses. I was astonished to see solar panels hanging on apartment balconies.  For less than $1,000, you can turn your rental apartment "green." In 2024 alone, over a million German apartment dwellers did just that.

ping pong tables at the park

But the pride and joy of German cities are their many green spaces. There are large city parks, public squares, and parks in the middle of apartment buildings. Everywhere, families were out riding and walking, enjoying the beautiful sunshine. I did a double-take when I saw folks playing ping pong in the park. I had to look it up. At most public parks, you can find an outdoor ping pong table. Who knew




And did I mention the bikes? If not walking or riding public trams, people flooded the streets with bikes. Every major city street had dedicated bike lanes. Monday morning traffic was not just about navigating the increased car traffic, but also about all the folks riding to work on bikes. I'm talking about hundreds of people riding bikes!


I'll write more tomorrow.  For now, I need to go to sleep.


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