On July 29, 1997, three squats in East Berlin were evicted during a massive police operation. The three houses, all of which had been squatted for seven years, were the Rigaerstrasse 80 and the Scharnweberstrasse 28 in Friedrichshain, and the Pfarrstrasse 88 in Lichtenberg. Around 500 riot cops took part in the evictions, which began at 6:30 in the morning when the squatters were all still asleep. Some SEK special police units with machine guns were dropped by helicopter onto the roofs of the houses. You would have thought the squats were home to Red Army Fraction (RAF) or something! Most of the squatters were released from custody after their identities were checked, but 5 people were detained, 3 because they weren't privileged enough to carry German passports. The houses were all sealed up shortly after the evictions to prevent renewed squatting attempts.
The Friedrichshain district was under virtual martial law following the evictions with cops on every corner. A few small road blockades were organized in protest during the afternoon. In the evening, around 300 people marched from Frankfurter Tor to the Pfarrstrasse. There, the cops provoked people and several people were arrested during clashes. During the night, two other empty houses in the city were squatted. One house in the Kreuzigerstrasse was occupied, but immediately evicted by a riot police water cannon. Rocks and mollies were tossed at the cops during this clash. And the Kastanienallee 71 was briefly re-squatted, but this house was also quickly evicted.
The three houses evicted on July 29th were just about the last ones left in Berlin. Those that are left you can count on one hand. It's about time we started to change this, otherwise squats are gonna become part of history. People need to stop hiding in their shadows and complaining about how there are no new perspectives. There won't be any unless we make them ourselves!
When the Autumn colours began to riot over the hillsides, I took a ride to take in all the beauty. I did this last year although I don’t think the variation in the hues were as beautiful. As I drove, I thought, “What other things do I do year after year and day after day?”
There are a couple of special things that I get to do only once every four years. Joe and I got engaged on February 29 and so it is a special day for us – every four years. This year was our 8th celebration which translates into 32 years.
Another event, that happens only once every four years, is the opportunity to vote for the President of the United States. It is both a privilege and a responsibility. This year, all of the choices are important and require prayer.
Year after year with the beautiful Autumn comes the fall! Each year there are so many leaves from the big Oak trees in our yard and the neighbor’s that require mulching or burning. It is a bitter-sweet activity as I know I am preparing for the Winter and colder weather. On a happier note, I get to wear boots and sweaters which I like a lot!
Annually, I prepare for Christmas and spend many happy hours thinking of the greatest gift of all, the amazing Baby in a manger that grew up, just like we do, and became the One who put the upside down world right again. Even more amazing, He redeemed each of us and when we embrace His gift, we are restored to the Kingdom. It is also a time to reflect on my loved ones and to choose carefully gifts that will delight and encourage. Last year, I made books for the children.
Another annual event is the Autumn Assembly of Prayer in Branson. We pray, hear wonderful teaching, and connect with friends from around the world. It is this week and I am anticipating it with joy.
Day after day, I straighten up the house, cook meals, make the bed, get ready for the day, have a quiet time, do laundry, blog, work, to to church, and enjoy friends and family.
As I reflect on all of the things that I do over and over again, there is a comfort in the repetition but it is the serendipitous moments of the totally unexpected that bring delight and laughter spicing my life with joy. Come to think of it, I have been there and done that before too!
I had the privilege of primitive camping with my daughter on the old farm that I lived on as a girl. We don’t own it, but the land owner is generous in letting us set up our tent and have a camp fire Rachel and I would hike the hills and take lawn chairs to sit out in the middle of creek and eat watermelon that had been cooled in the cold spring that fed the creek. At night we could hear the coyotes in the distance and the lowing of the cows that grazed in the field nearby. It was a magical time and we played awesome Christian music loud enough that it echoed through the hills. My favorite title on that album was “The Trees of the Field.” I could see those old oak trees dancing along the banks and clapping their branches in joy.
One night, we had a beautiful camp fire and God began to speak to us an allegory of the fire. It went something like this:
When a fire is started it needs bits of paper (the Word) to get it going. It needs the wind of the Holy Spirit to fan the flames into greater brightness and as it begins to burn steadily, it needs the dead wood (those who didn’t know the light) to be brought into fellowship with the embers to give it new life. When embers are scattered, they slowly lose the fire.
The more brightly burning logs that try to go it alone don’t have a chance of staying on fire – but add other embers of dry wood and a little paper (Word) and it will leap into a fiery pillar that shines light all around. The fire left on its own, with no one to tend it and keep the coals together and feeding it by adding paper and old wood, will eventually die out as it consumes itself.
Another day, we followed the cold spring to its head waters and saw where it creeps out of the earth – living pure water that you can drink and enjoy. We listened attentively to the sound of the water. It hurried down the canyon to join yet another spring and fed into the creek.
We had set up our camp at the place where the cold spring and the creek join as one. When you look at the water, you can no longer can you tell where one ends and the other begins but when you are in the water however, the spring is very cold and the creek water is much warmer, but in just a few feet, it is all mixed together and it is one.
The absolute absence of man and his influence draws us closer to our Creator. We are able to stop and be silent and hear the sounds of God’s creation. The woodpecker taps out his morning song in search of food. The mourning dove sings her mournful sound reminding us that the fish are biting. The cold spring laughing as it falls over an old tree brings joy to the heart. The locust, crickets and birds add to the symphony. There is barely a whisper of wind and the beautiful peace encompasses and fills us with the love of God.
The last night we saw the stars dazzle us with their beauty as they shone upon us in their full radiance seldom seen in our light polluted world. Oh, how vast and limitless are the wonders of God. How pleasing are His ways.
Nick hadn’t planned to be in a men’s recovery center ever again. He had been clean for five years until three days ago. For absolutely no reason, he went on a three-day bender. The hang-over was familiar yet he knew that he wasn’t that person anymore and he didn’t want to go back This is how he found himself as a guest at the shelter. They were having a speaker that was seeing people set free.
Nick’s father and grandfather were both pastors and his religious upbringing had been oppressive. He knew that God had called him when he was twelve years old to be in the ministry. The commitment and price his family paid daily caused him to run. He started drinking shortly after he heard from God and never looked back. He was forty-five and until five years ago, he seldom been sober.
Now, here he found himself sitting on the back row of the center and the speaker was saying things that made sense – things he had longed believed but never heard in church. The man was talking about an encounter with God, not rules and doctrines. He felt a fresh wave of the Spirit wash over him. He leaned forward. Everyone and everything around him fell away and he was totally engrossed in the message.
The speaker called for people to come forward for prayer. He didn’t remember getting up and found himself almost gliding down the aisle. The man-of-God turned to him and told him the truth he had been running away from. “You have a call on your life and you have known it since you were very young. It’s not too late.” Then he laid his hands on his shoulders and the Presence of God was so strong that he found himself on the floor. He had an encounter with the Holy Spirit and he was being renewed and refreshed. He got up changed.
The evening meal was served to them and the founder of the shelter and the speaker were sitting at a table at the far end of the room. They were engaged in conversation. He hesitantly approached them and ask the guest speaker a question. He was invited to join them and felt unworthy of the honor. He was encouraged to do so and sat. Several hours later, they rose up. He recognized that he had been holding unforgiveness toward his family and he now released them. Life would never be the same.
That night, he stopped at home. His live-in girl-friend shouted at him, “What have you been doing?” He became defensive. “Nothing.” She angrily replied, “You have been up to something! You look so different.” He knew then that he was forever changed. He told her of his encounter with the Most High God. She was skeptical, but could see the change.
Nick has moved into the shelter and is no longer a guest. He is engaged in becoming the man God intended.