Good morning in Wittenberg. Spectacular sunrise – and that early in the morning at 4h54. The fiery sky promises changing weather: “Red in the morn is the shepherd´s warn!” Nothing surprising if You bargain with “Schafskälte” – a meteorological phenomenon to be expected in mid-June and critical for the recently shorn sheep running free in the meadows on the Elbe flats. The shepherds don´t only worry about wolves. They also have to be alert for such weird weather patterns disrupting regular routine. No day is really the same as the one before, not even at this bus stop out in the sticks.  

So, this morning starts off quite normal really. Angelika leaves for school at the appointed time. The doors are open, and the regulars pass by. Just like you´d expect on any given day. But then the postman drops by. He´s obviously not in a hurry. Even if I answer the phone or type away to some online client, he just hangs in there, waiting for chitchat to continue – until I ruthlessly throw him out. I´ve got an urgent email from Prague to reply to – never mind the priority mail from St. Louis – and I´ve got to keep my mind to it. It´s so easy to get distracted and put off track. Thankfully, he´s not offended. He´ll be back tomorrow or after the weekend at the latest. I´m sure. It´s not the first time.

Just getting settled in, Miss K. drops by. She´s got a surprise for JP – my hunting partner. In the past 2 days, he´s trapped 2 racoons in their back yard. One every night. Only after they robbed 2 bird´s nests and wreaked havoc in the strawberry patch. Now, obviously ones worse than the other, but both deserve capital punishment – legally. Especially as they are invasive types – and hostile exotics! JP´s the man – and the Ks are ecstatic. JP did this as a favor for his friend and rejected any reimbursement. Miss K. won´t be put off that easily, so she just drops the gifts here and has me take them over to JP´s place on the Elbe flats: Wine and asparagus – the latter fresh from the fields in Beelitz.

As this episode unfolds, a brass band blows up a storm on the church square. It´s somebody´s birthday and they are serenading away for an ever-growing crowd. We join in too. Greeting the old man, who is turning 85 and stands happily with his dear old wife and amidst his happy family. They are good neighbors and we know them from church. I like the way musicians plays popular tunes from our hymnal. They are obviously professionals and although only 3, they make it sound as if it’s a whole choir. One of them came all the way from Halle (100km) to make up the volume and to add joy and fun to the old man´s birthday. And they sure are the hit of the day, because it´s not just about playing nice melodies, but sharing the good message of faith, hope and love. So, even this very normal day turns more and more into something special – and not just for the birthday party. Just join in one of the hymns these gentlemen played with such ease and in the most inviting airs this Thursday – another good day in summer:

1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore. 

Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987