Many years ago in religious education class, I gave a presentation on the Ten Commandments. Back then I held the Hoffnung für alle (“Hope for All”) translation in my hand — and even then, what mattered most to me was what these ancient sentences actually bring us in real life, for our own good and for living together. And of course, my 11th Commandment could not be left out at the very end — as a small joke with a serious background. ...
Sometimes you walk through the world and it gets out of your way. People turn curt before a word has been spoken, some irritable. They sense something about you. And you understand them, because what radiates from you keeps them at a distance. At other times, doors open. People laugh with you, seek your closeness. You are simply there, light and open, and the world answers warmly. For a long time you took the one for luck and the other for misfortune. Then you realize: it is an echo. As you call into the forest, so it comes back. When it is dark inside you, you see differently, you enter the encounter differently, and the encounter answers you differently. The outside carries what lives on the inside. ...
I pray the same thing every day. It helps me get myself off my high horse. Please show me my mistakes. Forgive me for them. Thank you for your blessing, Lord. May your will be mine. May your commandment of love be mine. And I want to help you serve it in everyday life. That is habit becoming alignment. Every morning anew. Someone asked me: If his will stands above yours – do you doubt? No. I hope that he overwrites my ego. Piece by piece. ...
Yesterday I helped a family bury their dog. We accompanied him to his last breath. A dear, dear fighter — for those he loved. I read Psalm 23 to the family — so they could see: even this dark valley passes. In the evening I thought: now I will do something good for myself. I went out to celebrate. Into bed at six in the morning, fell straight asleep. Up again at two in the afternoon. The day was depressive. ...
I write about software architecture because I love it. For a long time I thought that was the only reason. I also love teaching. Through sharing, a lot has gotten better, and in software “together” now includes the tools we use. They are not taking over the world and they are not taking jobs, not soon and not on a horizon I would name. At software they are good. I have been programming publicly for over 24 years. Parts of that work can be found online at @jochumdev and @r3j0. ...