"Ich Habe Genug", the title of a cantata by Bach, it's a German phrase meaning, "I have enough". Although the cantata is about a disdain for worldly life and a yearning for death to expedite the reward of heaven, I've been thinking about all the earthly connotations since I read about it on a blog a few weeks ago. I've come to realize that I need to apply the philosophy of
"I Have Enough" to my life more.
I'm so caught up in the things I want, the things I hope for, the things I pray for, that I often forget to see the things I have.
I want to move back closer to our family, so usually I don't notice all the cool things that we can do because we live so close to DC.
I want to move into a larger home, so often I don't realize how easy it is to clean this one.
I pray that we have children soon, but I need to cherish this time I have with MSH all to myself.
I hope for a better job, but the one that I have provides a good income and little stress.
I have this list of desirables on the side of my page, but truly, I have everything I need. The things I don't have just force me to be more inventive in my approach to solving problems.
I should always remember, that despite all the things I want I have a loving, kind husband, a wonderful family-including my in-laws, a good job, a nice place to live, expendable income, more food than I need, more clothes than I can wear, beautiful days, a sharp mind, nimble hands, talents, creativity, and potential. Ich habe genug.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Ich Habe Genug
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3 comments:
Hi there, I found your blog via the swap-bot link list, and I'm instantly glad that I clicked on the link. This is one of the most beautiful blog posts I've ever come around. Honestly, these thoughts have been circling in my brain for quite a while, even the sentence about the hope of having a baby, and now it's just like an "Aha!" moment to read it written by someone else. Plus: I'm German, and the phrase "Ich habe genug" caught my eye ;-)
Usually the phrase has a rather negative connotation meaning "It's enough, I can bear no more", but your interpretation is simply wonderful.
Best wishes
Anke
Thank you Anke! This blog post has been knocking around in my head for weeks now, and it was begging to be written, so I had to oblige. It means a lot to me that it resonated with some one else.
I liked this post because I have those thoughts all the time. I lived in Kenya for 2 years with very little. Now I look at all the stuff in my house and think 'Why?'.
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