Anni: letters and writings of annemarie wächter a bruderhof members story

Although she was for many years the wife of a pastor, Annemarie Waechter Arnold was known for her dislike of religious speech and pious utterances, preferring instead to express her faith in practical gestures of love. A cheerful and energetic woman, she touched the lives of thousands with deeds of generosity, kindness, and encouragement. Few who knew her as an adult would have recognized her as the teenager who wrote in her diary: "There is simply nothing in me, I am nothing, I have no opinion, no conviction, no direction, no nothing...what is God? I don't know whether I believe in him or don't believe in him...this inner loneliness is the worst thing there is, sometimes it could kill you." This book is the story, told in Annemarie's own words, of her path from doubt and despair to a life of purpose, faith, and joy. Annemarie was set on this path when she responded to a call from God so strong and direct that it abolished all her doubts. This call led her to a life in Christian community where she could dedicate herself completely to working towards God's coming kingdom of justice and love. As she wrote, "It is infinitely reassuring to know that there is an absolute truth, an infinitely great love. It is wonderful to know that one does not have to squander one's life, one does not need to ask anymore what life is really for, what its purpose is." Although she was for many years the wife of a pastor, Annemarie Wchter Arnold was known for her dislike of religious speech and pious utterances, preferring instead to express her faith in practical gestures of love. A cheerful and energetic woman, she touched the lives of thousands with small deeds of generosity, kindness, and encouragement. Few who knew her as an adult would have recognized her as the teenager who wrote in her diary: There is simply nothing in me, I am nothing, I have no opinion, no conviction, no direction, no nothingwhat is God? I dont know whether I believe in him or dont believe in himthis inner loneliness is the worst thing there is, sometimes it could kill you. This book is the story, told in Annemaries own words, of her path from doubt and despair to a life of purpose, faith, and joy. Annemarie was set on this path when she responded to a call from God so strong and direct that it abolished all her doubts. This call led her to a life in Christian community where she could dedicate herself completely to working towards Gods coming kingdom of justice and love. As she wrote, It is infinitely reassuring to know that there is an absolute truth, an infinitely great love. It is wonderful to know that one does not have to squander ones life, one does not need to ask anymore what life is really for, what its purpose is. What is the purpose of my life? What is friendship? What is faith? These universal questions, which are especially relevant to young adults, form the heart of this compelling story, told through real letters and diary entries.Anni, who grows from her teenage years to adulthood over the course of the book, is passionate about life and unsparing in her search for authenticity. Articulate and probing, her words have a contemporary ring as she plumbs the reality of her doubt and sense of spiritual loneliness. Then she experiences a call from God – and finds a life of purpose, faith, and joy.In Anni's own words: “It is infinitely reassuring to know that there is an absolute truth, an infinitely great love. It is wonderful to know that one does not have to squander one's life, one does not need to ask anymore what life is really for, what its purpose is.”Heightening the drama of this coming-of-age memoir is the historical setting in 1920s Germany, as the specter of Nazism looms ever larger over the world of Anni and her friends, giving their questions about life's meaning a special poignancy. Foreword......Page 8 Editors’ Note......Page 11 Childhood......Page 13 Leaving Home......Page 23 Thale College......Page 45 “Youth means being gripped by the infinite" ......Page 69 Last Months in Thale......Page 83 Crossroads......Page 105 At the Sparhof......Page 136 A Fixed Point......Page 153 Consequence......Page 188 Radicalism of Surrender; Radicalism of Deed......Page 207 Afterword......Page 236 For more free ebooks and timely articles, visit http://www.plough.com.......Page 0