Stand date: 13. April 2021.
–
It grabbed me again. It doesn’t do that regularly. But it does happen a few times a year. Then I am so fascinated by a book that I can hardly put it aside. Last year I got the big book as a gift. Almost 1000 pages. That was a reason to let the book dust off first. I’m not an outright bookworm. Last week I opened it for the first time: “A Promised Land” by Barack Obama. And it hasn’t let go of me since then.
I am looking for some time every day to be able to open it again. The life story of the world-famous man becomes more familiar to me from side to side. And the longer I read, the more likeable he becomes to me. Even if I cannot do anything with some living people, about whom he reports – always with respect, by the way – I am still fascinated by Obama’s writing style. Sensitive, differentiated and modest, he formulates what he has to say. And he has a lot to say when it comes to the welfare of many people, justice and equality. I also find it remarkable that he does not write down problems in his family, at work and even his own character weaknesses nicely. I enjoy reading this honest book every time I read it. The title of the book, “A Promised Land”, of course, also reminds me of the world’s best-selling book: The Bible.
The “promised land” appears in many places in the Bible. The Bible tells of the journey of the people of Israel to this land. And about life, successes and failures in the “promised land”. The Bible is also a very honest book for me. It not only contains success stories, but also reports about difficult experiences, misery and suffering. The Bible has several dozen authors and is therefore not so literary from a single source. The thick Bible booklet is always ready for me to read. Reading the Bible for hours, however, is rather the exception. When I open the book of the Bible, I regularly come across statements about God, who has a deep longing for righteousness. God’s idea of the “promised land” is that people live righteously and in peace with one another.
The life story of the former president makes it clear to me that this requires a declared will, personal commitment, courage and energy.
Or the concise words that the co-author of the Bible, the evangelist Matthew, passed on from the mouth of Jesus: “First seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. God will then provide you with everything you need.”
– .
