I was looking over some pictures once again today. A photo of a large hill with a huge building at the top.

I was reminded of some of my childhood spent in Germany in 1960/62 at the height of the cold war. We were based at RAF Scharfoldendorf (sch is pronounced sh) just 20kms from Hameln, where the pied piper was still being reenacted in a weekly show in the street.

It was on the hill that I learnt about the fun of sledging in the winter. It was on this hill that I viewed the gliders peacefully flying overhead.

Then the building. The Station Head Quarters.

A room was set aside in the Station Head quarters for the chaplain to use for sunday services. We attended as a family each week and joined the fellowship and heard more of the God of love.

Fun peace and love is encompassed in the picture. Or is it?

Others will look at this picture and be reminded that Reichsmarschall Hermann Göering, head of the Luftwaffe saw this building as home. For them the building will be a reminder of the pain that resulted from dcisions made high up.

Following the 1st World War Germany was not allowed to build its military. However, Hitler had a number of ingenious ideas to get around that. Gliding clubs ere used to secretly train its pilots. Publicly a peaceful hobby. Privately an instrument of warfare.

War or peace? What does the picture say?

For those who wish to read more of my writings, the details of my book can be seen in the link to the left. See the cover design below.