Das eine neue Version des „Zeltmachens“. „Zeltmacher“ haben heute ja auch nur den seltensten Fällen etwas mit Zelten zu tun. Es stammt eigentlich aus Apg 18,3, wo über Paulus gesagt wird: „Und weil er (Paulus) das gleiche Handwerk hatte, blieb er bei ihnen und arbeitete mit ihnen; sie waren nämlich von Beruf Zeltmacher.“ An verschiedenen anderen Stellen weist Paulus immer wieder darauf hin, dass er zumindest einen Teil seines Bedarfs durch eigene Arbeit gedeckt hat. Aber mittlerweile denke ich, dass es hier nicht nur um die Deckung eines finanziellen Bedarfs geht. Es geht um viel mehr. Es geht zum Beispiel um Menschen, um Beziehungen. Man arbeitet zusammen an gleichen Aufgaben oder Projekten, das verbindet. In meinem Fall, wo alle wissen, was ich eigentlich hier in Schweden mache, ist es relativ einfach, immer wieder auch über tiefere oder geistliche Themen zu sprechen. Während man etwas zusammenschraubt oder zwischen Tür und Angel, wo in der Regel sowieso die besten Gespräche zustande kommen. Da wird nicht gepredigt, nicht bekehrt, sich nur unterhalten. Ganz natürlich. Gestern zum Beispiel. Gestern Abend war aus bestimmtem Anlass ein Geschäftsessen mit allen Mitarbeitern angesagt. Man sitzt dabei, redet, lacht, lernt andere besser kennen, und die lernen mich besser kennen. Ich konnte eine lustige aber auch nachdenkliche Geschichte erzählen von einer Begebenheit in einem Gottesdienst, in dem ich hier einmal beteiligt war. Es muss nicht jedes Wort den gleichen Tiefgang haben. Auf die Zeit kommt es an, die man verbringt. Auf das Dabeisein kommt es an. Auf das natürliche Ausleben Deines Glaubens kommt es an. Wie gesagt: „Er blieb bei ihnen und arbeitete mit ihnen.“
“Medicine technology making” is probably one of the latest versions of “tent making”. Only very few tent makers actually deal with tents. It comes from Acts 18:3 which tells “because Paul was a tent maker as they were, he stayed and worked with them”. At a number of other occasion Paul reminds his readers that he covered at least a part of his needs by own work. Speaking for myself, I get increasingly convinced that tent making is not only about earning money. Since I started a little vocational activity as biomedical engineer, paid by the hour, I discover it is so much more. It’s about other fellows, for instance. It’s about relationships. One works together with others at the same task or project. That connects. In my case everyone knows what I “actually” do here in Sweden ("he is something like a priest or something"), so it is kind of easy for them to come and ask a question or enter a deeper conversation. It happens as you assemble something or as you call it a day for saying good bye. These are no sermons, no efforts to convert somebody. These are just natural conversations. Non-intimidating. For example, last night we had for a certain reason a business dinner with all employees. You sit in the midst of it, you talk laugh, connect with you Swedish colleagues, get acquainted with each other. I told a funny yet thoughtful story about what happened at a worship gathering I was involved in here in Sweden some months ago. Not each word is meant to have 50 feet of depth. Time is more important, time to spend together. As Acts says: “He stayed and worked with them.”
* * *
“Medicine technology making” is probably one of the latest versions of “tent making”. Only very few tent makers actually deal with tents. It comes from Acts 18:3 which tells “because Paul was a tent maker as they were, he stayed and worked with them”. At a number of other occasion Paul reminds his readers that he covered at least a part of his needs by own work. Speaking for myself, I get increasingly convinced that tent making is not only about earning money. Since I started a little vocational activity as biomedical engineer, paid by the hour, I discover it is so much more. It’s about other fellows, for instance. It’s about relationships. One works together with others at the same task or project. That connects. In my case everyone knows what I “actually” do here in Sweden ("he is something like a priest or something"), so it is kind of easy for them to come and ask a question or enter a deeper conversation. It happens as you assemble something or as you call it a day for saying good bye. These are no sermons, no efforts to convert somebody. These are just natural conversations. Non-intimidating. For example, last night we had for a certain reason a business dinner with all employees. You sit in the midst of it, you talk laugh, connect with you Swedish colleagues, get acquainted with each other. I told a funny yet thoughtful story about what happened at a worship gathering I was involved in here in Sweden some months ago. Not each word is meant to have 50 feet of depth. Time is more important, time to spend together. As Acts says: “He stayed and worked with them.”
Kommentare