Christmas and New Year's Eve in Balderschwang

Dear Friends of HUBERTUS,

The time between Christmas and New Year's is always special: The old year is drawing to a close, and the new one is on the horizon. Many of us now reflect on the past in order to set a new course for the future.

If one follows the year-in-review reports in the German media, the “refugee crisis” is the dominant topic of 2015, followed by ISIS terrorism and a lingering fear of crisis. Added to this are man-made environmental disasters such as smog in China, toxic mudslides in Brazil, and oil spills off the coast of California. Faced with such challenges, as an individual, one is tempted to bury one’s head in the sand: the task seems too great, too overwhelming—while our resources and our ability to act seem too small, even ineffective.

In contrast, we all have many personal experiences that made 2015 a meaningful year: For one person, it was a career advancement that filled them with pride. Another took some time off to go on a long-awaited trip. And still others found happiness in helping others.

So we look back on the past few months with mixed feelings. We ask ourselves: Did I, in my own way, help make our community a success?

Have I worked to treat my environment—nature and my fellow human beings—with respect? Whenever we reflect on the past, we also examine our own resources: What have I accomplished? Where could I have done more? To what extent have I even overexerted myself? And: How do I ensure that my resources—mental, emotional, physical, and material—are nourished? How do I replenish my energy reserves so that I can continue to be a source of support for myself and those around me?

The answers, dear readers, lie within each of us. So today, as we stand on the threshold of 2016, I would like to encourage you to seek out these answers. In doing so, you will gain valuable insights for a successful, healthy, and peaceful new year—in harmony with your individual strengths.

Yours, Karl