In nature’s glorious temple

On Monday – while visiting my parents in Peiting – I realised once again how beautiful the area is in which I grew up. I felt that very vigorously on the Kalvarienberg (calvary hill).

If you walk up Bergstraße (mountain road) until its end you find yourself under a few big trees. If you then look to the right towards the hill you can see a cross and a little bench.

I walk up the hill and go across the spacious meadow towards the cross. A spectacular view of the Alps and the white and blue sky opens up in front of me.

So close to heaven (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
So close to heaven (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
Lookout (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
Lookout (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)

I sit myself down on the bench and enjoy the view. How beautiful it is here! The wind blows. The clouds move swiftly along the sky and make the sunlight dance over the meadows and forests. The colours are constantly changing. In the distance, I can hear the ringing of cowbells and the neighing of horses.

I breathe in the fresh air and soak up the atmosphere. This is my home. This is where I grew up. I look to the west and see the river Lech and the Bootshaus (boat house) between the trees. During my schooldays, we celebrated there a lot and experienced even more. I really enjoy looking back at this very happy time of my life.

View to the west (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
View to the west (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)

I look to the south again. And I feel connected. Connected to nature. I feel to be a part of something bigger like never before.

View to the south (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
View to the south (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)

The fact that other people feel something special in this place too is proven by the existence of the bench on which I’m sitting and the cross behind me. I ask myself how many people were sitting here before me and what they were thinking.

At the cross (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)
At the cross (photo: Tim Kalbitzer)

At the cross, there is a little sign. On it is the following adage:

In nature’s glorious temple we

May recognise the Almighty’s hand.

But those who God would nearer see

Before His holy Cross should stand.

You can truly see something glorious here. Something heavenly. In Bavaria, you very often feel very close to the sky. And locations like these are willingly decorated with a reference to God.

And so I’m sitting here happily with my thoughts wandering around like the sunshine over the landscape. I think about what was, what is and what will be. And while doing so I feel that I love this place a lot.

Note: I found the English translation for the German adage above in the book The Brenner Pass.

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