God as a real estate agent
Diehmen is one of the 21 districts of the municipality of Doberschau-Gaußig. This beautiful spot is located southwest of Bautzen, not far from the Czech border. Sorbs and Germans have lived together here in harmony since time immemorial.
Diehmen, with its small collection of farmsteads, could also be described as the end of the world. Packs of wolves howl in the neighboring forests at night. The drive to the nearest discounter takes a correspondingly long time, but the residents here are spared the noise of the city.
One of the pretty houses belongs to the family of Michael and Elisabeth Mörl. With the exception of their youngest daughter – a latecomer – their five children have long stood on their own two feet. Their home in the countryside played a role in the history of Diospi Suyana 18 years ago, which we would now like to take a closer look at.
It is 2007 and the Mörls are planning to leave for Peru on August 15th to work for Diospi Suyana for at least three years. They are part of the first wave of employees, the pioneer generation so to speak. Four children, each smaller than the next, complete the family. The big question is what they should do with their house during their long absence. Of course, they could try to rent out the property. But who wants to live on the edge of civilization, where foxes and rabbits say goodnight to each other?
Around three months before their departure, a certain Mr. Beutel enquires about the status of things. “Have you found a tenant?” he asks, hoping for a positive answer. The Mörls shake their heads. “No, and to be honest, we haven’t really done anything yet!” – Beutel is in no way satisfied with this. “You have to get active and put up posters. Nothing comes from nothing!”
A conversation now takes place in private. Michael asks his wife Elisabath what she thinks of a personal information campaign. After all, they could advertise in the press and on the Internet. And of course it would be possible to put up notices at the intersections (church, store and town hall). Elisabeth remains calm but firm: “No, we don’t need any of that. God knows we need a tenant!” This attitude can be commented on, criticized or complemented. In any case, it is true that his pretty wife actually believes that God can sort things out in the manner of a private estate agent. Somehow and in his own time, of course.
Six weeks before the big suitcase packing, a certain Mrs. Lehmann appears in the local butcher’s store. The Mörl butcher’s shop is owned by Michael’s brother. It is very popular because of its delicious products. And that’s why customers even come from Dresden and Bautzen. “Oh yes,” says the lady from the big city, “My husband and I would like to move to the countryside for a few years, right here. Can we put up posters in your store? We’re looking for a house to rent or buy!”
The butcher’s shop owner can’t believe his ears: “No, you don’t have to hang anything up, because your house is already waiting for you on the other side of the street. Michael Mörl and his wife Elisabeth will soon be leaving for South America. – And that’s exactly what happened.
In the last 25 years, only once has an interested party looked for a house in the small cow village of Diehmen. That was in July 2007, neither before nor since. When the Mörls left for the new world, everything was settled.
Perhaps we imagine God as a shepherd, a policeman or an old grandpa. This story shows that God also has a lot to offer as a broker. And if you ask me what I think of this incident, I would say the following. Firstly, Elisabeth’s trust in God impresses me enormously and secondly, I deeply regret that this anecdote is missing from my first book. /KDJ
