I have been reading through Bonhoeffer’s “Letters and Papers from Prison” for some doctoral research. It’s 600+ pages of gem after gem. I underline at least three sentences per page. The more I read, I notice two consistent themes in Bonhoeffer’s imprisonment.
The first is his optimism. He is not cavalier about the difficulties of the optimist. In fact, he says to be a pessimist is “more sensible.” A pessimist leaves his disappointments behind and face people unembarrassed. On the other hand, optimism is not looking at the current situation, but it’s a power of life. For Bonhoeffer, this is the quality that allows him to tolerate setbacks. But most importantly, it’s an aggressive posture since it refuses to let the opponent lay claim of the future. Surely there is “stupid and naive optimism,” but the optimism Bonhoeffer asserts is the ability to desire a better future on earth while vigorously preparing for it.
The second is doing theology. Bonhoeffer sees times of uncertainty as ripe to think clearly about God and his world. He says that in such moments he has to “practice what he has told others in his books and sermons.” It’s the time when theology flows out of your fingertips; when theology becomes true theology in its pure embodied practice. After all, what good is a theology that cannot be lived out in isolation? It was in prison where the German theologian observed that one cannot live by meditation alone. For Bonhoeffer, isolation is tragic because it takes away one of God’s great gifts which is communicating with one another. Theology communes and is livable.
He concludes by noting an added gift of his quarantine; one which would sustain him until the day of his execution. He observes that in his separation and loneliness he suddenly began to give thanks for the small things. And that, for Bonhoeffer, was true optimism and good theology.
This is excellent. Hits home for me after losing my precious Buddy. This confirms many of the things I have learned and am learning.