Post by steffenkd

Ah small quote from the book which is a discussion from a presentation:

When Burkhard Heim is 40 years old, writers and students visit him in Göttingen
and, among other things, ask him how he thinks about his fate. Surprisingly, Heim
appears to be quite content with his situation:
“I have the impression that whatever happens is a priori right the way it is, and that I
should not interfere with the plan that is behind everything. I take the view that whatever I am faced with is right and is the optimum in light of the given circumstances
anyway. Some things might seem bad to me, whereas in reality they are not, because
everything is right the way it is. I say to myself: I have a certain mission, no doubt.
Because my existence as a human being must make sense. So it is my job to fulfill a
certain purpose. That is the sense of my whole life in general. That purpose is to be
fulfilled. That is essential. Whatever I need for fulfilling that purpose I will be provided with anyway. After all, if I didn't get what I need for fulfilling my purpose, it
would be senseless to exist at all.”

Mr. Klockmann from Hamburg says this sounded rather fatalistic. But Heim disagrees:
“No! I don't think so at all. You see, I absolutely affirm the awareness that I have a
purpose. The important thing for me is to learn what that purpose is. And that is what
I have to work towards.
Of course, absolutely nothing drops into one's lap. I always have to try to find out
with excitement and energy how I can achieve the fulfilling of that purpose in a better
way. That doesn't come to me by itself. I can't just put my feet up and say ‘Ah, things
will work out all right.’ That’s not possible, that’s clear!
If I did that, and I was absolutely fatalistic, I would fundamentally thwart that fulfilling of my purpose. But I will do everything in my power to fulfill it.
I have already undergone 25 surgeries, and I will do it again. That is always very
hard, especially if you don't feel any pain, but you know what is lying ahead of you.
In those situations, you really have to kick your butt before you actually go into the
hospital. But I am positive that all that is right. The result of all those endeavors will
definitely be the way that I can fulfill my actual purpose. Whatever is needed will be
provided anyway... When I look back on my life, I must say that everything has made
sense. Everything came at the right time.”