Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind
Moreover, the “imperative of divine love” (Kutter’s term) should motivate the
believers:
Just as God seeks the hearts of men through Christ, so our saving love must aim at
understanding all people, sharing in their feelings and their struggles. To real love
belongs the thorough exploration of people’s difficulties, questions, and hindrances
in order to overcome them. If we want to save people, we must show a sincere and
unequivocal concern for their inner struggles and convictions.
In Eberhard’s eyes the kingdom of God “has not yet been esablished on earth,
but through Jesus it lives in the hearts of the faithful as justice, peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit.” They take part “in sowing seed for the kingdom just because
they know that the full growth of the mustard seed can be expected only through
his – meaning Christ’s – coming.” Even many years later, a slightly changed edition
of Living Churches once more found a response in many hearts. 13
hEinriCh
By the time Living Churches had been printed and distributed, the Arnolds had
vacated the drafty Pichler cottage for the winter and had moved into the nearby
Maria-Schnee house. A chapel of the same name adjoined it. In this house Johann
Heinrich was born on the evening of December 23, 1913. “My little Alpen boy,
my little Tyrolean boy!” was Eberhard’s greeting to the new arrival. Heinrich
seemed well equipped for life’s struggles – a strong, happy infant. At three weeks
old, however, he had a bad bout of pneumonia. He survived the illness, thanks to
Else’s devoted care. This had its influence on both of them, and an unusually close
relationship developed between aunt and nephew, a relationship all the other
family members resected.
In the spring of 1914 the Arnold family moved back into the Pichler cottage.
Meanwhile Emmy and Else had decided that it was impracical for each of them
to try to do everything. In the future, Emmy would concentrate her strength on
looking after the children and guests. Else was to be available to help Eberhard in
his publishing work. It hardly occurred to either of them that, as a result of purely
pracical considerations, they had formed a highly effective team – an arrangement
that would last for nineteen years. Until her death in 1932, Else von Hollander
continued to be Eberhard’s secretary and his right hand in all publishing matters.
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