An Ode to the Bode

This is how Bodenseehof looked when I went there in 2008. It looks very different today.

On the beautiful German shores of the Bodensee (or Lake Konstanz), lies a quaint town called Fischbach. Thousands of tourists come to this part of the country every year, whether to be on the lake, tour wine country, or cross the Bodensee to hike the Swiss Alps. Every September, a group of about 100 students come to Fischbach to attend a short-term Bible School called Bodenseehof.

These students come from a variety of different countries, cultures, and faith traditions. They come to be formed by scripture in a community of adventure and service. It was 12 years ago (2008) that I left Toronto to attend the Bode, not knowing that it would change my life forever. 

Were it not for COVID-19, the halls of the Bode would be full once again with the noise of people getting to know each other in their new short-term home. Unfortunately, they’ve had to postpone the start of this school year. My heart breaks not only for the school, but for all those whose hopes for a life-changing experience have been put on hold. 

During this pandemic, Jess and I had the great joy of reconnecting with some of our friends from the Bode. In the process, I found old pictures, watched slightly embarrassing videos, and reminisced about our time there. I continue to be thankful for the Bode and its influence on me. It has had a significant hand in shaping me into the person I am today. 

I’m not a great poet, so I know this isn’t a real ode, but I wanted to share some of the things that I remember most about the Bode.

1) At the Bode, I encountered the indwelling Christ
I remember one of the first lectures we had. As if to start off with a bang, our principal, Peter Reid, told us that the Christian life isn’t hard - it’s impossible. We were never meant to “do” Christianity. We can’t, and God doesn’t expect us to. Instead, God’s revelation is a personal invitation to live into the mystery of God - that mystery is the indwelling life of Jesus.

Religion has often been about what we can do in order to reach the divine. It was the most revolutionary move in our history when God decided to come and make God’s dwelling on earth. God became one of us in Jesus, the word-made-flesh, and walked and talked with everyday, ordinary people. Through Jesus we were all invited to live into God’s kingdom.

It was equally as revolutionary when that same God decided to make God’s dwelling place inside every human who opened their lives to God. That’s the life-changing reality for every believer. Jesus lives inside of us in order to help us live the life that we can’t live on our own.

Being in a Christian bubble can really make you feel close to God, and I felt so close to God at the Bode. It was there that I also started most of my spiritual disciplines. But even when the Bode bubble popped and I went back to the “real” world, the truth of God’s presence has never left me and I long for others to learn about God’s revolutionary news too.

2) At the Bode, I became a tool
Calling someone a tool doesn’t makes friends, but while at the Bode, I felt the desire to be used by God more deeply. I always wanted to serve God and I was so thankful to be given those opportunities at the Bode. We were sometimes put into awkward positions, and it was there that I learned to rely on God because there was no other choice.

I remember our outreach trips with our sing and drama teams where we travelled to local German communities to run camps and worship nights. I remember doing children’s programming at the Bode. I also treasure the unexpected theological conversations with random people in bars and swimming pools who heard us speaking English and wanted to know why we were in Germany.

After the Bible School, I was privileged to stay on for the Spring Sing Team, where we hosted hundreds of youth at the school. It was an amazing time of being able to test our gifts and serve a wide variety of groups. A door opened from there to be able to serve in a local German church where we had the chance to build life-long relationships. I’m thankful for all of those experiences which helped me prepare for the ministry I’m involved in today.

3) At the Bode, I grew in ways I didn’t expect
At 18, I thought I had all the answers. I grew up in a Christian home and went to a Baptist church. I knew I wanted to learn more but I didn’t think there was a whole lot for me to improve on. At the Bode, my faith started to grow in ways that it hadn’t before when I was exposed to different views and interpretations. Away from the comfort of my family and home church, I encountered fellow students from a variety of faith traditions. I started to realize that some of the assumptions and stereotypes I had weren’t true. 

Being at the Bode started me on a journey of hearing other voices. It’s because of that exposure (and meeting Jess) that I ended up in the Mennonite Church - something I would have never imagined while still in high school. This journey hasn’t stopped since leaving the Bode either. I’m very different from the person who left the school in 2009. I’ve moved in my opinions and positions, theologically and otherwise. There are things about the Bode that I disagree with today.

I’m 30 now, and when I look back at my 18 year old self, I can’t believe how full of myself I was. I still fall into the trap of thinking I know it all, but seeing how much I’ve changed, I’m more likely to remember to be humble when encountering people who are different from me. Looking back now, I wish I was more open and aware, but learning from our younger selves is part of the growing process too.

I know the Bode isn’t perfect, but I remain thankful for the time I had there and the memories I have to look back on. During this COVID time, I hope that God will open new doors for the staff and volunteers who call it home. And I pray that God would continue to work through the school and those who pass through it to spread hope and transform lives.