But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. Psalm 10:14-15
My day starts early in order to be one of the first to arrive. A steep ride in a bus with special brakes takes me to the top of this vertical ascent. Walking through a large tunnel adds to the suspense. I step inside the large Art Deco-styled elevator with its shiny brass walls and mirrored ceiling. On the descent downward, my thoughts envision the original owner riding this same elevator. It is not a pleasant thought. The lurch, signifying the elevator has arrived at its destination, jolts me out of my disturbing ruminations. I shift my musings to more positive thoughts.
Exiting the grand elevator, I follow the crowd out and around to the outside of the building. The view is unbelievable with mammoth mountain ranges and mysterious lakes covered in fog, all under a canopy of a brilliant blue sky. This breathtaking beauty belies the evil that was once concocted here.
Perched atop the rocky peak of Kehlstein Mountain in a tiny corner of Bavaria in southeastern Germany, almost totally surrounded by Austria and only about 30 minutes from Salzburg, sits the Eagle’s Nest. Called Kehlsteinhaus in German, Eagle’s Nest is the mountain-top home that was given to Adolf Hitler by the government in 1939 for his 50th birthday. Today, the house is now a restaurant surrounded by a national park with commanding views of nearby mountains. Down below lies the lovely town of Berchtesgaden and its colorful buildings adorned with frescoed walls, ancient churches, and flowing fountains.
As I walk the paths around Eagle’s Nest with my camera at the ready, I admire the incredible views, but I shudder as I think about the evil plans hatched here on this beautiful spot as well in the neighboring valley where one of the Nazi headquarters operated. The violence perpetrated from the execution of those plans impacted tens of millions of people, sending countless to death camps and terrorizing and abusing scores more. Yet no sign exists here that even mentions Hitler. While the information center in Berchtesgaden does contain exhibits on this horrific history, I wonder if there is a desire here in this gorgeous place to forget the nefarious past and its horrors, perhaps to deny that evil reigned here. On the outside, everything looks normal and beautiful.
Violence and abuse are not limited to history. Even today, during this pandemic, there is a silent epidemic of domestic abuse. It may not make headlines like masks, testing, and contact tracing. But calls to abuse hotlines are up significantly over normal levels and it’s happening all around the world. Sheltering-in-place takes on a whole different meaning to someone who is a victim of abuse and is now in lockdown mode 24/7 with their abuser. For example, calls to domestic abuse hotlines in Los Angeles are more than double the usual number. Other US cities are seeing similar spikes in call volumes. In the UK, calls are up 66% and website traffic has increased almost 1,000% on domestic abuse help websites. In both the UK and France, local authorities are providing alternative ways for victims to contact the police. If you or someone you know is a victim of either domestic abuse or violence, there are resources that can help (see below).
What do we do as a society in the face of domestic violence and abuse? Do we try to ignore it on the grounds that it isn’t happening to us or to anyone we know? Or is it? Perhaps everything on the outside looks normal, but there are far too many homes that hide the evil within. Statistics alone tell us that at least 25% of all marriages are abusive. And abuse does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone.
What can we do? We can pray. We can cry out on behalf of those trapped in abuse. Psalm 31:22b says, “Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” Sending up prayers to the Almighty God to protect those who are trapped in abuse is something we all can do. Also, giving our resources to local battered women’s shelters can help provide safe haven for many women and their children as they escape their abusers. Supporting domestic abuse hotlines helps increase their capacity to reach those in need.
As our key verse says, God sees those in need and sees the crimes committed against them. He will help those who are oppressed and will hold perpetrators accountable. If you are a victim of abuse now or were in the past, know that God sees you. He knows your pain. Turn to Him and He will heal you (Psalm 30:2*). He is powerful to rescue you, too, if you are currently in an abusive relationship. Nothing is impossible with God and He is always on the side of the oppressed (Psalm 103:6**).
Just as the evil plans devised at Eagle’s Nest do not define the place today, neither does our past define us. We can stand with God on the beautiful mountain top and know that nothing is so awful that God’s healing power can’t overcome. We are created in God’s image. His love, as seen on the Cross in His Son Jesus, defines who we are and whose we are. We are bought with a price. We are His.
Lord God Almighty, You are in control even when it seems evil will win. Rescue those trapped in abusive situations. Come to their aid, Lord, and provide protection and healing. Help me to be sensitive to those around me who may be victims of abuse. Use me to help unlock their chains to set them free. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Psalm 30:2 - LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
**Psalm 103:6 - The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
NOTE: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse and/or violence, here are some US resources:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available around the clock and in more than 200 languages: call 1-800-799-SAFE or chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522. Their website is https://www.thehotline.org/.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) - https://www.ncadv.org/ (Note that NCADV has a “safe exit” button on their website so browsing history to this site cannot be tracked.)
Helping Survivors is a resource center that assists victims of sexual assault or abuse. Their helpful guide to domestic violence and sexual abuse contains information to identify abuse and to help victims. It can be found here: https://helpingsurvivors.org/domestic-violence-and-sexual-abuse/
For immediate dangers, call 911.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2020 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photos of the view from Eagle’s Nest, the present-day restaurant that was Eagle’s Nest, and the town of Berchtesgaden, Germany.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
My day starts early in order to be one of the first to arrive. A steep ride in a bus with special brakes takes me to the top of this vertical ascent. Walking through a large tunnel adds to the suspense. I step inside the large Art Deco-styled elevator with its shiny brass walls and mirrored ceiling. On the descent downward, my thoughts envision the original owner riding this same elevator. It is not a pleasant thought. The lurch, signifying the elevator has arrived at its destination, jolts me out of my disturbing ruminations. I shift my musings to more positive thoughts.
Exiting the grand elevator, I follow the crowd out and around to the outside of the building. The view is unbelievable with mammoth mountain ranges and mysterious lakes covered in fog, all under a canopy of a brilliant blue sky. This breathtaking beauty belies the evil that was once concocted here.
Perched atop the rocky peak of Kehlstein Mountain in a tiny corner of Bavaria in southeastern Germany, almost totally surrounded by Austria and only about 30 minutes from Salzburg, sits the Eagle’s Nest. Called Kehlsteinhaus in German, Eagle’s Nest is the mountain-top home that was given to Adolf Hitler by the government in 1939 for his 50th birthday. Today, the house is now a restaurant surrounded by a national park with commanding views of nearby mountains. Down below lies the lovely town of Berchtesgaden and its colorful buildings adorned with frescoed walls, ancient churches, and flowing fountains.
As I walk the paths around Eagle’s Nest with my camera at the ready, I admire the incredible views, but I shudder as I think about the evil plans hatched here on this beautiful spot as well in the neighboring valley where one of the Nazi headquarters operated. The violence perpetrated from the execution of those plans impacted tens of millions of people, sending countless to death camps and terrorizing and abusing scores more. Yet no sign exists here that even mentions Hitler. While the information center in Berchtesgaden does contain exhibits on this horrific history, I wonder if there is a desire here in this gorgeous place to forget the nefarious past and its horrors, perhaps to deny that evil reigned here. On the outside, everything looks normal and beautiful.
Violence and abuse are not limited to history. Even today, during this pandemic, there is a silent epidemic of domestic abuse. It may not make headlines like masks, testing, and contact tracing. But calls to abuse hotlines are up significantly over normal levels and it’s happening all around the world. Sheltering-in-place takes on a whole different meaning to someone who is a victim of abuse and is now in lockdown mode 24/7 with their abuser. For example, calls to domestic abuse hotlines in Los Angeles are more than double the usual number. Other US cities are seeing similar spikes in call volumes. In the UK, calls are up 66% and website traffic has increased almost 1,000% on domestic abuse help websites. In both the UK and France, local authorities are providing alternative ways for victims to contact the police. If you or someone you know is a victim of either domestic abuse or violence, there are resources that can help (see below).
What do we do as a society in the face of domestic violence and abuse? Do we try to ignore it on the grounds that it isn’t happening to us or to anyone we know? Or is it? Perhaps everything on the outside looks normal, but there are far too many homes that hide the evil within. Statistics alone tell us that at least 25% of all marriages are abusive. And abuse does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone.
What can we do? We can pray. We can cry out on behalf of those trapped in abuse. Psalm 31:22b says, “Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” Sending up prayers to the Almighty God to protect those who are trapped in abuse is something we all can do. Also, giving our resources to local battered women’s shelters can help provide safe haven for many women and their children as they escape their abusers. Supporting domestic abuse hotlines helps increase their capacity to reach those in need.
As our key verse says, God sees those in need and sees the crimes committed against them. He will help those who are oppressed and will hold perpetrators accountable. If you are a victim of abuse now or were in the past, know that God sees you. He knows your pain. Turn to Him and He will heal you (Psalm 30:2*). He is powerful to rescue you, too, if you are currently in an abusive relationship. Nothing is impossible with God and He is always on the side of the oppressed (Psalm 103:6**).
Just as the evil plans devised at Eagle’s Nest do not define the place today, neither does our past define us. We can stand with God on the beautiful mountain top and know that nothing is so awful that God’s healing power can’t overcome. We are created in God’s image. His love, as seen on the Cross in His Son Jesus, defines who we are and whose we are. We are bought with a price. We are His.
Lord God Almighty, You are in control even when it seems evil will win. Rescue those trapped in abusive situations. Come to their aid, Lord, and provide protection and healing. Help me to be sensitive to those around me who may be victims of abuse. Use me to help unlock their chains to set them free. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
*Psalm 30:2 - LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
**Psalm 103:6 - The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
NOTE: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse and/or violence, here are some US resources:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available around the clock and in more than 200 languages: call 1-800-799-SAFE or chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522. Their website is https://www.thehotline.org/.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) - https://www.ncadv.org/ (Note that NCADV has a “safe exit” button on their website so browsing history to this site cannot be tracked.)
Helping Survivors is a resource center that assists victims of sexual assault or abuse. Their helpful guide to domestic violence and sexual abuse contains information to identify abuse and to help victims. It can be found here: https://helpingsurvivors.org/domestic-violence-and-sexual-abuse/
For immediate dangers, call 911.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2020 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photos of the view from Eagle’s Nest, the present-day restaurant that was Eagle’s Nest, and the town of Berchtesgaden, Germany.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Eagle's Nest atop Kehlstein Mountain, Germany:
Berchtesgaden, Germany:
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