The wind whistled through the snowy Arctic and made the flakes sparkle like tiny crystals in the light of the low sun. High up at the Hanging Monastery of Frostberg, where the air was clear and fresh, lived the patient gardener Oswald. With his colorful hats, which looked like little rainbows in the frosty surroundings, he was a popular face in the monastery. He looked after the few plants that thrived in the protective greenhouses and spoke to them as if they were old friends.
One morning, just as the sun was rising over the snow-capped peaks, a group of lively students approached the monastery. Led by the lively Finja, whose laughter echoed through the cold air, the group was beaming with excitement. “I can hardly wait to get to the theme park!” she shouted enthusiastically as she ran along the snow-covered path with her friends. Daniela and Gertrude followed behind her, their eyes sparkling with dreams of the adventures to come. Bernhard, the quiet boy, kept to the background and gazed curiously at the majestic backdrop of the monastery.
But as the pupils reached the monastery gate, the sky suddenly darkened. A sudden snowstorm blew in and the wind howled like a wild animal. The students’ cheerful mood quickly turned to apprehension. “What are we going to do now?” asked Daniela anxiously as she ducked against the icy wind.
Just at that moment, the heavy wooden door of the monastery opened and Oswald stepped out. His colorful hat swayed in the wind, but his smile was warm and welcoming. “Welcome, you young adventurers!” he called out in a voice that was penetrating despite the storm. “Come in before the snow gets to you!”
The students looked at each other and, without hesitation, rushed into the sheltering interior of the monastery. The contrast was overwhelming: inside it was warm and cozy, the air smelled of fresh bread and herbs. Oswald led them into a large room where a cozy fireplace was crackling and the flames were alive in a dancing game.
“Sit down, sit down!”, Oswald encouraged them. “There’s always a place for hungry stomachs and curious hearts here in the monastery.”
Finja, who had quickly regained her composure, looked up at Oswald. “We’re on a school trip to the theme park, but now we have to stay here. Do you think the storm will stop soon?”
Oswald shrugged his shoulders and smiled mysteriously. “Nature has its own plans, my dear. But perhaps I can teach you something about patience while you’re here. Sometimes the most precious experiences are the ones we didn’t plan for.”
The students looked at each other, curious and a little skeptical, but the coziness of the monastery and the gardener’s warm words put their worries to rest for the moment.
“That sounds exciting!” exclaimed Daniela enthusiastically.
“Yes, maybe the storm can bring something good,” added Gertrude and smiled.
Oswald nodded in agreement. “Let’s wait and see what else the day has in store for us.”
The students looked at each other, their faces full of curiosity and a mixture of uncertainty and anticipation. Finja, however, still carrying the excitement of the upcoming adventure in her heart, couldn’t sit still. “Couldn’t it be better if we just move on? The storm will surely be over soon!” she urged.
Oswald shook his head gently. “Sometimes it’s better to enjoy the peace and quiet that life gives us instead of rushing on. Believe me, there’s a lot to learn if you pause for a moment.”
Finja sighed, but her eyes sparkled with determination. “But I want to see the theme park! I’m sure it will be a lot of fun!”
Bernhard, who had been quietly following the debate, spoke up shyly. “Maybe there’s something exciting to discover here too. I’ve seen the library. There might be some interesting books there.”
“What could possibly be exciting about old books?” asked Finja with a hint of disbelief in her voice. “We should leave the monastery!”
Daniela and Gertrude looked at each other, then Daniela said: “I think Bernhard’s idea is a good one. Let’s at least have a look in the library. Maybe there are stories about the monks or nature there that can inspire us.”
Gertrude nodded eagerly. “Yes, and maybe we can ask Oswald if he can tell us about the plants in the garden! I’ve heard that some even bloom in the cold.”
Oswald smiled and his eyes sparkled. “You see, curiosity has already gotten to you. Nature has many secrets waiting to be discovered.”
Finja wrinkled her nose, but was distracted by her friends’ suggestions. “All right, I’ll go to the library with you. But if I don’t find something interesting quickly, I’ll set off on my own!”
Bernhard replied: “Come on, let’s just have a look inside. You never know what you might find.”
With a slight shiver of excitement, they entered the monastery’s library. The room was dark and mysterious, lit only by a few candles that cast flickering light on the old wooden shelves. The walls were adorned with heavy, leather-bound books whose titles and bindings promised stories of times long past.
While the others rummaged through the shelves, Bernhard discovered a particularly old book containing the teachings of the monks. Fascinated, he leafed through the pages, which were filled with delicate drawings of plants and inspirational quotes. “Look at this!” he exclaimed enthusiastically. “It says something about the patience you need in the garden to recognize the beauty of nature!”
“That sounds exciting!” exclaimed Daniela, stepping closer to take a look. “What else does it say?”
Meanwhile, Gertrude looked at the other books and discovered a work about the different types of plants that could grow in the area. “We should ask Oswald if he can tell us more about it. It would be a great addition to what we’ve already learned.”
“What do you think, can we ask him right now?” Daniela suggested and smiled.
“Yes, let’s do that!” replied Bernhard with a smile as he tucked the book under his arm.
“I’m in,” said Gertrude, following the two of them with a look of anticipation in her eyes.
The three students left the library and made their way to the garden, where Oswald was loosening the soil with a small spade. The storm outside continued to rage, but inside the monastery and in the sheltered garden, the atmosphere was peaceful. The air was fresh, and the scent of damp earth and the few plants that were flowering despite the cold was in the air.
“Oswald!” shouted Bernhard as they approached. “May I show you this book? It’s about the teachings of the monks!”
Oswald looked up and smiled. “Ah, the old monks and their wisdom! The best teachers are often those who are no longer with us.” He lowered the spade and stepped closer to examine the book. “Patience is a virtue that is of great importance in nature as well as in life. What have you learned about it?”
Bernhard enthusiastically explained what he had taken from the book and Oswald listened attentively. “That is a wise thought. Patience allows us to recognize the beauty that often remains hidden.”
Just as they were immersed in a deep conversation about the different plants and their way of life, Daniela came back to them with Gertrude. “We want to help you, Oswald! What can we do?”
Oswald nodded gratefully and led them to a small area where some little plants were pushing through the snow cover. “Here you can see the first harbingers of spring. They need some care to grow strong. Could you give them some water?”
“Of course!” shouted Gertrude and reached for a small watering can that was ready. As she carefully watered the plants, Daniela noticed how the sunlight broke through the clouds and made the snowflakes glisten in the air. “It’s so beautiful here! I wish we could spend more time in the garden.”
Finja, who had been standing quietly on the sidelines until then, couldn’t understand her friends’ enthusiasm. “Come on, we really should go! The storm can’t rage forever!”
“Finja, we’re here to learn something!” Daniela replied with a hint of frustration. “Can’t you stop for a moment and appreciate the beauty around us?”
“But I want to have fun, not dig in a garden!” protested Finja, turning away from the group. “You can stay here, but I’m leaving!”
The others looked at each other, worried about the rising tension. Bernhard tried to calm things down. “Finja, it’s just a bit of watering. It’s actually fun, and we can do it together. When the storm stops, we’ll still be at the amusement park in no time.”
“What if we miss it now?” said Finja, who was beginning to feel the impatience inside her.
“We’ve got time, Finja!” shouted Gertrude as she continued to lift the watering can. “We can go after the storm. Let’s just enjoy the moment.”
“You don’t understand!” shouted Finja as she turned away from the group. Her voice was loud and full of frustration. “I wanted a good time, not to be trapped here!”
Oswald stepped closer to calm the rising commotion. “Nature has its own rhythm, just like our lives. Sometimes it’s important to pause and enjoy the here and now, even if it’s different from what we imagined.”
The gardener’s words made the group pause for a moment, and a thoughtful silence fell over the garden while the storm raged on relentlessly outside.
The students’ thoughts swirled like snowflakes in the wind, and each of them had the feeling that something was in the air. Finja, who had only recently been struggling with impatience and frustration, had fallen silent. Slowly, she turned to look at Oswald, who was looking at her with an understanding smile. “Perhaps the storm is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity that we should take advantage of,” he said gently.
The days at the monastery passed, and with each new sunrise that broke through the dense clouds, the bond between the students and the gardener grew stronger. Bernhard enjoyed the conversations with Oswald about patience and the power of nature. He began to help regularly in the garden and became more and more practiced at the work. “Look how the plants can thrive here despite the winter,” Oswald once explained as he showed Bernhard how to gently expose the roots. “It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and care.”
Daniela and Gertrude were also amazed by the many secrets of the garden. They discovered the different plant species that bravely fought their way through the frosty soil and helped Oswald to care for them. In these moments of laughter and teamwork, they learned the lessons of the gardener in a way that left a lasting impression on their hearts.
Finja, who had been reluctant at first, found that the beauty of the garden fascinated her. She watched as her friends became more and more patient and empathetic. “Maybe it’s not so bad being here,” she murmured one morning as she sat in the garden with a cup of warm tea, watching the melting snow. The cold seemed less threatening and the warm colors of the plants lifted her spirits.
One day, when the storm finally subsided and the sun bathed the landscape in a golden light, the students decided to thank Oswald for his tireless patience and advice. “You’ve taught us so much,” Daniela said as they gathered around him. “We are really grateful to you.”
“It’s been a pleasure accompanying you,” Oswald replied, smiling. “The true treasures in life are often the ones we find in the smallest things. You discovered yourselves while you were here. That is the greatest gift.”
The group looked at each other and a sense of contentment flooded through them. The initial tensions had disappeared and they felt more connected than ever before. “Let’s explore the beauty of nature,” Gertrude suggested. “We could pick the flowers that bloom in the garden and bring them to the monastery.”
“Yes! That would be a great idea!” agreed Bernhard, and the others nodded enthusiastically.
“Let’s have a little party at the monastery!” added Finja, her eyes sparkling. “It’ll be a nice end to our time here.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Daniela said, and the group immediately began to set off. Not only had they appreciated the teachings of the monks and the wisdom of Oswald, but they had also found something much more valuable – friendship, patience and the joy of the little things in life.
The anticipation of what was to come was in the air, and they all knew that something crucial had changed. The storm had finally subsided and the sun was shining brightly over the Hanging Monastery of Frostberg. The white flakes slowly melted and the world shone in a glittering robe.
“I can hardly believe we have to leave soon,” Daniela said with a light sigh. “It feels like we’ve spent an eternity here.”
“But a lovely eternity,” Gertrude replied and smiled. “We’ve learned and experienced so much. I will never forget this time.”
“Yes, me too,” agreed Bernhard. “Oswald showed us how important it is to appreciate the little things in life. I feel like I’ve really learned something.”
Finja, who now seemed much more relaxed, added: “It wasn’t what I had imagined, but I’m glad we stayed here. Instead of going to the theme park, maybe we should go back and share our experiences. There’s so much we can tell our friends!”
“That’s a great idea!” exclaimed Gertrude enthusiastically. “We could prepare a little presentation and share all the things we’ve learned here!”
Oswald, who had been watching the group, stepped closer. “It’s nice to see how you’ve grown,” he said with a smile. “The lessons you have learned are precious. Never forget that patience and mindfulness are invaluable in life. They help us to recognize the beauty around us and to master life’s challenges.”
“Thank you, Oswald,” said Bernhard, remembering the gardener’s words. “We will try to integrate what we have learned here into our lives.”
“Yes! And we will never forget the importance of friendship and sharing love and joy,” added Daniela.
“I’ll miss you,” Oswald said with a hint of melancholy in his voice, “but I’m happy for you. Go out into the world and make a difference. The most valuable things are often hidden right before our eyes.”
The students nodded, and a feeling of gratitude came over them. They had learned so much about themselves and the world in this short time.
“We’re ready, Oswald,” Finja finally said. “It’s time to go.”
Together they packed their things, and a warm light enveloped them as they left the monastery. Outside, the sky was clear and the snow glistened in the sun. It felt like the world was welcoming them with open arms.
“Let’s set off!” shouted Bernhard, leading the group to freedom.
As they made their way back to the familiar world, they felt a new sense of hope. They not only had memories of a storm, but also of a time of growth and discovery.
“I can’t wait to tell all our friends about the monks and Oswald’s lessons!” exclaimed Daniela with enthusiasm.
“And that we will never forget patience and mindfulness!” added Gertrude.
The moment they took the first step into their new future, they knew they carried the most important lessons in their hearts. They were ready to conquer the world with an open mind and a heart filled with love.
