"Das Jahr steht auf der Höhe" (The year is at its height) is a Christian hymn in German with a text by Detlev Block written in 1978 to an older melody by Johann Steuerlein.
The hymn initially focuses on observing nature and then compares its transience to that of human life.
The text was written in 1978 by Detlev Block [de], born on 15 May 1934 in Hanover, who was a retired Protestant pastor and honorary professor, writer, poet and hymnwriter.
[1] The author described his motivation as the wish to write about consolation and encouragement facing the shadow of change and transience ("Welchen Trost, welche Ermutigung gibt es für uns, wenn der Schatten des Wechsels und der Vergänglichkeit auf uns fällt?
[1] "Das Jahr steht auf der Höhe" was included, slightly revised, in the 2013 German common Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 465,[1] in the section "Leben in der Welt - Schöpfung" (Life in the World - Creation).