Connecting without speaking each other's language
On travelling, a state funeral and hot soup
I was dozing off waiting to board the plane that would take me back to Helsinki. With closed eyes I listened to the cacophony of sounds. A group of young girls were chatting excitedly. Behind me I heard the familiar sound of someone speaking in Finnish. I did not understand any of these people. Yet at that moment I felt connected with them. It gave me a feeling that I am part of this beautiful ‘world family’.
Like many I also felt that the events in the world makes me feeling sad and powerless. At the same time it made my personal conviction stronger, namely to stop making long term plans. It is enough to do what life brings by day by day. That was exactly that led me to overcame my fear of flying again.
Two days after my arrival I had my first medical appointments. It was pretty exhausting. As I was making my way home I cried. Besides the frustration on having to focus again on my physical recovery, I felt a bit unease. I needed to connect. A few weeks ago I wrote reflections on what it meant for me to turn 50.
Eating soup was on top of the list!
When I got home I learnt that the local parish announced a soup eating event later that day and everyone was welcome to come!
And so I acted on my own advice and at the twilight of the day I made my way to the church. I was early and at the entrance two women were already waiting. In plain Finnish I managed to ask if this was the right place to get a bowl of ‘keitto’. It was. As we made our way inside one of the women started telling me about her long, exhausted day.
I listened.
Within a timeframe of 15 minutes she told me about her life, work and what made her come today for the first time. She needed a bit of time to take care of herself before going home. I replied that eating soup was the best remedy to do so!
Walking home through the park I felt grateful. It was not only that I connect specially today through a bowl of soup. I felt privileged that this strange woman shared her life. Finnish people usually do not open up so quickly to people they do not know. After that day I was even more convinced that there is no such thing as coincidence.
Every person that comes along the path of your life is there for a reason. Some stay for a longer time and some don’t. And so there is always space for new people to enter into the next chapter of your life. Cause you never know how much time is given to you in this life. Today it was this woman for me.
I was made very aware of this notion when on friday the 10th of november I witnessed how a nation payed their last respect to peace maker Martti Ahtisaari. It rained incessantly. Yet people of all ages stood there waiting in silence. Two dogs barked to each other while young soldiers drenched in rain stood in line, waiting for the hearse and the mourners to pass by. Martti Ahtisaari did not need to explain peace through language. He connected through radiating peace.
The world gathered
today
To be reminded again
that
"Peace is a question of will"