HOW DOES THE WORD PEACE SOUND IN YOUR LANGUAGE?
Peace seems far away yet it is closer by then you think
The best way to practice a new language and get to know local customs, is to go to church around Christmas time. So that’s what I did. I read that the local church had a Christmas sing-along service. Even the deputy mayor of Helsinki was going to deliver a Christmas speech. All the more reason to go. When I arrived, the church was already packed. I found my way to the childrens’ corner where I spotted an empty place on the couch. The perfect place for me to have a comfortable half lie down and enjoy the next hour.
Accompanied by an accordionist soon the church was filled with voices singing wholeheartedly. With the song sheet in my hand I tried to sing along but there was something strange with the lyrics.
‘The song is in stadin slangi’ shouted the woman sitting next to me.
‘You mean a local dialect?’
‘Something like that. I don’t speak it. Many older people do.’
I sighted and whispered to myself:
‘You wanted a cultural experience, well here you have it!
When the people started singing the last verse, I finally recognized a few words: rauhan sanomaa meaning a message of peace. The moment we got to sing rauhan, the singing changed into an indescribably tender sound. It moved me to tears. Days later this specific moment haunted my thoughts. I did not understand why. Until we went to an Arab and later a Ukrainian supermarket to buy some special groceries for our Christmas baking. People from all continents of the world gathered to fill their shopping baskets, while chatting in their native languages. This sight touched me the same way as in that church. A teenager passed me. On her school backpack an old button was hanging with only one word in large black letters: PEACE.
How does peace sound in your language?
I wanted to ask her. I did not dare. Instead I started mumbling in all the languages I knew:
VREDE, BÉKE, FRIEDEN, FRED, PAZ, RAUHA.
In pronunciation I noticed all languages had one thing in common: the words sounded softer. When I got home I looked up a few languages I did not speak. To my surprise it is pronounced in the same soft tone. Like the Japanese: 平和 (Heiwa) or Greek: Ειρήνη (Eirini).
If this is the case I wondered, what can this mean to you and me who live in a peaceful surrounding while wars are going on in the world? Talking about peace or even singing Christmas songs with lyrics like ‘Peace on earth Goodwill to men’ the meaning of peace becomes hollow.
‘ Will I be able to sing these words genuinely from the heart?’ I wondered.
A photo reminded me about a conversation I had with a woman who fled with her family from Aleppo, Syria. Full of details she told how Aleppo was at its best around Christmas time. People from all religions were in anticipation. Despite the fact she was Arab they also bought a Christmas tree. Come Christmas eve the neighborhood gathered to rejoice with their Christian friends and neighbors. They ate, laughed and sang together on the street, wishing each other PEACE. They would come together the same way for Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the end of the Ramadan, wishing each other again PEACE.
I am fortunate that I never had to live through a war. I don’t know what it means to run to a shelter or seeing a beloved one get killed. Having grown up with parents who survived the war miraculously, I know too well what the physical and mental consequences are. What I have learnt from my upbringing is to stay on my ground. To always, always stay humble, non-judgmental and with an open heart to anyone who is standing in front of me. Like long time ago the shepherds and three kings did in a little stable. People from all walks of life, regardless of their background were welcomed, just to get a glimpse of a newly born baby boy.
So a few days before Christmas, I can only do the same like those shepherds and citizens from Aleppo did.
I cannot pretend having a peaceful Christmas and forget or ignore the fact that there are people trying to survive at the same time.
I will not turn my eyes away from any crying child, mother, father or grandparent.
I will always stand on the side of those who are in need, regardless of their background or religion. That is why I can only choose one side:
I share the dove #sharethedove
Will you share the message of peace this Christmas time with me?