«"Only those who fall can rise again," says a proverb. An example that conveys both tenderness and courage is that of children in the early stages of their development. What willpower they demonstrate in those first tentative steps, rising each time with determination, until they gain confidence and begin with increasingly sure movements… the path of life!
As we grow older, amidst challenges and difficulties, getting back up becomes increasingly hard. Life's trials weigh heavily on us, and the fear of losing our sense of security (in encounters with those who are different or don't think like us) holds us back. Willpower alone isn't always enough, nor is even the sincere desire to be consistent with our values and choices. In these difficult moments, having a helping hand can give us the impetus to start over without fear and, deep within our consciousness, to create an authentic silence capable of rebuilding ourselves from within.
Chiara Lubich says: «Who doesn’t go through trials? These take the form of failure, poverty, depression, doubt, temptation […]. The materialistic and individualistic society that surrounds us, with its wars, violence, and injustices, is also frightening.» Chiara showed this with her own life: it is precisely in those moments of darkness and weariness that it is most important to find the strength to “begin again,” first and foremost within ourselves, with the confidence that “you can still hope for everything.”[1].
This is what happened to Emilia from the Holy Land. She works as the director of a government sector alongside Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze. After October 7, 2023, she understood that love was the only possible response to such profound suffering and committed herself to loving everyone around her, above all through listening, so that she could welcome others into her heart. Listening with love and humility, and understanding what the other person has to say, whether Arab or Jewish. In this way, she and many of her colleagues have become so open with one another that they can speak freely about the situation, and this has given courage to other colleagues to express their fears and pain, keeping the group united and maintaining peace.[2].
There are countless stories of wounded communities that refuse to surrender, that find, day after day, through the reciprocity of sharing everything, the strength to believe that hatred cannot have the final say. Even if we are not the ones who see the fruits of our commitment, each time we rise we will contribute to shaping “new men,” because—as Bonhoeffer said from prison shortly before his death—"For those who are responsible, the ultimate question is not how I heroically manage to get through this, but: what will life be like for the next generation?".
[1] “Restart” Gen Rosso
[2] Experience explained at the One Human Family interfaith congress in June 2024 in Castelgandolfo, Italy
