“First They Came” – Pastor Martin Niemӧller.

“First, they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me”

Scary times! For the past three years, I have watched an older gentleman pass by my house on his daily walk. Strapped to his shoulder is the flag of Ukraine. I was aware of what was going on with the Ukraine invasion and supported my government’s alignment with them, but his simple flag made that war come so much closer to my home.

For three years, I had watched him and said hello when we met on the street, but it was not much more of a conversation as he did not speak English, nor did I Ukrainian. I admire people who can speak more than one language, potentially multiplying their social circle by 100%. Being born English, I have been lazy with the expectation that people would always be willing to speak my language. A little arrogant. Last Christmas, he stopped me to say that he did not know how to speak English but had learned Merry Christmas. We exchanged smiles, and time moved on.

I am now starting to feel what he must have once experienced. A foreign country is eyeing us, hoping to make us their own, but we don’t want to be theirs. It is unnerving, to say the least. The fact that that country is 10 times our size makes it even more menacing, exacerbated by a leader who appears to have no sense of humanity for his people, let alone us. How does what appears to be a significantly damaged soul make it to such a level of power, and what can be done to dissuade his advances? Hug it out, I say!  Maybe we should feel anger and compassion simultaneously, for forgiveness is needed for those who do not know what they are doing.

Recently, I came upon this Ukrainian friend, touched his flag, and gave him a thumbs-up. We made a connection, and he was kind for acknowledging my fear when I had taken so long to recognize his.

In life, I will show more compassion for those whose countries are in peril, continue supporting an elected leader who believes in our sovereignty, and hope someone is left to speak out for me.