A Prayer for Peace

Like most of us, my thoughts these days have been on Ukraine and the horrific slaughter that is happening there. Even though I have no memory of it, Ukraine is the country of my birth. In October 1943, when I was only four and a half months old, our family had to leave under similar circumstances as people are leaving now -- very quickly and with only the barest necessities. We were fortunate to be able to travel by train, as many fled on foot and died en route. Death and destruction were everywhere but I was safely tucked away at my mother's breast, unaware of the danger in which we found ourselves. My two-year-old brother was probably more aware, as were my parents, my grandmother, and my two teenage uncles travelling with us.

That was a long time ago. In 2012 Hardy and I went to Poland and Ukraine to visit the countries of our birth. I will never forget Kyiv and its ornate monasteries that looked like something out of a fairy tale with their colorful domes. 

The Monastery of the Caves has a special memory for me. I somehow got separated from the tour group but found my way back. The Ukrainian guide told me that the group was inside the caves and that I would find my friends there. I wandered around in the labyrinth of mummified bodies and felt pure panic and claustrophobia. Finally, I saw the light of day and the tour group was already outside! I was so happy to return to the land of the living! It felt like a resurrection!

We will be celebrating Christ's resurrection this month and I can't wait for Easter after so much snow. We already spotted a single robin last week, and the next day a whole flock of them settled on a nesting spot occupied by robins last year. They are brave to come when there is still snow everywhere!

This bright yellow gerbera reminds me of the domes in Kyiv, and whenever I look at it I say a prayer that those beautiful monasteries will not be destroyed. The gerbera is a birthday present for our daughter, born in March, and when the warm spring air arrives she will plant it in her garden and together we will continue to pray for peace.

I dedicate this blog post to my former professor, friend, and encourager, the historian and archivist Lawrence Klippenstein. He was an expert on Ukraine and passed away at the beginning of March. He reached the age of 91 and was busy and occupied with projects until the end of his life. He never failed to send me an encouraging email after I posted my blog entries, even following my last one in March where he shared some memories of his childhood. May you rest in peace, good and faithful servant.