“Only those who fall can get up again” says a proverb. An example that conveys tenderness and courage at the same time is that of children in the early stages of development. How much willpower, in the first uncertain steps, in getting up every time with determination, until you gain confidence and start with increasingly confident movements... the path of life!"
As one grows, amidst challenges and difficulties, getting up again becomes more difficult each time. The trials of life weigh us down, the fear of losing our security (when meeting those who are different or don't think like us) slow us down. Willpower is not always enough, nor is the sincere desire to be consistent with values and choices. In these difficult moments, being able to count on a helping hand can give us the impulse to start again without fear and create an authentic silence in the depths of our conscience such as to "rebuild" ourselves internally.
Chiara Lubich says: "Who doesn't go through the test? It takes on the face of failure, poverty, depression, doubt, temptation [...] The materialistic and individualistic society that surrounds us is also scary, with wars, violence, injustices...". Chiara showed this with her own life: it is precisely in those moments of darkness and difficulty that it is most important to find the strength to "start again", first of all within ourselves, with the confidence that "you can still hope for everything"[1]
This is what happened to Emilia of the Holy Land. He works as a manager of a sector of the Government together with Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze. After October 7, 2023, she understands that love is the only possible answer to that great pain and she commits herself to loving everyone around her, above all by listening in order to welcome others into her heart. Listen with love and humility and understand what the other has to say: whether Arab or Jew. Thus, with a large part of his colleagues, they came to be so mutually open that they could talk freely about the situation and this gave courage to other colleagues to express their fears and pains while keeping the group united and remaining in peace.[2].
There are many stories of wounded communities who do not give up, who find day by day, experiencing the reciprocity of sharing everything, the strength to believe that hate cannot have the last word."
Even if we will not be the ones to see the fruits of our commitment, every time we get up we will contribute to forming "new men" because - as Bonhoeffer said from prison shortly before his death - “For those who are responsible, the ultimate question is not how I fare heroically in this business but: what will be the life of the coming generation”.