Back to Stories

Zdieľané slová, zdieľané Svety

Keď som sa dozvedel, že môj let bol zadržaný 4 hodiny,

Počul som oznam:
Ak niekto v blízkosti brány 4-A rozumie po arabsky,
Prosím, ihneď príďte k bráne.

Nuž — v týchto dňoch sa človek pozastaví. Brána 4-A bola mojou vlastnou bránou. Išiel som tam.
Staršia žena v tradičnom palestínskom odeve,
Presne ako nosila moja stará mama, bol pokrčený na zem a nahlas nariekal.
Pomoc, povedal letový servis. Porozprávaj sa s ňou. čo je ona
problém? povedali sme jej, že let bude meškať štyri hodiny a ona
Urobil toto.

Objal som ju a váhavo som sa jej prihovoril.
Shu dow-a, shu-biduck habibti, stani stani schway, min fadlick,
Chcete trochu se-wee?

V momente, keď začula akékoľvek slová, ktoré poznala – akokoľvek zle použité –
Prestala plakať.

Myslela si, že náš let bol úplne zrušený.
Musela byť v El Paso kvôli nejakému veľkému lekárskemu ošetreniu
Nasledujúci deň. Povedal som nie, nie, sme v poriadku, prídeš tam, len neskoro,

Kto ťa vyzdvihuje? Zavolajme mu a povedzme mu to.
Zavolali sme jej synovi a rozprával som sa s ním po anglicky.
Povedal som mu, že zostanem s jeho matkou, kým nenastúpime do lietadla a
Jazdil by vedľa nej – na juhozápad.

Rozprávala sa s ním. Potom sme jej ďalších synov zavolali len tak zo srandy.

Potom sme zavolali môjmu otcovi a on a ona sa chvíľu rozprávali po arabsky a
Samozrejme sa zistilo, že majú desať spoločných priateľov.

Potom som si povedal, prečo nezavolať nejakého Palestínčana
Básnikov, ktorých poznám, a nech sa s ňou porozprávajú. Celé to trvalo asi 2 hodiny.

Vtedy sa už veľmi smiala. Rozprávanie o jej živote. Odpovedanie
Otázky.

Vytiahla vrece domácich mamool sušienok – trochu v prášku
Cukrové chrumkavé kôpky plnené datľami a orechmi – z vrecka –
A ponúkal ich všetkým ženám pri bráne.

Na moje počudovanie ho ani jedna žena neodmietla. Bolo to ako a
Sviatosť. Cestovateľ z Argentíny, cestovateľ z Kalifornie,
Krásna žena z Lareda – všetci sme boli pokrytí tým istým
Práškový cukor. A s úsmevom. Nie sú lepšie cookies.

A potom letecká spoločnosť vytrhla nápoje zadarmo z obrovských chladičov –
Nealkoholik – a dve malé dievčatká pre náš let, jedna Afričanka
Američan, jeden mexický Američan – pobehoval a podával nám všetkým jablkový džús
A limonády a tiež boli pokryté práškovým cukrom.

A všimol som si svojho nového najlepšieho priateľa – už sme sa držali za ruky –
Z tašky jej vytŕča rastlina v kvetináči, nejaká liečivá vec,

So zelenými chlpatými listami. Taká stará tradícia cestovania po krajine. Vždy
Noste rastlinu. Vždy zostaňte niekde zakorenení.

A obzrel som sa okolo brány tých neskorých a unavených a pomyslel som si:
Toto je svet, v ktorom chcem žiť. Zdieľaný svet.

Ani jeden človek v tejto bráne — akonáhle prestal plač zmätku
– zdalo sa, že sa bojí o akúkoľvek inú osobu.

Vzali sušienky. Chcel som objať aj všetky tie ostatné ženy.
Toto sa ešte môže stať kdekoľvek.

Nie je všetko stratené.

Share this story:

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

24 PAST RESPONSES

User avatar
Aruna Jehangir Apr 4, 2025
We are the same people with good hearts filled with kindness let us not loose track of that and spread joy around give a helping hand this makes the world go round
User avatar
Deepak Feb 5, 2015

Thank You . Beautiful .

User avatar
PLHProject Nov 24, 2014

This story confirms that there's still good things happening in this world.

User avatar
Carol Ann Jun 20, 2014

If we enjoy each other openly, one person at a time, how could we not love and live in peace and harmony.

User avatar
Pamela Murray-Jones Jul 23, 2013

Loved this story. Have just recently performed my first croning ceremony (and was initially cynical) but it was a wonderful celebration of the unity of all women. Now another indication that there need be no barriers: religion, age, culture or language, if we keep an open mind and heart

User avatar
Debi, Anchorage Alaska Jul 8, 2013

I went to Israel two years ago and had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a 65 year old Palestinian women for an hour. While in Jerusalem we stayed at a hotel in the Muslim district. I looked at all the women and felt so connected to their joys, sorrows, and experiences as women of different faiths. This trip also made me to live in a "shared world."

User avatar
Grandma May 29, 2013

Outstanding! This is what my 4 yr old latino grandchild would say. He is learning English from watching the English funnies. God bless all of those people that passed the story on. Like you say, there are lots of wonderful people arround.

User avatar
mtkerrig May 27, 2013

Thank you for this moving story of the true nature of people. I especially enjoyed the part about carrying a plant to stay rooted. My wife came to the US from Colombia carrying a plant.

User avatar
Tariqul May 22, 2013

I luv it

User avatar
af May 8, 2013

OMGGGG

User avatar
Kristin Pedemonti May 6, 2013

thank you for sharing. True: There are NO Strangers in this world. Once we take a moment, however small & connect to another in whatever way we are able, we see the Human Being in front of us. Here's to kindness & helping each other. <3 and HUGS from my heart to all of yours.

User avatar
Dan Brook May 5, 2013

I just got another little taste of utopia.

Daydreaming in Kyoto

https://www.smashwords.com/...

User avatar
Sethi May 4, 2013

Awesome . Thank you for sharing . Kindness is a universal language .

User avatar
Tracy May 4, 2013

Oh gosh, what a beautiful story! I can't wait to send it around to my family and friends. Thanks for making me smile and for putting tears in my eyes . :)

User avatar
Ferlonda May 4, 2013

So beautiful. Thank you!

User avatar
Henry May 3, 2013

The world community is ONE. If everyone relates to one another with compassion and respect, there would be very few, if any, barriers of any sort. This story is like a pebble tossed onto the surface of a body of water. Its ripples will touch others wherever they may be.

User avatar
Eric Weinberg May 3, 2013

may every being without exception be covered with sweetness

User avatar
Dr. Kanhaiyalal Sharma May 3, 2013

For act of kindness language is no bar every body understands it. Acts of kindness must be spread as wide as possible.

User avatar
Arun Solochin May 3, 2013

Beautiful. A small little moment turns into eternity.
Thank You for sharing this.

User avatar
J P May 3, 2013

Soft shimmering light connecting strangers-us. Heart touching,heart warming , heart melting.
Thanks for sharing.

J P

User avatar
Ana May 3, 2013

Thank you for the heart warming story. It makes me wonder how would the world be if there were no language barriers, how many misunderstandings could be avoid, how much love could be shared? The beauty of this story is to imagine how many ripples it caused and the impact it had in each of those who were part of this beautiful chain of acts kindness.

User avatar
MK May 3, 2013

@ Momastery on FB

User avatar
Wendy Omuro May 3, 2013

This made my heart melt . . . and I now have an undeniable craving for a mamool cookie. :o) Naomi, thank you for sharing your touching experience, and for reminding us that this kind of shared world is not far from reach.

User avatar
Jen May 3, 2013

This is exactly where I want to live as well-in a shared world. So unbelievably beautiful and hopeful.