Aequitas – Gelassenheit

Deutsche Version: https://aequitas.blog/?p=1135

I’m in Ukraine for about a week now, in Lviv to be precise, and I love it! Lviv is the most beautiful city I have ever visited. I fell in love with it instantly and I’m happy that I traveled to Ukraine despite the war. Actually I’m here because of the war. There are many reasons to travel to Ukraine, despite and because of the war.

My main motivation was to help in a more concrete way to end this war soon by volunteering. Donations, demonstrations and our weekly prayer for peace certainly will help, too, but that wasn’t enough for me. I want to support Ukraine not only from a distance but actively, with my hands. By washing and peeling vegetables – that are used to prepare meals for the soldiers at the frontlines – at “Front Line Kitchen” I see the result of my engagement, see the people whom I’m helping and who are happy about all the people from all over the world who came to do their part in supporting Ukraine.

Support is also important in other areas. Simply by being in Ukraine, renting an apartment, eating and drinking, therefor consuming, you support the Ukrainian economy. If you visit a museum, a concert or an opera you not only support them financially but contribute to the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian culture. For too long Ukrainian culture and history wasn’t viewed as independent, but subsumed under Soviet or – even worse – under Russian culture and history. There is so much to learn and explore, not only for me. I am looking forward to it!

This general interest in Ukraine and the various commitments of people in the world are very important for the Ukrainians on a moral perspective, more than I thought before. All volunteers are welcomed with great gratitude. To know that their fight for their lives, their country and their freedom is not forgotten, gives them extra energy to persevere. This kind of support is as important as weapons and tanks, because the great volunteer work the Ukrainians, who are not in the army, do additional to their work and family, and the regular attacks with rockets and drones cost them a lot of energy.

And, of course, Ukraine itself is reason enough to visit. Don’t miss out on Lviv! Its architecture is incredibly impressive, there are lots of parks and squares to relax. Lviv is a vibrant city with many young people, the squares are full of people each night (for now until curfew). The capital Kyiv or Odesa and Charkiv certainly also are worth a visit but I also love the landscape. One day I will certainly stay in the Carpathian Mountains and go for hikes. Mostly I am impressed by the Ukrainians themselves, who refuse to let take away their lust for life. I have the feeling they rather celebrate life because of the war and show their resistance to the Russian aggressors by it and oppose their lust for life to Russia’s will to annihilate them.