The Guide: Budapest

From “Hello, all! Welcome to Budapest” we knew we had a good one.

This was to be no “flat” tour, expressionless and dull. Oh, no! This was an introduction to a passionate nationalism that was rich and full. It began as we walked to the Hero’s Square, with the magnificent statuary of mounted warriors in the center. Ah-Ha, so that’s what Attila and his followers looked like. (The most popular man’s name in Hungary is Atilla.) Mounted, ferocious, well-armed, intimidating, deadly serious warriors all in bronze looked down at us.

There were statesmen, too, but on every bronze face there was that fierce, unyielding expression, medieval and eternally unconquered.

Our guide pointed to her cheekbones and told of her Oriental heritage, described her language and ancestry as populating both Hungary and Finland. She let us know about her nationalism. And she told us her view of the foreigners who had ruled Hungary: “the royals”. They married cousins, became all in-bred, and “that’s why there were so many idiots!” No neutrality there!!

Take it all for granted? Oh, no! If it’s grand, it’s worth telling! She wasn't telling her story "for" me, even though it impressed me. She was telling her story from a heart that needed to express. And that always gives power to the story we hear.

Your story is worth telling, too. There are deep loyalties in every one of us. And when those are spoken out, they encourage some listener you might not even see. If life begins to feel a bit on the flat side, remember the passionate patriot and the very focused witness who moved you with THEIR story - - and tell YOUR story.