At Christmas we sing carols in church. We hear Christmas
songs on the street. Or singers might come to our door. Music reminds us that
this is a special time of year. Music brings us joy.
There was a boy named Ramzi. Music changed his life. Ramzi
Aburedwan was born in Bethlehem. He lived with his grandparents in a refugee
camp. A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home.
Ramzi’s family dreamed that one day they could return to
their home. It isn’t easy to grow up in a refugee camp. Palestinian people want
their freedom. But the Israeli government controls what they can do and where
they can go. And Ramzi wanted to be free.
When Ramzi was 17 years old, he learned about a new kind of
music. Music teachers came to the refugee camp. They taught the children to
play instruments. Ramzi learned the viola. (That’s like a big violin.)
He loved the sound of the viola. He loved it even more when
all the instruments played together. Ramzi got better and better at playing
music. As he grew older, Ramzi’s dream was to teach music to children in
Palestine. And his dream came true. He started a school where many refugee
children learn music.
One day, Ramzi and a group of young musicians got onto a
bus. They went to a checkpoint. Palestinians have to pass through these places
to get from one city to another. They need permission to travel to get to work,
school, or a hospital, or to visit family. They need a special paper. And
Israeli soldiers check their bags.
People have to line up inside cages. It is crowded. People
often get tired and angry. They have to wait a long time. And sometimes the
soldiers don’t let people through.
The musicians came with their instruments. They knew that
music can bring joy to a joyless place. Ramzi told them to keep playing, even
if the soldiers told them to leave. The young people were very brave. They
started to play music for everyone at the checkpoint.
The soldiers didn’t know what to do. The people who were
waiting in line stayed to listen to the music. Ramzi and the young musicians
brought a gift of joy. They showed the world that even in a difficult
situation, they can share a message of freedom, life, and peace.
I wonder how we can share joy with those around us? Where
can we bring the gift of joy?
The blog of former World Council of Church’s Ecumenical
Accompanier and United Church member Patricia Mercer includes pictures of what
a checkpoint is like. Visit: https://patriciainpalestine.wordpress.com