SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

The rivers are rising, bringing back memories of that terrible year when we experienced a doomsday flood. As I think about this, I am reminded of my husband, of his idyllic brooks and the fairy-tale house that stands on the hill between these two brooks.

Before this event, when I looked at their light and bubbly running, I never imagined that they could turn into a dirty and menacing apparition in an instant. I admired the stream, the nature, its house and the surroundings. 

"How indescribably beautiful it is here," I said when I visited just before those devastating floods.

I must not think about how bad it was for him and for the people of the village below him at that time. I can still hear his unrecognisable voice when I called him and all he could say was: "I am alive! I will be!"

Anyone who says they are not afraid of the threatening nature must be lying. If nature shows its power in any form, we feel our helplessness, our smallness, when we witness it.

I will never forget Karli's encouraging words when he recovered a little: "The flood destroyed our houses and bridges, but it built bridges between people."

"It's true," I nodded, watching how quickly we came together to help those most affected. The story I heard also convinced me that there are many kind-hearted people among us, but most of us don't know about them and only think about the bad things; the bad children, the bad teachers, the bad doctors and on and on.

There is a telecoms shop in our town. One day after the flood, a man came into the shop and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't give you back the things I gave you. I can't even pay for them. The water has taken away everything, including my furniture, and I really can't return the equipment I was given. Please trust me. I will pay everything, but first I need to find temporary housing for myself and my family. My children are small and it is hard for them to understand that they don't even have a bed of their own at one time."

The husband took pity on the young woman and her offer was so generous that his eyes teared up. She said, "My family and I have a house; a nice and warm home. But because I have been looking after my aunt for the last few years, she has signed her house over to me. My children are still young and we don't need a house for the time being. If you want, I will give you the keys and the house will no longer be lonely. I will also be happy if children's voices and laughter can be heard in it. When you have sorted everything out and put everything back in its place, you will return to your home and settle your debt."

The gratitude and indescribable happiness of this family is indescribable, but the joy and happiness of having a roof over their heads is not.

Listening to this story, I also felt gratitude and love for the young woman, so it is understandable that my tears were just a confirmation that love can conquer all; even the worst sorrows and the greatest difficulties.

Darinka Kobal, 6. 5. 2025