Walk into a household in Hungary and you are likely to see some variation of what is depicted above. Be it embroidered on cloth, or carved in wood, or framed calligraphy, or a simple postcard, the Házi Áldás (Home Blessing, roughly translated) is a staple of many a home in Hungary. I have translated the simple message into English below:
Home Blessing
Where there is faith, there is love,
Where there is love, there is peace,
Where there is peace, there are blessings,
Where there are blessings, there God is.
Where God is,
there is no want.
I have always liked seeing this comforting and sweet message whenever I stepped into someone's home in Hungary, but in the past three or four years I have come to understand the complexity and profundity within this seemingly simplistic little stanza. Of course many would argue the verse is nothing more than syrupy sentimental sap - the very epitome of greeting card kitsch - and I suppose they would have a point. In all honesty, I held similar thoughts for many, many years whenever I encountered things like the Házi Áldás.
Nevertheless, I have learned to be somewhat wary of the mockers and the belittlers who callously dismiss everything as laughable, for I have found their attitude reveals more about their own ossified and shallow approach to life than it does anything else. Simply put, in their knee-jerk contempt, many fail to understand that wisdom - real wisdom - often hides in plain sight in simple little passages like the Házi Áldás. Of course, these same people would immediately begin to question the very notion of wisdom itself, but that shall perhaps remain the topic of a future blog post.
Note: The final line could also be translated as there is no need, but this could be misconstrued in English and not reflect the original that essentially states there is no lack of anything or scarcity in a home where God can be found.
Home Blessing
Where there is faith, there is love,
Where there is love, there is peace,
Where there is peace, there are blessings,
Where there are blessings, there God is.
Where God is,
there is no want.
I have always liked seeing this comforting and sweet message whenever I stepped into someone's home in Hungary, but in the past three or four years I have come to understand the complexity and profundity within this seemingly simplistic little stanza. Of course many would argue the verse is nothing more than syrupy sentimental sap - the very epitome of greeting card kitsch - and I suppose they would have a point. In all honesty, I held similar thoughts for many, many years whenever I encountered things like the Házi Áldás.
Nevertheless, I have learned to be somewhat wary of the mockers and the belittlers who callously dismiss everything as laughable, for I have found their attitude reveals more about their own ossified and shallow approach to life than it does anything else. Simply put, in their knee-jerk contempt, many fail to understand that wisdom - real wisdom - often hides in plain sight in simple little passages like the Házi Áldás. Of course, these same people would immediately begin to question the very notion of wisdom itself, but that shall perhaps remain the topic of a future blog post.
Note: The final line could also be translated as there is no need, but this could be misconstrued in English and not reflect the original that essentially states there is no lack of anything or scarcity in a home where God can be found.
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