Civil courage: Have the courage to help!

Civic courage in the Neflental: Dare to help bravely!

A new day begins in the Neflental. The dawn mist conjures fog onto the valley floor, enveloping everything like a soft cloth. The cherry and violet blossoms glow in pastel pink and lilac. Dew-kissed spiderwebs glisten with moisture, and in the background, mysterious mythical creatures flit between the moss-covered trees. A narrow, white marble path winds through emerald-green grass towards a hidden waterfall. There, the water rushes like silver rain over pearl-white stones.

On this special morning, Rosa Immergrün is walking along the marble path. She feels the fresh grass under her feet and hears the splashing of the hidden waterfall. It smells of violets and cherry blossoms. Rosa wants to give a particularly beautiful leaf to a friend. But suddenly she hears a loud shouting.

Something is moving between the gnarled trees. Two Buchian children, Lilo and Finn, get into an argument. Finn holds Lilo’s favourite amulets in his hand and tugs at them. Lilo cries out loudly, but Finn doesn't let go. The other children are standing too far away and don't dare to come closer. The mythical creatures watch the scene from the fog, but they don't intervene.

Rosa Immergrün stops. She senses that something isn't right here. Her heart is pounding. She looks at Lilo and recognises how sad and helpless she is. The other children whisper quietly, but no one intervenes. „Should I just keep walking?“ Rosa asks herself. But her gut feeling tells her something else.

Suddenly, she takes a deep breath. She thinks of the blossoms, how they always lift their heads in the mist. She knows: Lilo needs help now. Rosa courageously approaches Finn and Lilo. The pastel colours of the blossoms are reflected in her gaze. She speaks loud and clear: „Stop it, Finn! Give Lilo her amulet back. It belongs to her, that's not fair.“

For a moment, it is completely quiet. Even the mythical creatures stop. Finn looks at Rosa, surprised. He looks at the amulet in his hand, then at Lilo, and finally lets it go. Lilo gratefully takes her amulet back. Finn mutters an apology and slowly walks away.

The other children now come closer, marvelling at Rosa's courage. Lilo hugs Rosa warmly. „Thank you for helping me,“ Lilo says softly. The mythical creatures scurry back into the mist. The waterfall roars as always. But something has changed.

At the end of the Marble Path, the children sit together. They tell each other how hard it is sometimes to be brave. But Rosa showed today: sometimes all it takes is one step forward. If someone is treated unfairly, you can help. Thus, great courage grows from a small gesture. On the Marble Path, in the spring of the Blossom Watch, the children learned: civil courage means getting involved, even if your heart is pounding. Because doing the right thing is better than just standing by and watching.

What do we learn from this?

Civic courage is important – not just in the Neflental, but everywhere. You too can stand up for others. Be brave enough to get involved when someone needs help. Together, a lot can be achieved because friendship and solidarity are stronger than fear.

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