Sitting on the glider this morning just after sunrise, moments before the hum of traffic going over the bridge would begin in earnest, I experienced a clear “sound memory.” It’s one that may come to each of us differently, depending on where we’re from geographically. I’m remembering Alle, Alle, Ocean, free, free, free. But it’s also been recorded as Ally, Ally, Oxen… Ollie, Ollie, Oxen… Ole, Ole, Olsen…
A quick Google search reveals that the most likely explanation for the phrase is that it’s a corruption of the German “Alle, alle auch sind frei” which, when translated, means “Everyone, everyone also is free.” Or, that it is equivalent to: “Come out come out wherever you are.” Perhaps your inner child remembers it in the game hide-and-seek; used when the seeker gives up and all hiders are allowed a free walk to base so a new seeker can be chosen. Another source offered that it’s a “truce term” used in children’s games.
It’s not clear where or why that sound memory came to me in the quiet of the morning, just that it did. Nor is it clear why I chose to follow it up with some on-line research, just that I did. But in that memory and in the midst of my searching I began to find in that phrase a purpose (a hopeful one—one not yet realized) for “everyone, everyone to also be free.”
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had more than one conversation with friends about the winding down of the pandemic in some areas of the world. But even though there are those who proclaim with bravado: Alle, Alle auch sind frie—not everyone is feeling free. At least not yet.
Do you remember what it felt like for you, carefully tucked in your hiding place… keeping very still… when the seeker called out? When as Google suggests, the truce was called? Do you remember how you unfolded yourself, maybe jumped for joy, maybe squealed, and ran for home base? Even though this relinquishment of the seeker made the game end in a draw, it always felt like a victory for those with the wits and skill of being a good hider!
Yet as the truce is being called for the pandemic, many people aren’t yet ready to unfold their lives or jump out into the world. The past 2.5 years was a long time of being tucked in place. We all can hear the call, ‘come out, come out, all are free’ but some of us know that this is an ending which is a draw…not a victory. Yes, the pandemic is winding to some kind of a conclusion… but there is not yet the end we hoped or imagined. So there is a check in our spirit that sounds more like: Alle, alle nine auch sind frei—Come out, come out, not all are free… and it gives us pause. I am among the hundreds of thousands of people for whom the pandemic is not over… mask wearing is not over… getting on an airplane is not an option… and I’m not yet close to seeing the inside of a restaurant. My compromised immune system doesn’t care who is shouting… I am not free.
My invitation friends is to be gentle with yourself as you hear various calls for a truce with the pandemic. Make thoughtful choices for yourself and others. Be especially gentle with yourself in discerning what your new ‘normal’ will be. Don’t allow the call to ‘come out, come out’ drown out the true inner voice you’ve come to know. Don’t be enticed or coerced. Stand strong in what this time of being tucked away has taught you, has shown you. (And by the way, what are those things you’ve learned about self and others?)
Then have the courage to wait on the One who does not call out a simple truce, but victory. Not a victory for a few, but for all.
With love and caring,
Kathleen
the celtic monk
The Celtic Monk Musings 