My brother-in-law recently said something to me that really got me thinking. “You should listen to your inner Leo more often.” By Leo, he doesn't mean the Pope, but the “out” when playing tag, where you can't be knocked off. In my childhood, where I lived, this was called Hugale. I did a bit of research and there are lots of names for it, depending on the region. In Austria it's often called “Leo” or ‘out’ in the east, “Zig” in the west. My children said “Zig”. In Germany, they usually say “out” or “house” (the German version of course. In English some call it “home”, “base”, or “gool”…) But there are a lot of regional differences in my language and even ongoing research into this. The game and the words are very old and there is often a story behind them. I find the one about “Leo” very exciting: there is a Leopold altar in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. If you went there, you were given asylum! This place is actually a refuge for refugees, where many sought protection and safety and nothing could happen to them. Just when like playing tag. The tree, the lamppost, the clothes horse post, ... whatever was decided. If you touch this place, you can't be caught and you are safe. At the “Leo” you can breathe a sigh of relief and gather new strength. (The Middle High German word Hleo even means protection and cover, so Leo is doubly fitting).
What did my brother-in-law mean by saying that you should listen to your inner Leo more often?
Sometimes you do things that stress you out or that you just do because everyone else is doing them. You're pushed and you just go along with it. Although it would be better to seek refuge in your Leo and come up with a new plan, to reflect on your own position and needs. It could be that your inner Leo tells you to go to bed. Or that you should take off your wet bathing suit, even if everyone else has no problem walking around in wet clothes. The inner Leo means well with us.
Who is this Leo? Is it our conscience? The Holy Spirit?
The Bible says that God is our refuge. Our safe castle.
God is my Leo, my home, my base, my out! I can always take refuge in him!
I'm currently preparing for my exam as a cultural mediator for the Anabaptist exhibition in Innsbruck. I have to learn a lot of history for this. I was never good at history, but I find it really interesting. (It's a good thing I'm allowed to make cheat sheets for the guided tours.) In any case, there are lots of interesting personalities, both men and women, who stood up for their beliefs in the 16th century. A lot happened in Tyrol, some historical spots very close to where I live. Christians met secretly in the forest behind my front door. Or in disused tunnels in the mines. They talked about Jesus and grace and that everyone can decide for themselves whether they want to belong. It's not up to the rulers and the roman catholic church, everyone has a choice. The rulers did not like this and the Anabaptists were persecuted in the most bitter way. The Bible was a forbidden book. Gatherings and baptisms were life-threatening. But they did it anyway. Many emigrated across the Inn and Danube to Moravia. That was a leo for the Hutterites for a while. But not for long, then they had to flee again and seek refuge in another country. Some finally found it in the United States. How much the believers would have appreciated democracy back then! They were politically ahead of their time. How urgently they would have needed a "leo", a safe place, before they were caught and drowned or burned to death. But they always had one “Leo”: God was with them. Their place of refuge was in their hearts. That's why they were able to die so bravely. Because their Leo was heaven. And heaven as Leo always applies.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:3