Georges Hourani is a Lebanese journalist, political analyst of Middle Eastern affairs, reporter and documentary writer.

Finland. What a peaceful country to live in. In my opinion, Finns seem to have somehow lost an appreciation of their peace in their daily lives. Well, maybe part of that is true. One of the things that I have come to realise in this country is that there is such tremendous peace wherever you go. I think Finns have somehow forgotten this glorious aspect of their country. We know the story of the Winter War and how the Finns bravely defended their country – this we know only too well. For me, as a Lebanese native, it can be wrapped up in two words: shout for freedom.

The time is 17:00. I’m with my wife Noomi, having coffee at a local cafeteria in our beautiful city of Järvenpää, and I’m wondering what this little bird is doing here at our table? My wife is sitting right by my side. All of the sudden such joy overwhelms me and I start to laugh loudly. Would you believe me if I told you that I had a very good conversation with our unexpected guest? That I actually spoke to it? Does this sound familiar? It really is embarrassing when you speak to birds with human language in a very caring way. I could see it coming too close to the table, asking me for a piece of pulla?

At this point my mind’s on the Middle East crisis, the bloody history of my country, my village Marjeyoun and how you can no longer hear birdsongs on the border between Lebanon and Israel. However, in my heart there is such joy at living in a peaceful land. I smiled so much. That bird was raising my spirits with the freedom it had to sing, dance and fly – encouraging my inner spirit to come alive again. It’s natural for a young man who has lived most of his life in a war-zone to think that way. When we find ourselves free and alive again with no more shooting and bombing, with no more suicide bombs and bloodshed, we start to admire life itself. That dream to live again is bigger than anything we’d ever thought possible.

Here in Järvenpää I have experienced this complete peace and consequently recognised how important it is to live in peace. Now, every time I walk down town, I look round to embrace a tree, give a flower a kiss or simply to smile at a child walking by. You only do that when you realise your life hasn’t been taken from you. You only do that when you lose family members, friends and co-workers because of war. And because in my country the margin of life and death was so small that I couldn’t know each morning whether I would make it back home later that day. Obviously, I believe Finland is restoring my wounded soul, affected by harmful acts of violence.

Long live peace. Long live Finland.