Living Ubuntu

12.27.20_Living Ubuntu_Erin Henlin.jpg

In the northern Natal tribes in South Africa, they greet one another each day, saying Sawa Bona, which means “I see you.” The response is Sikhona, which means “I am here.” Through this exchange, they are telling one another “until you see me, I do not exist; and when you see me you bring me into existence. When you see me, I am fully present, I am here.” They are a community where everybody is somebody. The wholeness of each individual unites with the wholeness of the community. We also see this demonstrated in Acts 2: 44-47 (NIV) when Paul describes the first church: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” What’s so amazing about each of these examples is that these people, through sharing all of themselves with each other, are strengthening the faith of everyone around them. Isn’t that what this Christian journey is all about? Contrast that with our Western culture though. We are fast-paced, we often don’t know our neighbors, we’re suspicious of strangers, and we often ask questions like “what’s in it for me?” How often do we really SEE the people around us? And I’m not talking about just a casual glance – I’m talking about the kind of seeing that brings them into existence so that they then can go bring others into existence. I have suffered from EXTREME shyness my entire life. In fact, my mom tells a story of when I was a toddler, I would literally recoil when other babies would get too close to me. From birth, I have been a fan of literal and figurative personal space and that has permeated into my adulthood. I tend to close myself off when things get scary or uncomfortable, but I know that God never intended for us to live this way. He DESIGNED us to live in Ubuntu community and anything less than that will leave us feeling unfulfilled. When I was seven years old, my family moved to a remote island in the South Pacific called Yap, which is in the Federated States of Micronesia. I had to give up my dog, my friends, my house that was the only one I knew, my school, Nickelodeon, and my beloved Burger King. Plus, as I mentioned I was really shy so I was scared about how I was going to make friends in such an unknown place. But one day after we moved into our permanent house, I was sitting out on our porch and I noticed a couple of the neighborhood kids watching me from just up the hill. I could tell that they did not know what to make of me and my shyness nearly sent me running back into the house. But that day I made a different choice. I chose to go WAY outside my comfort zone and talk to them. I found out that they spoke English and from that day on, we were all inseparable. Even though we were just kids, those relationships strengthened us all the way into our teenage years. We truly saw each other, despite how different we were! Another example of truly seeing those around us comes from the story of the loaves and the fishes in Matthew 14. Large crowds had gathered around Jesus and he had compassion for them, healing their sick, talking with them and ultimately performing a miracle to feed all of them. The disciples were frustrated about this because they were ALL ABOUT the task at hand – places to go, people to see, it’s all about our schedule. Why care about these people? They chose to come here, let them figure it out. But Jesus was different. He chose to SEE the people and live out the principle of Ubuntu by feeding them well. By doing that, he was strengthening their faith so that they could go out and strengthen others around them. Sometimes when we’re pursuing Ubuntu community, we get to do what we don’t want to do. We get to sacrifice our agenda for someone else’s, we get to listen when we feel like we don’t have time to, we get to help when we don’t feel like we have enough resources. Living this way means opening ourselves up for hurt and heartache, which is why many avoid it. But friends, the rewards are SO MUCH greater than the risks. We benefit and so do the people around us. As I moved forward with my adult life all the way up to this very moment, I have been on a journey to discover who I am. And you know where the best answers have come from? Jesus and my closest friends! When I look back on my life over the years, I see a rich mosaic of friendships that have molded me and shaped me into who I am today. I get to write and speak my testimony today because key people in my circle recognized an ability that I had downplayed and underutilized for a long time. I get to strengthen the faith of others because they first strengthened mine. They showed me how God sees me. They were Ubuntu for me. Who embodies the spirit of Ubuntu for you? Think of that person. Commit to one or two things you can do this week to connect with that person and bring the spirit of Ubuntu to them.


Erin is a speaker and leadership development professional who has been in the learning and development field for over 12 years. She has a unique ability to engage with her audience and create learning experiences that inspire change and action. She is poised, articulate and delivers her message with passion.

Erin feels that God has called her to use her professional skills to further His kingdom. She is passionate about helping people develop skills and knowledge that will empower them to answer Jesus’ call in their lives and understand how they are uniquely wired to respond to His leading. See Erin's other writings at: www.erhspeaks.com

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