How About a Game of Osani?

I read a story about an anthropologist who proposed a game to an African tribe's children. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told them that whoever got there first would win the sweet fruits. When he told them to run, they took each other’s hands and ran together, then sat and enjoyed the fruit together. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself, they said: “UBUNTU, 'How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?'” UBUNTU’ in the Xhosa culture means: "I am because we are." Can you imagine how much better the world would be if everyone lived by that motto? Isn't that the way God wants His kids to live?

This photo is of the Efé children of Zaire (Congo, Central Africa) playing the Osani Circle Game. The game teaches that we are much better when we work as a team and think about each other before ourselves. It teaches that each individual can achieve so much more when they approach situations with the mindset and focus on love and cooperation rather than competition. Osani (the Efé word for love),begins by sitting in a circle, feet touching, all connected. Then, for example, each child in turn names a round object like the sun, the moon, a star, an eye and then goes on to name a figurative expression of “round” like the circle of the family. What I love most in this photo is the closeness of the children -- a circle of togetherness, of community, creativity, enjoying each other's company and celebrating the different perspectives each of them bring to the circle.

I often add words to the photos I post on my blogs. In this photo's case, I picked a font that I thought looked somewhat "African" in my mind's eye. Not until I looked at it, after the fact, did I realize the i's in that font, even though it's the uppercase lettering, is still a lower case "i". Aw! Being a little i in life when it comes to wanting to have it my way, or what i want or what pleases me. It's what WE ARE together. WE share. WE love. WE serve. WE give. WE go for what's right together. WE WIN together. UBUNTU -- i AM because we ARE!

Today, I'm thinking of ways that we can join our hands and hearts together to be a part of something greater than i -- greater than my 4 and no more -- greater than "What's in it for me?" What if we began to pray and humble ourselves to become servants that live a life of "What can i do for you? What can i do for the cause? What can i do for the team? What can i do for others?” UBUNTU -- i AM because we ARE!

There is so much competition in life -- between family members, co-workers, friends, political and news pundits, and so many others. I wonder "What if we thought more like these kids...."I am...because WE ARE!" Those kids sound like the kids that God calls us to be: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3)

How about a game of Osani? i AM because we ARE!

Were You There When Donald Trump Became President?

Yes, I was there -- glued to the returns that came in. Even my young grandchildren stayed up for the big announcement. The history books will long declare "Donald Trump became the 45th President-Elect of the United States of America on November 9th, 2016". Who woulda' thought that a real estate mogul, New York businessman, and the "You are fired" guy would be elected our President? One news commentator said, "This was the most astonishing campaign by an outsider who had relatively no political experience, but the people's voice was heard." How does that sound -- "The people's voice was heard"?

I stood in line for an hour and fifty minutes to vote in this unprecedented election because I wanted my voice to be heard. I have never seen anything like it. Apparently, it was a record turnout. I've never seen lines like I saw. It was worth the wait, because I met some really great people that were optimistic, positive and not complaining about the long wait at all. I saw people being pushed in their wheelchairs. I saw young moms with babies in strollers and pouch slings. They had children in tow and many were not too thrilled to be there. My "line" friends held my place while I went and held those moms' places so they could go change their diapers or to let their little one run around some. Though those children will not remember this day, their mommas will no doubt remind them, for many years to come, that they were there on this historic day -- the day "The people's voice was heard."

It sure has been a wild and crazy several months -- so much nonsense in words, deeds and actions by, not just the candidates but by those of us that somehow forgot God's desire for us to be lights in the middle of it all. We've had opportunities to exercise our patience, temperance, gentleness, joy, kindness and, most of all, our love. The question isn't how the candidates fared through it all....but "How did we handle ourselves as Christs' followers during this process?" Regardless of the side we were on, was God's light shining through us? Though "the people's voice was heard" -- was it the voice of goodness and mercy"?

Whether you are sad or glad about the outcome of this election, here's what matters most: God wasn't surprised by the winner. He is, after all, a KNOW-IT-ALL. He knew Donald Trump would be "the last man standing" here today. The best news is -- God is already King and HE REIGNS supreme — and He will work with our fragile, imperfect ways and bring calm to the chaos of our lives and our world. Now, may our voices of compassion and sensitivity be heard to our fellow man. May our voices declare "We are the UNITED States of America and UNITED we stand!"

Lots of folks had talked about going to Canada should Donald Trump become President. WOW!! Wonder why they didn't decide to go to a warmer place like the Bahamas, the Fiji Islands or Tahiti? Be careful little mouth what you say.....you just may have to eat those words someday! May our voices be heard around the world that ROCKS this WORLD with love that knows no bounds and may we get behind our new president in support and prayer.

We WIN!

You and I are VIPs today -- that's because we are voters.. Some of you have already cast your ballot. Good for you! Franklin Roosevelt was right: "Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."

Remember that every election is decided by the people who show up. So let's pray, seek God's wisdom, and vote.

Chances are that tomorrow, November 9th, half of the country will be happy and half will be sad. So regardless of our political affiliation and no matter which candidate wins today, we don't have to know how the story of our country ends. We don’t even need to know how tomorrow will end. We only need to do the next right thing.

Regardless of today's outcome, our calling as Christ-followers is to lead with a humble heart and point men and women, boys and girls to the One who lives and reigns forever.

Consider William Wilberforce, the man who saw slavery abolished in England mere months before his death in 1833. He had been fighting toward this end for nearly five decades, one of the few in Parliament who lived out the Christian faith in all areas of his life. Oh that his spirit of perseverance be demonstrated in our current culture. We could all benefit from his example of relentless tenacity

Sometimes it feels easier to retreat and hide at home, school, or church than to be a Christian. Wilberforce told us to follow the words of John Newton who said, “It is hoped and believed the Lord has raised you up for the good of His church and for the good of the nation.” Whether your candidate wins or loses today, our work as Christ-followers continues. We must press on and be a light in the darkness as we share the promise of the Good News with others.

No matter what we face personally or nationally, nothing comes as a surprise to God. He is still sovereign over all. He is good, loving, and faithful through the best and the worst of times.

Because of that, we will continue on our journeys of faith -- knowing that it's not by chance that we are here, during this time, to be difference makers in the world around us. We do that best when we let the Light of Christ shine brightly through us. We believe God directs our paths. So today and everyday, we pray for our country, our leaders and our world. No matter what -- God is the real Winner and with knowing that....we will live this day with the joy of knowing WE WIN!