I Am Because We Are

An anthropologist showed a game to the children of an African tribe …

He placed a basket of candy near a tree trunk and asked the children to stand 100 meters away. He told them: The first child to reach the tree will get the basket of candy.

When he said, ‘ready set go!’
Do you know what these children did?

They all held each other’s hands, ran together towards the tree, divided the candy equally among themselves, sat down and ate the candy together.

When the Anthropologist asked them why they did so, they answered with astonishment: ‘Ubuntu’

Ubuntu in their language means – ‘I am because we are!’ “That is, how can one of us be happy while the rest are miserable?”

What an amazing and strong message for us all to remember, how can we be happy if anyone of us is miserable?

As Tewahedo Orthodox Christians, we are called to be supportive of each other. When someone struggles, we should lift them up. When someone feels disheartened, we should be a source of comfort and encouragement to them. If someone is having a hard time, it’s our job to give them the support they need. If our brother or sister loses his or her way, we must reach out and guide them with love and understanding. Showing them the love and compassion that Christ taught us.

We are to walk alongside each other at all times. If anyone is mistreated, we are to stand with them and beside them. We are to become their voice and we would not rest until a change was made. We would not sit back and watch from the sidelines as our sister or brother is mistreated. As brothers and sisters in Christ, these actions based on love and doing what is right, are pleasing to God and show the true essence of our Tewahedo Orthodox faith. And that is the type of action, that pleases God!

Now ask yourself, have you forgotten this simple rule? How can one of us be happy, if anyone of us is miserable? We simply can’t and we should never be!

Selam Seyoum

Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9 NKJV