Maderville

Ubuntu

I am because we are. This is the short definition of Ubuntu. It is a simple word that I know would change the world if people had more of it. I like to think that much of my happiness lies in other peoples happiness and that is really the core of ubuntu. I googled it and this is what I came up with.

An attempt at a longer definition has been made by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1999):

"A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed."

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend a Q&A forum at my church. We hosted the presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church(like the Pope but for Episcopalians). Her name/title is the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori. Her resume is long and very impressive. She presides over 2.4 million people in 16 countries. I was incredibly impressed with her answers. More importantly her ability to answer the tough questions without backing down and giving complete and insightful thought to each one of them. There was a lot of 'passion' in the room as the questions were flying and I don't know that I have ever seen anyone be able to remain so composed, be thoughtful, authoritative (without condescending), funny and genuine in her answers. She never skipped a beat and never gave anyone a chance to not feel heard. I was blown away and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting the time to be so well spent. The church has been in a state of divide over many issues for several years now. In my opinion, she is a huge step in the right direction and I am thrilled that she is at the helm of our church. During her talk she spoke of the word ubuntu and it really stuck with me. I want to be the person that people view as having ubuntu. Equally important to me is surrounding myself with people who have ubuntu and ensuring that I incorporate that way of life and thought in my teachings and love to Landry. I have certainly found that the greatest gifts in life are usually given and not received.