Bringing people together is what I call 'ubuntu,' which means 'I am because we are.' Far too often people think of themselves as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.
~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Life's Love Letters
Rev. Berry Behr, Interfaith Minister
Archbishop Desmond Tutu may not have been the first person to unleash the ancient African concept of ubuntu on the world, but he was certainly the most widely quoted.
This is a word that encapsulates the essence of “interfaith.” Yet there is more to it because we humans have a way of missing the interconnectedness of all life. We continue to think that somehow, humans are separate from the rest of Creation. Ubuntu as a guiding life philosophy deserves a deeper unpacking. Every step, every breath, every word, and every action is a measurement of ubuntu—there is no place of beginning and no endpoint. This is the primal spirituality we were all born with. Ubuntu is a love letter from every part of Creation to every part of Creation. It says: You belong.
This time of year is filled with rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations of diverse sacred expressions. We are deep into Hanukkah when Jewish families light candles for eight consecutive nights to celebrate the miracle that occurred when enough oil for just one night kept the lamps of their recaptured synagogue burning for eight nights.
Soon, Christians will celebrate Christmas, remembering the virgin birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. There are so many wonders in this story. My favourite part is the three kings following a star to Jesus’ birthplace and offering precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Hanukkah and Christmas contain common themes: Miracles, Light, Love, and obedience to the Divine Will.
Ubuntu embraces the Divine Design in the way the stars are arranged to guide those who understand their language, in the relationship between the moon, the sea, and the human psyche, and in the way trees filter our air. Yes, it’s all science. Ubuntu, like interfaith, is the art and the science of interconnectedness in diversity. Recognising its spiritual essence is to receive the love letter, and to write back: “I belong to You, I belong to Life, I am in love with all of it, I am grateful for everything.”
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world’s sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
With you, Rev. Behr, in celebrating UBUNTU and in saying and receiving YOU BELONG! Thank you for your own UBUNTU spirit and of course to Archbishop Tutu’s memory as well. WITH YOU. Tom C.
Thanks, Berry, for celebrating our inter-connectedness, encapsulated by the word ubuntu, in this beautiful piece. May the holidays amplify our oneness in song, silence and a celebration of life!
3 Responses
With you, Rev. Behr, in celebrating UBUNTU and in saying and receiving YOU BELONG! Thank you for your own UBUNTU spirit and of course to Archbishop Tutu’s memory as well. WITH YOU. Tom C.
Thanks, Berry, for celebrating our inter-connectedness, encapsulated by the word ubuntu, in this beautiful piece. May the holidays amplify our oneness in song, silence and a celebration of life!
Loving being reminded that we are all ONE – our world right now may make that more difficult – and therefore – more important than ever!