One step at a time. One smile at a time. One hug & one handshake at a time. One day at a time. It is what my African brothers & sisters would call the spirit of “unbutu” (pronouned oo-boon-to).
You make a difference when you say “hello.” Ubuntu. You make a difference when you don’t say “hello” …when you keep moving because you’re too busy today… & you figure that someone else will pick up the slack.
Ubuntu.
A few days ago, I sent an e-mail to a friend in Botswana. She’s almost 70… serving in the Peace Corps. Almost immediately, she sent me an e-mail back to let me know that my note made her day… she also told me about a friend, a young man who stepped out of his childhood to care for his siblings because they’d lost their mom & dad to HIV/AIDS. Among his many fine qualities, he’s a poet. “Poetry,” he said, “allows God’s light to shine through me…” In this way, he shares his light with other youth to inspire them to make something of themselves & their lives. I sent him a poem… & he was so deeply moved that I’d take the time to do this. Such a simple act… reaching out to embrace someone with a blessing of words, a blessing of soul. Now we share our poems across the miles. This is what Nelson Mandela & others would as the spirit of “ubuntu.”
You never know who you will touch, or who needs a touch. And in the grand scheme of things, it’s not really our business to know. It’s simply our business to be kind, generous, & reach out to others.
How can one person make a difference? You already know… a smile, a hug, a handshake, a warm hello. Ubuntu.
Mighty blessings–to you & yours.
The truly wealthy are those who give until it feels good.
Pass It On!
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