“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered”  (Proverbs 11:25, ESV).

     An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. He decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get candy from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket at the foot of a tree. Then he called the children and suggested they play the game. When the anthropologist said “now”, the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the candy to him or herself. So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said “now”, all of the children took each other by the hand and ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time divided up the candy, sat down, and began to happily munch away.

     The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the candy all to themselves. The children responded: “Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?”

     In 2008, Bishop Desmond Tutu gave this explanation of “ubuntu.” “One of the sayings in our country is “Ubuntu”, the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our inter-connection…We think of ourselves far too frequently 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.”

     God has blessed each of us to be a blessing to one another. Our God is a relational God. The Father is connected to the Son. The Son is connected to the Spirit. And the Spirit is connected to the Father. When one member of the Trinity is blessed, all share in the blessing as one.

     I mentioned last Sunday the following adage. As the water runs through it, the hose gets wet. Those who make it their goal to bless others are themselves blessed.

     My prayer for you today is that flow of God’s love may pass through you freely. As it does, may you be drenched from the Heaven’s tap, as well. Ubuntu!