Ubuntu

I have recently returned from camping in Ironwood, Michigan. I went with other students who are going to be RA's along side of me this school year and our boss.

At one point while camping we each went out and took three hours of alone time.  That is a lot of time to be alone, with no technology, to process a lot of thoughts, especially for an extreme extrovert like myself!  Sometimes it's hard for me to go be alone and then once I am alone, I can feel a little bit antsy!

So, there I was sitting on a beach along Lake Superior. 

It was cold. It was raining. I was running out of clothes that were dry so I only had on a sweatshirt, rain jacket, and these half-capri yoga pants things.  My tennis shoes were soaked from the day before (but lets be honest, who really wants to wear tennis shoes to the beach anyway when you will only get sand in them!) so I didn't have any socks on and I was wearing sandals.  

When I finally pulled my thoughts together to quit thinking about how cold my legs were, I was in awe of the beauty.  (I took pictures on the first day we arrived camping when it was sunny and warm, the water was glistening, it felt like perfect camping weather! That was the only nice day we actually had!)

There I was, two days later, sitting in fog and I shall repeat myself so you know that I did in fact type correctly - I was in awe of the beauty.  How could the same place have two different types of weather and blow me away with beautiful expectations?!

But that's the beauty in something like that - the idea that I don't have to have any expectations.  The idea that I don't have to have any expectations on this year, on my job as an RA, on my basketball team, and the list goes on.  The idea that, while there aren't expectations, I can always expect God to do great and marvelous things through this new school year, through my job as an RA, through my basketball team, and the list goes on.  

There's more, though.

While camping, the phrase "Ubuntu" got brought up.  I don't know about you, but I have never heard that word before in my life.  

Ubuntu.

I am

because

We are

I don't know about whoever is reading this, but I consider myself to be a pretty independent person.  I don't like having to deal with depending on others.  I like to fix my own problems.  I like to rely on my own strength; mentally, physically, and spiritually.

But that's not the way any of us were designed.

We were designed to be a part of a community; a community that can laugh and encourage one another in joyful times and later call upon one another in the darkest of hours.  While this year, and even this life, may not always be easy we have one another.

In the attempt of being honest and authentic, I will be the first to admit that I fail on my own on a regular basis aka every single day.  I even fail at being there for others when they need a friend most!  

Which brings me to this beautiful passage in scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may res on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When I am weak, then I am strong; because of CHRIST, I am strong!  WOW! Now that is a beautiful picture – more beautiful than any sunny day or foggy day on the beach of Lake Superior.

Once again, I repeat:

Ubuntu.

I am

because

We are

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi