Sawubona

The toughest thing in the world is getting others to do what you want them to do.

The most painful reality is witnessing those you love walking in the opposite direction.

The frustration is real when others live in a manner that will surely be destructive to themselves and others. “It doesn’t have to be this way!”

When one feels manipulated or emotionally blackmailed, it is a nightmare.

What do we do when our advice/suggestions are disregarded or ignored?

Living is not easy in a world of people who have their own opinions, beliefs, worldviews, mindsets, histories, experiences, and agendas.

It’s the ultimate challenge. Should we rise up and force the hand of others with threats, economic blackmail, intimidation; build walls of distance or silence to isolate?

What does freedom, democracy, tolerance, and equal opportunity actually look like?

I don’t believe the solution is drafting rules, legislation, and ‘ten commandments’ to force adherence and compliance.

Interestingly, Christians invariably quote the Ten Commandments or the “Word of God” to judge others or shame them into compliance. It seldom works. The reference implies accusation, rules, and justification for actions taken. And yet Jesus did not model such an approach. His character, words, actions, and engagement with others were entirely based upon truth and sacrificial love.

This means that he never spoke in a manner that humiliated, forced, coerced, or shamed others. Certainly, he challenged the religious leaders of his day when he angrily called them out for placing heavy burdens of religious dogma upon the shoulders of those whom they should be leading and caring for with humility and grace.

When his disciples disagreed with him, failed, or were slow to follow, he guided them with firm acceptance and explanation into a better way and understanding. When they couldn’t handle his message, he allowed them to walk away rather than be forced to comply. Perhaps he thought, “Give them time. I hope they have second thoughts, a revelation. Hear me.”

Character, integrity, and humility were hallmarks of Jesus’ revelation and relationships. Free will is a gift to be respected and valued. Choices have consequences. Not every belief or opinion is accurate or even wise. If people don’t want to listen or choose other sources of guidance, that is their prerogative. No matter, Jesus never backed off from testifying to the truth of his Father. That is One God, sin and rebellion, a root cause buried within the hearts of humans with deadly consequences. The love of God counterbalanced by justice.

There are scientific laws that govern the universe regardless of human opinion: gravity, seasons, life and death, the ebbing and flowing of tides, the rising and setting of the sun, the migration of birds, and the sensitivity of animals and the environment to human behaviour.

So, too, Jesus alerted us to spiritual laws and principles equally unaffected by human opinion. Many grapple with that statement.

Jesus’ bottom line is love expressed in a relationship that sees the other person, values their existence, understands inevitable differences, and takes time to look, listen, and hear the other. When we deny one another those gifts, we lose a relationship, objectify one another, and resort to force, pressure, and manipulation to gain the upper hand and have our will predominate. We caricature those with whom we disagree and speculate without engaging face-to-face. Hostility increases, fear runs riot, and misunderstanding is inevitable.

Sawubona is a Zulu phrase of greeting. It means, “I see you.”

Apparently, the response to ‘Sawubona’ is, “Ngikhona’, “I am here.”

The experience of being seen, warts and all, drew people to Jesus. That was his starting point, and it is the place from which life-changing responses, revelations, and worldviews germinate and flourish.

The voice that breaks me, stirs me, heals me, and restores me is the one from Jesus – spoken in the darkest times and in the best of times. never changing, amazing me when I least deserve or expect it.

“Sawubona John.” To which I can do nothing but respond in gratitude, “Ngikhona, my Lord and my friend.”