Birthdays in Uganda...

"When I think about the things that we've been through, I know just one thing is true. Life is better with you." -Michael Franti, Life is Better With You

"Then he said to his slaves, 'the wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests." -Matthew 22:8-10

I've written a lot lately about being a pretty independent guy. It's true. I'm an introvert and love time to myself. I pride myself on being self-sufficient and not asking for help. Ha! What a crock.

That's why I'm always glad when God finds little ways that turn into big ways to dislodge me a little bit and remind me just how much I need others and how much better life is when we get to share it together, the best parts of it and the hardest ones.

As I've written about before, for the past 9 years (wow, it doesn't feel that long!) I've sponsored a young man named Sande Ronald in Uganda through the organization Compassion International. It all started out with a strange nudge in my stomach to find a way to give, but the idea of putting money in a tray being passed down an aisle was SO uncool. So, I thought, "Sponsoring a kid in Africa seems like it could be cool."

Boy was I right, although I had no idea just how cool. Sande and I were paired because I wanted to find someone with a birthday near mine. Sande's is only 4 days after my birthday. It was a match made in heaven. Over the years, we've written probably fifty notes back and forth. He tells me about school and his family, the crops that are growing and the games and songs he is learning. It's gotten to the point that those are the envelopes I most look forward to and are the ones that bring me the most joy.

One of the really neat things about Sande and I is that when we write letters in January and February we get to celebrate one another's birthdays.

As I said, I am a pretty independent guy, and I hate celebrating my birthday. I hate when the attention is on me. This past year I had a night class and wanted to skip out on any other kind of celebration, including any kind of celebrating with my significant other at the time. Her response? "We're not going to NOT celebrate your birthday! I don't care if we just get dinner. We are celebrating!" We got Mellow Mushroom and then I went to class.

But Uganda does birthdays much differently. When Sande's post-birthday letter arrived, it painted a pretty awesome picture. He said that to celebrate his birthday, there was a party and dessert, which were the only things I wanted to think about when I was his age. But then he wrote something that stuck out and stopped me for a while. He wrote, "The best part is that the whole village celebrates together so that we can share the dessert."

The best part is sharing?! I didn't want anyone else to touch my cake when I was a kid, and all Sande wants to do is share it with his neighbors? Somehow I was sure that Sande and those in Uganda had it figured out much better than I ever could. Birthdays are not to be hoarded. Celebrations are just an easy excuse to let everyone share the most joy!

Recently, I got some other good news. I've got a friend who has spent the better part of recent years living on the streets, particularly in the spaces right around our church. He's a veteran who like many others had landed in homelessness. Since he spent so many nights right around the youth building, we got to know each other and share bits and pieces of our lives.

A few weeks ago I got some really exciting news. He had gotten approved for housing assistance and was moving into an apartment in downtown Fort Worth! How incredible is that! More amazing: he had heard there was a blessing in the United Methodist Church for new homes and he asked if I'd be a part of that ceremony for his new place.

Yesterday afternoon I had the privilege of heading the few blocks from the church it was to the apartment and getting to bless the new home. I got the VIP tour of the new digs, and let me just say that he's landed in a pretty awesome set-up. Then we prayed over his new place. We prayed that God would watch over this new home and that its new owner would be blessed and bless others because of it.

And then we broke bread, just like Jesus did with his friends at the table. At that moment, I became aware that something holy was going on in our midst. I was so humbled to have been invited to be a part of it all. I was so humbled that my friend had invited me to share something that should be celebrated from the mountaintop. And it was clear, in that instant, that God was in the midst of this celebration and that it had to be celebrated together, among friends.

There are few instances in scripture of people being alone. Sure, Moses was drawn to be by himself at the burning bush. And yeah, Jesus retreated often to recharge. Obviously, there are moments throughout in which God finds people alone and speaks.

But more often than not, God shows up and draws people together. Jesus had 12 (and many more) disciples who were invited to share his story. Joseph's story is full of people who intersect him in one way or another. Paul's letters show a relationship between mentor and church, between Paul, Timothy, and his other students. Jonah's experience with God is made all the richer knowing there were others of different faiths in the boat with whom he was navigating the waves.

As I've said before, the most compelling image in the gospels for me is the image of the banquet feast. When Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, one of the images he refers to often is that of a banquet hall with the multitudes sharing food around the table. Even if people pass up their RSVP with other engagements, the host goes out and sends out invitations until the hall is full, because celebrations are meant to be shared. I think that's what the Kingdom of God is like.

Time alone is invaluable. We need solitary times. But if my recent experiences have reminded me of anything, it's that celebrations and sorrows are meant to be shared. From the very beginning when God noticed Adam was lonely in the garden, it was clear that humans were made for community and life together. So may we invite others into the great joys and the deep despairs of our lives. And may we learn to celebrate others well and empathize with them equally deeply. May we learn to cherish the gift of community for which God has so intentionally invited us. And may we learn to live as they do in Uganda: together.

forever unfinished...