The spirit of Ubuntu
'Often, we are so stuck on complaining about what we don’t have that we forget how blessed we truly are' – CCCO executive director.
• Kyle Tolman, Cross Connect Community Outreach (CCCO) executive director writes:
Once a cosy and warm home for her and her children, the house of Sarah, a single mother of two, was now nothing but a charred ruin. The fire that had raged through it had taken away everything Sarah and her young family had accumulated over the years.
Feeling helpless, homeless, and traumatised, Sarah didn’t know where to turn. Her neighbour, Natalie, came to her rescue. Natalie generously offered her spare room to Sarah and her children while she recovered from the shock and tried to figure out her next steps.
Cross Connect Community Outreach heard about Sarah’s situation and visited her to assess her needs. We listened as she recounted the events of the fire and the toll it had taken on her family. We are now rallying support to ensure that Sarah and her children get the support needed to help them get back on their feet.
Two things stood out about this visit. The first was how her neighbour displayed the spirit of Ubuntu by selflessly helping with no strings attached. The second thought was the joy and hope Sarah showed amid her circumstances. She was smiling and had hope in her eyes — a lesson for all of us.
It reminded me to be thankful for the simple things: a house, a bed, a job, and good health. Often, we are so stuck on complaining about what we don’t have that we forget how blessed we truly are. I pray that you will look for opportunities to help someone this week by displaying the spirit of Ubuntu.
It’s in the helping of others that our burdens become easier to bear.
