I recently saw an Instagram post that said, “find your tribe, love them hard.” I loved it. I’ve been extra appreciative of those in my tribe lately with so much change in our live, both those who are near and far. While thinking about doing life with these compatriots I’ve been explaining to Jericho, my son, what makes a tribe as he’s curious about his tribe, the Baganda tribe. The Baganda tribe makes up 40% of Uganda which boasts 3 million people. Explaining the Baganda tribe to my four year old has had me fascinated with tribes and their shared language, relationships, and celebrations.
While reading about the tribal rituals of a beautiful African people group I couldn’t help but parallel the culture of our life and tribe, the one we’ve intentionally chosen, both the similarities and the differences. It made me think about the unsaid “rituals” of our tribe, one not made of the same race, but instead of a common bond in faith, one that marks us as lovers of redemption and justice, truth and grace, hope and adventure. This love speaks over our intentions, how we act, our shared language, relationships, and celebrations.
I think of our shared language, one that doesn’t look to tear down, but instead build each other up. One that invites honesty, humility, authenticity, and laughter. It doesn’t position, praise, or slander, it’s life giving. Our shared language stands as witness to others how our tribe won’t choke you out, but make room for you at the table as equals. You are not more or less, we sit together regardless of social standing. We won’t look to speak ill of others or you, but may love drip from our lips, only gracious speech evident to all.
Our relationships aren’t at arms length, we invite each other in to our struggles, our hurts, and our triumphs. We know the heart of each other, not just what we can see on Facebook. Its messy, not perfect, and together we work out our healing, pursuit of wholeness while assuming a posture of forgiveness. We will offend and occasionally piss each other off. We don’t retreat in those moments, ex-communicating each other, that’s not our ritual. Our only option is always reconciliation. Our relationships are with the up and out and down and out. Are you put together with every hair in place? Great. Are you bedraggled and worn? That’s ok. Both are invited into relationship. There is personal healing available in relationships as we are all image bearers of Christ. Adventure of heart awaits in each other.
Celebrations are frequent and savored. They are complete with feasting, laughter, music, and stories. We will celebrate birthdays, new seasons, new babies, National Donut Day, and anything in between. My son gets so excited when someone is coming over to play. If there is more than one kid coming it’s officially a party. He loves parties just like my husband and I. We will always be eager to gather, whether its last minute hot dogs on the grill or lavish dinners with hours of preparation. Either way we were created for it. I feel so often people wait to be invited rather than inviting. Hospitality is not reserved for a select few who remember to vacuum, it’s for all of us. If it’s frozen pizzas or slow roasted carnitas tacos, you can do this. We can sometimes find our selves sitting jealous of others as they gather when we could do the very same thing, gather.
We only have so much time to spend our lives, the clock is running and the cost is high. Let it be a in a tribe that shares the same heartbeat. We weren’t meant to wander alone. It was always part of the plan to dance around the fire with those of a likeminded spirit. Together we make a life. Together we make a tribe.
