Umthwalo

Umthwalo wami uya ndi sinda… “My burden is heavy”

The next line of this song translates loosely “I'm asking your help to carry it” – this is about where my comprehension of the Xhoso language ends. Before Christmas I heard this song on a South African radio station. I couldn’t find it on iTunes – I hope it finds its way there soon. The artist’s name is Zahara Mkutukane. The song struck me so over the Christmas holiday. I was thinking tonight, as a walked past the pink valentine hearts in Stop & Shop, how long ago Christmas seems – how quickly all the decking the halls and singing of carols become packed away in boxes in the corners of our memory. This song will forever remind me of the passing of 2011 into 2012 and all the sights, sounds, events – big and small of this point in my history. I don’t know if it’s because I am a musician, but I find that I tend to dive into a song or a piece of music. Certain songs seem to embed themselves into my soul. This is one of them.

It made me think of our burdens. We all have such worldly burdens that we carry day to day Some are blessed burdens and so while they are at times heavy, they also give me joy and fulfillment. Some might argue that “burden” is not the best term. But I think it’s how you look at it. My heart is truly often burdened by my concern, love, hope worry and sometimes fear that comes with raising my children. I work day to day to provide for them as do all loving parents. We carry the burden of fulfilling their physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs. My professional work, while fulfilling, is often heavy with a burden full of planning, preparing, doing, emailing, this, that, and oh yeah, I need to remember to take care of that…so much to carry.

I began to think of what burdens my heart – what is it that we each carry around in our heart? I contemplated how all that has shaken our planet in this past year served to show so clearly the need for us to share in each other’s struggle. Whatever we find ourselves each facing – whatever burden, seemingly great or small - whether they be brought on by natural disaster, physical poverty, spiritual poverty, violence in our nations or unrest within the very deepest inner recesses of our souls – we are each facing them. I and you share this very personal baggage that we carry around with us, and yet how often we neither share our own burdens with others, nor do we seek to help lift the burdens of those closest to us. Moreover, we neglect to seek ways to ease the very heavy burdens that seem to weigh on people throughout our world. Umthwalo wami uya ndi sinda…

On the Sunday, one week following New Years day,I walked into the church I hadn’t stepped foot in in over a year. I was late and our senior Pastor was already before the congregation giving the sermon as I came in. It took the strength of the Lord to bring myself to church after being away so long. I honestly can say He compelled my soul there that day. As I quietly entered and sat myself down His words washed over me as delivered by the Pastor’s lips. She was speaking of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus with her very tears. How much more can one lay ones burdens at the feet of her Lord than this. When her actions were questioned by onlookers, Jesus rebuked them and praised her actions as a blessed offering onto Him. How God so desires that we open up, become vulnerable and share our burdens openly with Him and with others. He says, don't worry about what others might think or say of you. This has been a revelation for me these past weeks. I have suddenly found myself in the presence of some of the amazing friends and family that God has placed in my life sharing so openly hopes, fears - small burdens lifted, their load shared a little while with each other. The feeling of strength given in this sharing is overwhelming, profound, powerful. God has been so good to give me people in my life with whom I can share my struggles both great and small! And even greater he reminds me:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28