A Shard from Kenya

If you've heard me talk about why I love other cultures, you've probably heard me use the "shard" thing before but if you haven't, let me tell you what that's about :)

I believe that when the fall happened and sin entered the world, a lot of things shattered. One of the things that shattered was God's pure and perfect reflection in mankind. Like a mirror that breaks, every piece still reflects the person (or the Creator in this case) but it is not a flawless representation of Him anymore.

I'm sure you can think of individuals in your lives that reflect this mentality: a person who is extra kind to everyone or that one friend who always listens so compassionately or that family member who has a heart for the homeless — all of those are shards. Little pieces of God that shine extra bright and extra clear in people.

I think the same thing happened with cultures too. Each culture has aspects of it that reflect God's character a little bit clearer and brighter than those around it. And tonight I found one of those shards of Kenyan culture.

After we got back from the schools (if you happen to be reading this out of order, we were split today to go to the special needs school and the Pangani clinic), we were welcomed to a cultural dinner put on by Gracehouse!

The evening began with dancing and music and they covered us in their culture: quite literally! The men got bracelets and the women got headscarves.

There was laughing and shouting and community! Hugs and cheers and greetings! They taught us their dances and copied our silly ones! The energy in that courtyard was off the charts!

Then we were sang a song of welcome that they wrote and they served us some of their traditional Kenyan dishes including green mashed potatoes, flatbread, deep fried doughnut type things, vegetable stew, and a lamb literally roasted over a fire and cut off the bone onto our plates!

After we were done eating, more dancing! We danced for two hours straight!

And that's when I realized the shard: their uninhibited joy and desire to praise. I noticed it at church too, but their traditional dances and celebrations made it so clear to me.

Psalm 30:11-12 "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever."

Psalm 149:3-4 "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his  people; he crowns the humble with victory."

America is wonderful, but we don't often let go of all our inhibitions and dance and sing praises to our King. Here in Kenya, the use of music and dancing is such an integral part of their lives, that it only makes sense that they should praise God. A tiny reflection of our mighty and awesome God!

And I am so thankful to the people here who were willing to share their culture with me tonight — it was such a blessing. I clearly saw God in every soul around that circle and felt His joy radiating onto me in those moments.

I was reminded of a song by Rend Collective which says the following:

I am dancing as David danced

In the thrill of a wild romance

I'm in love and I'm not ashamed

Love's a fire that won't be tamed

Oh my soul was not born to be caged

I will be undignified

I will praise the Lord my God with all my might

And I will leave my pride behind

And I will praise the Lord my God with all my might

I hope we get to dance and sing like that in heaven with all the nations some day :)

Blessings,

Shawna