It’s not like we’re going to just hold hands and start singing Kumbaya.

How many times have you heard a phrase like this, particularly when someone is advocating for a non-superficial approach to problem solving?

And yes, I understand this reaction. We definitely don’t want to gloss over profound problems by singing spiritual ditties.

Or do we?

Let’s explore this a little, shall we?

First of all, I need to make a little confession:

I love singing Kumbaya.

Not that I get to do it much anymore. The song has become an object of scorn and ridicule, and people don’t bust it out much these days.

But I can still remember singing it as a kid and the feeling of joy and expansion I’d have when doing so.

Kumbaya is a powerful little tune.

There are lots of conflicting stories about its origins, but most folks agree that it started in the African American community in the Southeastern U.S.

The phrase Kumbaya started out as Come by here.

As in: God, come by here because we need your Help.

This is a song that was sung by people who had been enslaved, people who were grounding themselves in a spiritual understanding, people who were calling out to the Divine for help.

Pretty much the opposite of superficial, wouldn’t you say?

And though I didn’t know these origins when I was singing it as a kid, I could feel the power of the song.

Then people started making fun of it and Kumbaya fell out of favor.

But what if holding hands and singing Kumbaya is actually more powerful than people realize?

What if coming together, holding hands and asking for Help from something that’s Bigger than us – something that is also in and working through all of us – is exactly what we need to do?!

There’s a lot of divisiveness in the United States right now.

But in spite of the appearance of profound differences, we’re all made of the same Energy. The same Power.

And that Power is what will heal us.  

That doesn’t mean action isn’t necessary.

It is.

But if that action isn’t grounded in the Power that unites us, it’s not going to get us anywhere.

There will probably always be people who make fun of Kumbaya. That’s okay.

But today, I’m taking a stand for Kumbaya.

I’m taking a stand for holding hands and asking for Help.

In five-part harmony.

What’s your relationship with Kumbaya? Share your comments below!

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