I AM AT A NAKED PARADE

Somebody called me a Universalist. I took it as a compliment, because one thing I know about Universalists is that they take God’s love to the extreme, even though sometimes it is screwed up. And I have always longed to be accused of taking God’s love to the extreme.

Now for those who are wondering whether I really am a Universalist, rest assured I am not. I don’t take any labels.

I also want people to know that I am not a heterosexual. Neither am I gay.

I am not a Pentecostal, Evangelical, Anglican or any other denomination man has ever cooked up. I don’t subscribe to any religious affiliation. I am not a Theist. And that doesn’t make me an Atheist.

I am not a chef. I am not a writer. I am not a musician.

I think I should also add this: I am not Ugandan, though I am very patriotic. I don’t litter on our city’s streets.

I am me. And I guess that’s why I don’t fit.

I have dropped all labels, even the ones that would look impressive on a certificate or plaque. I don’t want to be put on a pedestal.

I am just me.

Very many people fight for my attention, and when they realise that I don’t belong to their clique, they drop me like a hot coal. I know I would have more friends if I wore the same tee-shirt like them or stood up for the same causes as them. But I have dropped all labels.

If anyone ever remembers me, I want them to remember me as someone who was himself. If anyone ever accepts me, I want them to accept me for who I really am, not because I am just like them.

Heterosexuals throw stones at homosexuals. Homosexuals throw stones at heterosexuals. Muslims hate Christians and the Christians retaliate with false humility. One political party squashes another. And it’s all because everyone is proud of their label and don’t want to drop it.

In today’s world, a label is worth everything. People will kill for labels or die for them. That’s why there are suicide bombers. No woman would abort an unwanted child if she didn’t fear the label that would be pasted on her if society found out about it. Another would refuse to abort because she fears the label she would get from society if they knew her intentions.

Prada, Versace, Nokia, Microsoft and other labels wouldn’t be leaders in the market if undue importance was not subscribed to labels.

South Africans would not have endured Apartheid, and the Rwandan Genocide would never have happened if there were no labels.

That’s why I dropped mine, even at the expense of being shunned and ridiculed. I left the camp at the risk of losing friends or ever gaining new ones. And I am content where I am.

So next time you see me, and realise I am naked, just know that I don’t care. I’ve stripped myself of all pretences. Nothing matters to me. Only one thing really matters: Christ. For “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV)

Does anyone want to join me in my naked parade? Can you risk being naked and not ashamed? Drop your labels!