Do you believe in karma? 

I think I do. But also… not really.

I identify as Christian, so karma isn’t really the framework I use to understand life. I believe in God, grace, forgiveness and mercy. But I also believe that our actions have consequences.

Not always immediately. Not always in the way we expect. And definitely not always in the satisfying “wayitangireyi musindo or tshana nyamazana!” way we sometimes secretly hope for when someone has done us wrong. But Christianity doesn’t really encourage us to wish bad on people.

Romans 12:19 says:

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 12:19, New International Version (NIV).

So sometimes, you just have to let go and let God…(oh this used to be my favourite saying a long time ago. Might need to revisit it!)

But does that mean our actions don’t matter? Hell nawwww! 

Galatians 6:7 says:

“A man reaps what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7, New International Version (NIV).

And I think that’s the part of “karma” I understand.

What you put into the world matters. The way you treat people matters. The choices you make matter. Eventually, actions have consequences.

But I don’t believe every bad thing that happens to someone means they deserved it. Good people experience terrible things. Bad people sometimes seem to get away with terrible things.

Life isn’t that neat…sadly. 

So, do I believe in karma? 

I believe in consequences. I believe in reaping what we sow. I believe that sometimes you don’t need revenge because someone’s own choices will catch up with them.

And I believe in grace too.

Because if we’re going to talk about people getting what they deserve, we have to remember that we’ve all done things we wouldn’t particularly enjoy harvesting.

So perhaps the better thing to do is live right, love people well, and when someone wrongs you, like really wrongs you…just let go and let God.