Tena tātou katoa e te iwi mīhana… (Greetings to all the people in mission),

This month’s whakataukī (proverb) is: “Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana. Ka tere te karohirohi i mua to huarahi” [May the ocean be calm and glisten like the greenstone. And the shimmering light dance across your pathway].

This proverb is a blessing on the traveller. It speaks of peace, beauty and illumination on the way. As we kick off a new year shrouded in smoke from uncontrollable fires raging across Australia, and with dire predictions of war between the USA and Iran, among many other global calamities, we can be forgiven for feeling like we’re riding out a storm at sea.

The West (has) simply been living in a pocket of relative peace that could well be bursting around us.

Lest we think we are living in an era of unprecedented turmoil at the end of days, the most cursory glance back through history should provide sobering perspective. Life on earth has been far, far worse. Post World War II generations in the West have simply been living in a pocket of relative peace that could well be bursting around us.

Should we worry? Should we rage about how unfair the situation is and appeal to the authorities to defend our liberties and protect our way of life? Sure, do what you can and must but much of the change upon us is out of our control and beyond our influence to do much of political significance, beyond bringing the situation to God in prayer.

Am I an apathetic fatalist? I don’t think so, but I’m not a big social or political activist—my faith leads me in another direction. My faith tells me it’ll all work out well in the end. So does my Bible. It might not work out pleasantly for me personally but, to quote Abraham, “will not the Judge of the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25). I’m not really a big Calvinist either. I can accept predestination, but only to a point. I guess I am too much of a realist to think our disobedience won’t hinder God’s plans for our lives. Our lives. The Father’s grand plans will prevail regardless (Job 42:2, Pr 19:21).

In my missions leadership role I am blessed to be able to celebrate the passions of many activists. I am a mobiliser at heart and love to champion those who have a firey calling to engage in this world’s problems for God. I am inspired by them and will seek to encourage and make a way for them as much as I can with the influence I have. The opening proverbial blessing is for them as much as anyone, because they’re the ones wrestling with the tiller and trimming the sails, personing the oars and bailing the water, as the storm rages around us. They’re yelling at everyone else in the boat to help them, to lend their strengths to the battle against the elements. As the tempest rages back.

The tempest has always raged.

The tempest has always raged. A couple generations in a few privileged parts of the world may have experienced a temporary lull but the wind is whipping up afresh. We know the tempest has always raged because it is a potent metaphor in Scripture, one that Jesus’ disciples lived out in reality. If we needed an historic faith-account to comfort us in the decade/s ahead, we should find none better than that of Jesus calming the storm. But even here, Jesus was living out an older historic account. Has that occurred to you when you’ve read Psalm 107?

From the NIV…

For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for (human)kind. (Psalm 107:25-31 NIV)

Did you catch this, “For he spoke…”. Who stirred up the tempest? The whole of Psalm 107 is of God creating calamity and the people responding with repentance, God restores order and the people praise Him. This is the faith of the Biblical heroes, the experience of the Apostles, the trust many of the persecuted hold on to. God. Is. In. Control. When powerful men and women think they are, God laughs (Ps 2:4). We desperately need to hold on to this truth as we near our wits end on the ocean of life.

I wholeheartedly believe we should be doing our utmost to make the world better—more loving, more equitable, more just, more aligned with God’s rightness, more sustainable, protecting its beauty. I believe that begins with a transformative change in the human heart, of a dimension that only the Holy Spirit can make in those who choose to follow Christ. I believe a better world emerges from better people but the offer of ‘betterness’ must be intentionally extended by way of the retelling of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Our lived experience should be one of calm serenity.

I believe, as we each follow God’s call on our lives to participate with the Spirit to build a better world, that, regardless of the tempest raging around us, our lived experience should be one of the calm serenity that comes from absolute faith in God having it sorted.

After all, the proverb’s glistening greenstone sea sounds a lot like the reflection of the emerald rainbow off the crystal water flowing from the throne of God (cf. Rev. 4:6 & 22:1). Let’s keep that vision in our sights are we journey, peacefully, and #stayonmission.

Whakapaingia te Atua, to tatou kaiunga ki te ao whanui (Praise to God, who sends us into the world),

Jay