This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Powhiri (pronounced “po-fer-tee”) ceremony which is a ritual of welcome extended to visitors by the Maori tribe. People from all across the Polynesian Islands representing Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Tonga were welcomed to New Zealand during the gathering. This ceremony is intensely beautiful in the way that it brings many different cultures together. A representative from each country has the opportunity to deliver a speech in his native language. Immediately following, each person in his group performs a dance and sings a waiata (song) of worship to our Lord in their unique way. It brought tears to my eyes to witness people from all across the country praising and loving God, united as one.
Upon the completion of the Powhiri, before eating a dinner of lamb and pig which they bury in the ground the night before to cook, each person Hongi’s one another. I spoke about the Hongi in a previous blog and continue to love the idea of breathing life into one another. Today while working in the kitchen, I thought quite a bit about what this concept could look like in our daily life. In what ways could I breathe life into the people I come in contact with? This is what I came up with:
My speech: I must commit to only speak words that are life giving. I must use my words to bless and build up rather than curse and tear down. We each have the ability to destroy or bring life with the words that we say.
My attitude: “People want to be and deserve to be ceIebrated, not just tolerated.” (quote from Allison.) I must honor the people God has brought into my life and recognize that they are made in the image of God. I must look at one another according to their destiny and STOP judging them according to their history. I must be willing to love one another through the tough stuff.
God breathes life into me every day through so many venues. He showcases His love by reminding me daily that I am cherished, that I am engraved on the palms of His hands. He knows my past, my fears, my failures, and my doubts and still He sees only the beauty in me. He wipes the slate clean by trading my guilt and shame for forgiveness and grace.
I am so undeserving.
What would life look like if we were able to love others the way God loves us? If we would focus only on the beauty we see in others, if we could recognize the work God is doing in their lives rather than being so quick to pin-point their flaws? Let’s breathe life into one another today.
