Balance: Although “schools are not mission fields,” sometimes finding balance in life requires a spiritual focus. As a kid, I was always grateful that I had access to hear spiritual words from a range of people in life. A boost to the soul for young people can be healthy.
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I woke up today a bit murky of spirit.
So, in order to navigate a path that wasn’t too clouded, I did two things to realign my spirit: I listened to music. I read poetry by Isaiah. The words hit the solarplexes of my wairua/ spirit hard. As if they were poetic words for Aotearoa New Zealand itself, in this moment of history and time. I guess this post, is a snapshot of that elevated feeling of inspiration.
[No matter how you center yourself, always make a difference for others. Especially, young people - in good ways].
[Poetry inspiration: Isaiah's words: Ch: 43: 1-28. Ch: 44: 1-5. I read the text, purely as poetry. Admiring the writer for magnificent vision with words and structure. Music: Randy Crawford].
Incidentally, I grew up with one of the whanau (family) singing this song on the way to the school bus stop some days. The harsh political years of the Muldoon era’s policies for many Maori-Kiwis and Pasifika families of New Zealand were handicapping to dreams. (more…)
What would you call a new church?was a question I was asked today.
Thinking of Mitt Romney‘s outrageous press recently, and not feeling very profound myself today, I said:
“I’d call it ”The Kicked In The Guts” Church,” because I think that’s how people are feeling today.
Silence.
Then we all burst into laughter.
“You’re weird,” was the eventual reply once the belly-aching laughter stopped.
“True dat,” I said without hesitation. Laughter again.
- – -
Later over (really awful) Vietnamese white grape juice and (okay) white bread, she read to me. Here is the message:
Kua oti nei hoki koe te hoko e ahau, kua karangatia e ahau tou ingoa; naku koe.
Ka haere koe i roto i te wai, ko ahau hei hoa mou; i nga awa ano, e kore e huri mai ki runga i a koe;
ki te haere koe i roto i te ahi, e kore koe e wera, e kore ano te mura e ka ki a koe.
Te hunga katoa i huaina nei toku ingoa mo ratou: naku hoki ratou i hanga hei whakakororia moku:
naku ia i whakaahua, naku hoki ia i mahi.
Kaua e mahara ki nga mea o mua; ko nga mea onamata kaua e whakaaroa.
Tenei ahau te mahi nei i te mea hou; akuanei te tupu ai: e kore ranei e mohiotia e koutou?
ka oti i ahau he ara i te koraha, he awa i te titohea.
Ka whakakororiatia ahau e nga kararehe o te parae, e nga kirehe mohoao, e nga otereti;
no te mea ka hoatu e ahau he wai i te koraha, he awa i te titohea, hei inu ma taku iwi, ma taku i whiriwhiri ai;
Ma te iwi i whakaahuatia e ahau maku, ma ratou e kauwhau te whakamoemiti moku.
I whakahengia, i whakakahoretia ia e te tangata; he tangata pouri, kua mohio hoki ki te tangi:
a, i ahua huna nga kanohi ki a ia; i whakakahoretia, kihai hoki tatou i whakaaro ki a ia.
He pono, nana o tatou mate i pikau, nana hoki i waha o tatou pouri: ko tatou ia i mea, i tukitukia,
i patua ia e te Atua, i whakawhiua.
Kia rahi atu te turanga mo tou teneti; kia maro hoki nga uhi o ou nohoanga: aua e kaiponuhia;
kia roa ou taura, kia u hoki ou poupou.
Ka tohatoha noa atu hoki koe ki matau, ki maui; a ka riro nga tauiwi i ou uri;
ma ratou ano ka nohoia ai nga pa kua ururuatia.
–Words in season for my dad and mom.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 10.7.12~
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you:
when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame scorch you.
–Isaiah‘s poetic words.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 31.5.12~
When I was 18, I toured New Zealand for a year in the Rise Up Band, specifically to recognize the 150 year signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi – the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand.
When we hit Christchurch City, a piece of ancient scripture was read out at one of the rallys. It was from Isaiah 60 and it was a word for all New Zealand citizens. It flowed like this:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
“Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (more…)
So, I zoom down the line to the beautiful province of Tauranga as the gorgeous Michele, a lawyer of South Africa is marrying soccer dad law practice owner Ross beside a nice cool river at Oropi just outside of Greerton, where they sought a Maori kaumatua (elder) of the region’s blessing to marry along side the river. For both, their marriage union is one of “second time lucky” love flow.
When I get back from Tauranga, a German friend Fabian tells me quite concerned, that the German President has resigned. “Corruption” is what he says is going on.
Gosh, that’s what my French friend, Philippe, says about his President too.
What’s going on with the world when young people visiting New Zealand, think this about their illustrious leaders, current and those resigning?
I keep telling wedding stories to move their thinking upwards into the “forget Presidents, what about you” terrain that the youth of the world are allowed to plan and experience for themselves in this generation.
I think of Michele and Ross’ amazing Kiwi story and how they found love unexpectedly in the nation of love.
The wedding invite shared the words: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
What a cool wedding premise of love and promise to marry under for the cute couple who met in Whangarei, Northland… Cheer up France and Germany – and nice one Michele and Ross for reaching the golden shore of committed love! :)
[Music - No.2 soundtrack: Hollie Smith & Don McGlashan, Bathe In The River].
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 19.2.12~
Listening to my Maori-Kiwi Pastor Marshall talk this morning in church was an amazing experience.
The following piece of prophetic poetry, is what he closed his sermon on. To me, it reflects the crucial crossroads where Aotearoa New Zealand can be located. It’s about getting out of our comfort zone and caring for the majority populations needs. A country’s pulse is always located in how we meet the needs of the poor. Period.
If we fail to do this, we are not human – let alone Kiwis.
The words are: “ Kia rahi te karanga, kaua e kaiponuhia, kia rite ki te tetere te nui o tou reo, whakaaturia ki taku iwi to ratou poka ke, o ratou hara ki te whare o Hakopa.
He rapu ano ia ta ratou i ahau i tenei ra, i tenei ra, e ahuareka ana hoki ki te mohio ki aku ara: me te mea he iwi e mahi ana i te tika, a kihai i whakarere i te whakaritenga a tona Atua, e ui ana ratou ki ahau ki nga whakaritenga o te tika, e a huareka ana ki te awhi ki te Atua.
Ko ta ratou ki, he aha matou i nohopuku ai, a kahore koe e titiro mai? he aha matou i whakapouri ai i o matou wairua, te mohio mai koe? Nana, i te ra e nohopuku ai koutou e kitea ana e koutou te ahuareka mo koutou ano; e akiakina ana hoki e kouto u a koutou whakamauiui katoa.
KEY AT SITE RAMSES II, ABU SIMBEL NUBIA, EGYPT with Isaiah‘s prophetic and poetic, lyrical words, written originally in Hebrew, being posted in Hollywood today, especially for baby Ezra and Generation Ezra in the world.
Prophetic poetry – “I will give you the treasures of darkness – I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places… I call you by your name… though you have not known me.”
Words in Te Reo Rangatira, follow:
Ko te kupu tenei a Ihowa ki tana i whakawahi ai, ki a Hairuha, he mea pupuri nei naku tona ringa matau, kia pehia ai e ia nga iwi ki raro i a ia; maku ano e wewete to nga hope o nga kingi; ko nga tatau ka whakapuaretia ki tona aroaro; e kore ano nga kuwaha e tutakina.
Born this way – I believe that all children of the world were born to have access to clean drinking water whenever they need it.
BTW: At the moment 1 billion people don’t. 2 million children die through not having access to clean drinking water each year.
Born this way to drink clean water – is these kids and their parents’ dream day. We can make it a dream day everyday for them. Let’s make it happen fun people, by clicking on UNICEF’S TAP PROJECT link. Let’s FLOW! Thanks groovy people.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.29.10~
“In the darkness there are treasures”–Rosie Foot, a twin who is a songwriter, country music singer, like Keith Urbanis of New Zealand.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”–King David, Psalmist Shepherd King.
Loss is a great teacher. There is no knowledge of true and pure joy without also seeing joy in the light of loss. Jewish mystiks tell us that in darkness there are hidden treasures. These can be found in places of grief, loss and grieving–believe it or not!
Nicole Kidman is evolving her entertainment resume as a Hollywood film producer while her peer Angelina Jolie is evolving as a Hollywood movie director. Here’s Nic’s movie trailer for Rabbit Holea story about grief, as her debut producing effort of her Hollywood production film company, Blossom Films. Nic is Golden Globe nominated in this role.
SOCIAL JUSTICE – WHERE A NATION’S PULSE IS FOUND – NEW ZEALAND – 6.11.11
Listening to my Maori-Kiwi Pastor Marshall talk this morning in church was an amazing experience.
The following piece of prophetic poetry, is what he closed his sermon on. To me, it reflects the crucial crossroads where Aotearoa New Zealand can be located. It’s about getting out of our comfort zone and caring for the majority populations needs. A country’s pulse is always located in how we meet the needs of the poor. Period.
If we fail to do this, we are not human – let alone Kiwis.
The words are: “ Kia rahi te karanga, kaua e kaiponuhia, kia rite ki te tetere te nui o tou reo, whakaaturia ki taku iwi to ratou poka ke, o ratou hara ki te whare o Hakopa.
He rapu ano ia ta ratou i ahau i tenei ra, i tenei ra, e ahuareka ana hoki ki te mohio ki aku ara: me te mea he iwi e mahi ana i te tika, a kihai i whakarere i te whakaritenga a tona Atua, e ui ana ratou ki ahau ki nga whakaritenga o te tika, e a huareka ana ki te awhi ki te Atua.
Ko ta ratou ki, he aha matou i nohopuku ai, a kahore koe e titiro mai? he aha matou i whakapouri ai i o matou wairua, te mohio mai koe? Nana, i te ra e nohopuku ai koutou e kitea ana e koutou te ahuareka mo koutou ano; e akiakina ana hoki e kouto u a koutou whakamauiui katoa.
November 6, 2011 | Categories: Christianity, Community, Compassion, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Crucial, Cultural Capital Economic Access Tests - New Zealand Inequality Tests, Culture, Dame Whina Cooper, Greed, Isaiah, New Zealand, Pastor Marshall, Pastor Watch, Poetry, Politics, Pop Cultural Commentary, Prophets, Public Demonstrations News, Te Reo Rangatira, Wairua | Leave A Comment »