When the news feels heavy and the world seems to be coming undone—through rising prices, political shouting, and broken systems—it’s easy to feel disoriented and afraid. But into this unraveling, a deeper truth is offered: the Spirit of God is not absent but at work, weaving us into connection, into courage, into life.
At the heart of this recent Takapuna Methodist Church service at the Puriri Centre was the belief that we are not falling apart—we are falling into life. Instead of breaking down, we are being broken open. In this sacred unraveling, something profound is emerging: a divine thread pulling us together with grace, love, and resilient hope.
We gathered not because we had answers, but because we had faith enough to show up. We came trusting that even now, even here, something sacred is rising.
Cracked Open to See Anew: Saul and Peter’s Stories
Two ancient stories offered powerful insight: Saul, filled with anger and certainty, was struck blind on the road. Outwardly, it looked like collapse. But inwardly, he was being transformed. When the “scales fell from his eyes,” he saw differently—wider, deeper, and more alive. He recognized the divine in the very people he once rejected.
Peter, grieving and disoriented after Jesus’ death, went back to what he knew: fishing. He caught nothing—until a voice from the shore called out, “Try the other side.” The nets overflowed, and Peter discovered abundance not through effort, but through presence and trust. Jesus didn’t lecture; he made breakfast. These stories aren’t about rules—they’re about reconnection. They invite us to see that even in chaos, we are being led into wholeness.
Finding Home in a Sacred Ecosystem
The service named community as more than a place—it’s a living ecosystem, a spiritual forest where we hold each other up. This is not a club or a machine. It’s a space of awhi—a beautiful Te Reo Māori word that means to welcome, hold, and embrace.
Awhi reminds us that community is where healing happens—not through perfection, but through presence. It’s a place of safety and truth, where every story is honoured, and every person is seen. In this sacred ecosystem, we’re reminded: you’re not alone here.
Beyond Surviving: A Gospel of Connection
As the world grows more fragile—with climate curveballs and economic strain—the spirit calls us not to escape, but to lean in. Strength is redefined: no longer about dominance, but about closeness, kindness, and wisdom. We are invited to build local resilience—not just as good practice, but as gospel.
This vision connects to kaitiakitanga—the Māori principle of guardianship. To live faithfully now is to tend what we have, to share what we can, and to trust that what we need is already within us: our place, our people, and a Spirit that never lets go.
The Table of Love and Wholeness
At the centre of it all was a table—not grand or formal, but familiar and open. Communion was described as a “beach breakfast moment,” where Jesus says, “Come and eat.” Here, we come as we are: hungry, human, whole in our brokenness.
This table is wide enough to hold every doubt and dream, feeding us not just with bread and cup, but with belonging, grace, and presence. It reminds us that even in our cracked places, we are holy. Even in our questions, we are loved.
Go Forth, Woven into Hope
The final invitation wasn’t just to reflect—but to act. Our giving fuels not just budgets, but movements. Our presence becomes the light that touches tired places. We are sent not as solo travellers, but as threads in a sacred web—carrying joy, healing, and wildly unreasonable hope.
So go. With eyes wide open and hearts full of fierce love. With hands ready to build and bless. Carry light where the world has dimmed, hope where hearts have grown thin. Go radiant with courage, woven with joy, and alive with purpose. Fall into life. Fall into love. And live it aloud.