In my Māori cultural environment, visitors are typically embraced and highly regarded as a source of new knowledge. The initial interaction between visitors (manuhiri) and hosts (tangatawhenua) is considered a sacred occasion and there are well defined protocols that guide the meeting of the two peoples. The customary introduction process is called a pōwhiri, which conveys the idea of weaving (whiriwhiri) two realities together out of ignorance (pō, darkness) toward enlightenment or mutual understanding. The bringing together of the two peoples in an interactive context of co-creating understanding of one another benefits both the visitors and the hosts. The process varies in the amount of time involved, but when there is a mutual sense of common understanding, the formalities are concluded with the pressing of noses (a mingling of breath/life force, bringing peace) and a communal meal. From that point forward, the visitors are considered family and they are afforded all the privileges of the tribe . . . and held accountable as members also—sometimes a challenging responsibility, but you certainly learn quickly!
Mutual, intercultural transformation is most powerfully experienced at points of tension in relationships. Often, we imagine that relational harmony is the absence of disagreement, but that is an illusion. Just as you cannot produce a harmonic on an instrument string without tuned tension, so it is with creating harmony in groups. Harmony is not possible without holding the tension. It is within the tensions of difference that creativity emerges. The more diverse the participants, the more severe the tensions of difference, and the greater the benefit for all if the tensions are tuned well. The benefits can be many, but the personal development potential within the creative interaction should be highly valued. We are literally “transformed by the renewing of our minds” through this process of mutual interaction. So, personal or self-development happens in context of interpersonal tensions, not in the absence of them.
Our neural pathways are constantly formed through our interactions with others. We are shaped daily as people by who and what we expose ourselves to. Even more so if those interactions are with people of a different background from us, like those you meet on a short-term trip. The fact that our relationships create us as people is part of what it means to grow as vulnerable humans. When Christians interact together the added factor of being in-Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, adds a spiritual development dimension to the process. It is all part of our journey of development as disciples of Christ in our communities of faith.
In view of the many humanitarian and environmental challenges the world faces today, the global church has a great opportunity to collaborate and co-create solutions—as an organic whole, interconnected in-Christ (as in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26). Solutions can flow both ways as we each acknowledge our limitations and welcome the strengths in each other’s perspectives, allowing the mutual learning experience to develop us as people and disciples. Fulfillment comes from allowing the love of Christ to compel us to contribute to the wellbeing of those with whom we have a relationship, and to be open to where the Spirit wants us to collaborate beyond existing relationships—especially to the family of faith, but not exclusively. Whether short-term or long-term, as we join together across boundaries in transformative relationships and work together for the betterment of the world around us, everyone should be changed and blessed in the copowerment process. This is the principle of mutuality. This is God’s love in action, and it glorifies God. Rather than fulfillment for our own self’s sake, expressing our integrated loving unity toward mutual fulfillment must become the prime motivator for reaching across boundaries and borders. Only then will the world believe and know that the Father lovingly sent the Son.
6 Rom 12:2 (NIV)
7 Galatians 6:10
8 John 17:18-26 (NIV)
-Jay Matenga
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