A Sense of the Sacred

A sense of the sacred permeates much of life in the South Pacific. In Aotearoa New Zealand we live in a spirit-filled space on the planet. Maori identify with ancestors, with mountains, rivers, valleys, oceans, stars, and to the elements of nature. Stories of origin stretch our imagination and affirm that we live in a spirit-filled world.

The whole of existence is bound in a unified vision. There is a connectedness to the universe, especially to the living planet that nourishes us. Each aspect of life is related to every other. Spirits are said to protect every features of the landscape. Nothing is disturbed in the domain of the guardian spirits without respect, recognition and expressions of gratitude. Everyone, and everything, that has gone before us is acknowledged and addressed with appreciation.

This view of the world is based on the proposition that the environment is an interacting network of related elements, each having a relationship to the others, and to common origins. In this situation we missionaries have a role to relate our unfolding story of creation. The idea may seem to be a mystery to people absorbed in busy city lives, but the mission task is to remind ourselves how we belong on planet Earth and in God’s world.

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