Recognising the Spirit as impulse, support and comfort in our midst can nourish our confidence personally and sustain us in community. As a way of revealing the Spirit’s presence at this time we asked a number of contributors: Who are the women in your life who influence and inspire you? This June issue describes some of them — whānau women, women living among us today and women remembered from the past. Our writers admire these women, but even more than admiring them, they acknowledge their embodiment of spirit and how knowing or knowing of them boosted their dignity, value and relationships in the world. They all found some quality or combination of qualities that encouraged, affirmed and emboldened them.
As I read each story I regretted not knowing the woman as the writer did. Each is someone I’d love to have had for a friend. The writers highlight what they loved about the person, what was attractive, challenging, familial, accepting. The stories remind me of some advice I read once: if we want to be more of something, eg, more loving, inclusive, hospitable, kind … look around for someone who is a good example of the quality and observe how they show it. And then begin imitating it. At first, the new behaviour may feel contrived but keep practising and after some time we’ll find that the quality is finding a home within us, too. We will be growing more thoughtful, welcoming or forgiving.
In a sermon which aimed to encourage us in this, we’d probably be told to imitate Jesus. That’s because, I suspect, the preacher hasn’t looked at the people around him. The women described by the June writers are not in short supply. They’re our sisters, mothers, nieces, grandmothers and aunts. We’ll find them on public platforms and in our aged care homes, in supermarkets and in churches, in boardrooms and in studios, in our homes and in the media. They are Christ faces and voices encouraging us to care about the global issues such as the well-being of the planet as a home for all life, how to forge peace and to rid the Church and world of discrimination against women and girls. They’re also highlighting domestic issues such as the love and protection of children in our whānau and institutions and the care we give those imprisoned or seeking asylum. These women may sound pesky, immoderate or strident to some but don’t dismiss them — they are embodiments of the Spirit pointing to how we can further develop kinship in our world.
We thank all the contributors to this issue whose generosity and expertise in words, art and craft give us our monthly feast of reading and reflection.
And as is our custom, our last word is of blessing and encouragement.
Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 260 June 202: 2