He Tangata

There are famous works of art, ancient architecture and thriving metropolises. There are libraries of words and vaults of money. There are tranquil islands of bliss, crowded shanty towns and vast oceans of water. But an old Moari proverb asks ko te mea ote ao he tangata? which means What is the most important thing in the world? Some may think the answer is in creativity, leadership, power or money, but the New Zealand Maori’s answer is simply he tangata he tangata he tangata - It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

People we can go to for advice, ask for help or information. People who inspire us and draw out our personalities or creativity. People who are rebels or wild explorers and challenge us to overcome fear and delve into adventure. People who lead. People who follow. People that are silent sages and those who verberate voice or song. People to share stories, time and wisdom. People to sit at bedsides for final goodbyes. People to laugh with, get silly and travel with. People we look forward to spending time with and those we avoid. People who enrich our character, to bounce ideas off of and to just do life with.

Jesus understood people. He gathered his disciples together - twelve of them - because he knew that after He left, they would need each other. Jesus shared his life, his teachings and even fish and bread with the crowds. People. “Jesus didn’t come into the world to make bad people good. He came into the world to make dead people live, Ravi Zacharias tells us. Jesus mingled with all sorts of people, but two of the most important things he asked us to do was to love God and love people, which isn’t always easy.

Sometimes, it’s letting go of my wants and desires and walk in step with the Lord as He strengthens my character so I can love others. That means loving them where they are on their journey, not my version of where they should be. God wants us to love everyone and He will work on their hearts. People. Jesus spoke to the people in parables because

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:13-23

I pray we see, hear and understand. Loving God and loving people.