Postkiwi

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.”
Psalm 39:4 (New Living Translation)

This is the third metaphor for life Rick draws from the Bible. The idea of being a sojourner, alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveller - it rings true to me. I see many images in the scripture, many stories, in which the people of God are reminded that their ultimate destiny lies in a place beyond their present dreams.

I’ve been in Australia as permanent resident for three and a bit years, though I haven’t yet taken out citizenship. I still feel as though New Zealand is my home. But Australia is not enemy territory. I feel no guilt about cheering for Australian athletes and swimmers. Though I do still support the All Blacks, the Auckland Warriors, and the Otago Highlanders.

I’m a sojourner living here as long as I’m called to be here. For all I know, that could be another three years, or another forty three years. But in the meantime, I’m putting down roots. I’ve bought a house. I’m making friends. I’m learning the language, and adapting my accent.

Rick Warren uses the scenario of becoming ambassador to an enemy nation. He says we’d need to learn the local language, adapt to some customs and cultural differences in order to be polite and accomplish our mission. But if we fell in love with the new nation, we’d become a traitor, acting like the enemy.

Good point. Though I’d be careful in applying that scenario to life on earth. The kingdom of God is not limited to life beyond death. Eternity starts right here and now - in the context in which we live right here on earth. I believe we’re living in God’s zone - in created territory, not occupied territory.

The conflict in values comes when we succumb to the assumptions that are against God’s values. Like when we place higher value on possessions and status than on people and relationships.

I’m very aware that our time on this planet is limited. My father died of heart failure at 73, my mother at 79. She would have died at 70 if not for a heart valve operation. I’m 42 - over halfway through a natural life expectancy. I could go any time in the meantime though. I sat with a friend over an afternoon while his heart stopped working every 45 minutes or so. That was last year. He’s not old. My own daughter died at 18 months. On her tombstone we engraved: “We are fragile beings living in a dangerous world”

So we’re here for a temporary assignment. But an intentional embedded assignment. A bit like the Jewish people receiving Jeremiah’s letter in Jeremiah 29. He says that God arranged for them to be taken to this country, Babylon. They need to put down their roots, plant gardens and build homes. They need to encourage their children to marry and have children, right there where they live. They need to pray for the success of their city and nation. But they are never to forget that God will bring their descendants back to Jerusalem. Their long term destiny is not tied up with this place.

This all makes a difference to the way we treat our environment, our neighbours, and our own bodies. I want to work on a lifestyle that promotes the kind of world God dreams of - right here in Australia, as much as in New Zealand and the rest of this planet.