Value of Connection

By Siosifa Pole in All Sorts

connectedness brings self-esteem, healing and restoration

VALUE OF CONNECTION
Our parish celebrated recently the launch of a book that edited by Ken Russell and Colin Gibson, entitled Connections. The contents of the book are comprised by articles written by different authors for different purposes and it aimed at different readers. However, the main focus in all these articles is to make the connection between faith and the world we live in. Ken Russell in the Preface interprets it more clearly, 'Making connections between the life of the world and the gospel.' The meaning of this phrase depicts the value of connection. If we can't maintain the connection between the gospel and the world we live in, our message will certainly be out of context. Therefore, it is vital for the church to maintain its connection with the community where it exercises its ministry in order to be relevant. Keeping the connection is like building bridges that enable contact and communication from one end to the other. I realised this important aspect of connection during my recent visit to the United States of America.
My visit to the United States of America was for two reasons. Firstly, it was to officiate at the wedding of my niece, and secondly, to reaffirm my connection with my family in America. I arrived on the 3rd of June at San Francisco Airport and my sister was waiting outside to pick me up. It took about one hour to get through the airport officials and to meet my sister. When I passed through the final check point and walked out the gate, my sister was already waiting to greet me. I was also able to greet my sister-in-law who came to pick up something that I brought to her. A little later my two nieces came to meet me. Right
at the airport the connection with my family in America started. The words of welcome and greetings at the airport helped me to feel accepted and at home in this strange land. We drove from the airport to meet my two other sisters and their children. I was very pleased to meet all of them again after seven years. Our meeting again shows the value of connection. Without connection we can easily isolated.
Our reconnection denotes the Tongan concept of Fofola e Fala (unrolling the mat). Fofola e fala is a Tongan concept of bringing the family together for talking and dialogue. Unrolling of the mat is a role of the household head, which indicates to the rest of the kin that there is going to be a talk. Gathering together occurs when there is an important occasion about to happen in the family. It can also happen when there is reunion in the family to reaffirm the relationship. This coming together is an opportunity to catch up with one another and to share ideas together. It could be impossible if the household is scattered and divided. Fofola e fala is an open forum that gives everyone in the household the freedom to join and share ideas. If those who sit on the unrolled mat are hindered to speak, then the spirit of Fofola e fala is violated. Fofola e fala is a fair way of making everyone in the household feel included and valued. Those who are present on such occasions treasure a valuable time of connectedness in the household.
However, despite the joy of joining others on the unrolled mat it might not be possible for everyone to have a space, especially when there are so many people who want to sit on the mat! It is quite easy to forget or avoid the weak members of the household in a conversation or dialogue. This is a reality for children and women in the context of Fofola e fala. Women and children are occasionally sidelined because they are seen as ignorant or lacking in experience. They are assumed to be too narrow minded to take part in a conversation or consultation. This kind of belittling attitude is widely embedded across various cultural contexts. I realised this fact on my visit to one of the local
churches in America where the homeless were welcomed and given meals. I don't know the cause/causes of their homelessness, but they came from various backgrounds with different problems. The majority of them have no place to live because they are disconnected from the community and their families. The impact of disconnection had a huge influence upon them in terms of their self-value and self-esteem. I wondered at that stage, just how many people are like these homeless people in America, and the rest of the world.
Last Sunday many Churches commemorated Refugee Sunday. It was a Sunday to remember the refugees and the reasons why they become refugees. These people have been displaced from their homes and families either because of war or natural disaster. They moved from their communities because they have been forced to move. Christian World Service sent us materials for Refugee Sunday. They mentioned that about eleven million people in the world are refugees. This is an appalling figure. These are all people who are longing for connection and contact. Unless we have the will to give space for everyone to live, we will not be able to avoid a further increase in the number of refugees. Our Christian tradition and charter of compassion remind us of our role to offer hospitality to these people. It is through the offering of space for the refugees and the homeless, which we are able to help them to reconnect to the community. I am glad that New Zealand is one of those nations that are prepared to offer such a space for refugees. Offering of space articulates the value of connection. I believe that work intentionally for connection, has an integral part to play in the realm of God.
The Season of Pentecost, which we celebrated a few Sundays ago, demonstrates the nature of God in connection with creation. In the Spirit, God is present in the creation of the world, giving the world life as mentioned in the two creation stories in the Book of Genesis. It was the Spirit of God who breathed life into the creation, together with the first human being. The same Spirit breathed life into the early
followers of Christ, giving them strength for their mission. I believe it is the same Holy Spirit (Laumalie Ma'oni'oni) who is present in our lives to empower us in our ministry and connect us with God and with one another. I am doing my best to live in connection with God, with other people, and with our world. How can we all best help those who are longing for connection to do so in a way which will bring them healing and restoration?
Siosifa Pole