Jacinda Ardern
When I think about John Key, the main story that comes to mind is the flag referendum with the hilarious, big kiwi bird shooting lasers out of its eyes.
Samuel Pullenger
When I think of Jacinda Ardern I think of her response to the Mosque shooting in Christchurch or her leadership through Covid 19. As I tell these stories I will instinctively place my own lens over top of them. If you told these stories they would be shaped by your own lens (how you see the world), in either a positive or negative light.
In our recent election the word “change” became a focus, either of reverting back to, or seeking a new way forward. Change, in and of itself, though is not what is needed. Rather, it is a recognition of what has been going wrong, what might be missing, or what might need adjusting that should lead to a well thought through change. We have a change of mayor, Mike Pettit has been voted by Waipa to lead us into the future, with several changes in council seats as well.
Mike Pettit addresses attendees. Photo: Jesse Wood
For some, the story told will be, “this is a desperately needed breath of fresh air”. For others, the story told will be, “another person pedalling the same old stuff”.
Stories are important. When someone tells a story, whether it be about a small event in their day, or a global event affecting millions, it will tell us something about who this person is and how they see the world. In our current cultural context listening to the stories of others is not something that happens often – if by listening we mean, trying to understand and honour the person telling the story.
Listening, in this climate, is usually in order that I can make a quick comeback or retort that will silence the argument. As I reflect on cultures’ lack of ability to listen, I wonder what it does to our sense of human dignity as a society. I wonder if we might have somehow got response and dignity the wrong way around.
In the Bible, one of the main themes that covers the whole story is that all humans are created with dignity and worth. In fact, in one of the New Testament letters called Philippians, the writer calls Christians to have the same mind as Jesus, which is to serve others with our whole self in humility. This kind of thinking places listening at the forefront of human interaction. And if we all live into this, then, not only is the other person genuinely heard, we are genuinely heard.
So, as we enter this new era of council, I want to invite us to listen to the stories. For our new mayor, may you hear the stories of the people and honour them. For us, the people, may we listen to the stories we tell each other, may human dignity come before retort. And may the change we see in this new chapter of our region be formed not through self-insistent drive, but through the honouring of stories told.
